Estimating Allowance Breakdowns

When you create Allowances, you can use a breakdown to calculate the total estimated cost, or to specify a list of work or materials included.

Allowance Breakdowns

To enter detailed costs in an allowance, enter Category or Items into the breakdown popup at the left side of the window.

  • Use a Category breakdown when you do not need to include specific Cost items or Assemblies in the breakdown.
  • Use an Items breakdown when you will include specific Cost items or Assemblies.


Enter the following information in each line of the breakdown table:

Cost Area-- Enter the basic type of work.
Category-- Enter the Cost Category under which you'd like to classify this item.
Subcategory-- If the Category System for this allowance has subcategories, enter one here.
Cost Item-- Choose a Cost Item or Assembly.
HINT-- If you choose an Unlisted item in the Cost Area, you can type in a new item here, just like in a Category breakdown.

Size-- Goldenseal fills in the unit size for the cost item.
Unit Cost-- Goldenseal fills in the cost per unit for the cost item.
Quantity-- Type in the quantity for this line item.
Item Total-- Goldenseal calculates the total cost of this line item (unit cost x quantity).
Location-- Enter a cost Location for this item.

As you enter each line item in the breakdown, Goldenseal automatically calculates the total cost, and the total number of labor hours required for the work.

HINT-- An allowance breakdown is very much like a miniature itemized Estimate, covering just the work in one Allowance.