diff --git a/src/PowderCoating.Web/Helpers/HelpKnowledgeBase.cs b/src/PowderCoating.Web/Helpers/HelpKnowledgeBase.cs
index 02c20ae..60ed344 100644
--- a/src/PowderCoating.Web/Helpers/HelpKnowledgeBase.cs
+++ b/src/PowderCoating.Web/Helpers/HelpKnowledgeBase.cs
@@ -197,10 +197,14 @@ public static class HelpKnowledgeBase
5. Review the pricing breakdown
6. Save as Draft or Send immediately
- **Three item types in the quote wizard:**
- 1. *Calculated* — you enter dimensions; system calculates surface area and price from operating costs
- 2. *Custom Work* — you set a manual price (for non-standard work)
- 3. *AI Photo Quote* — upload photos; AI (Claude) analyzes the item and estimates surface area, complexity, and labor
+ **Item types in the quote/job wizard:**
+ 1. *Product from Catalog* — pick a pre-priced catalog item; price is fixed, no surface-area calculation
+ 2. *Calculated* — enter dimensions; system calculates surface area and price from operating costs; includes coatings and prep steps
+ 3. *Flat-Rate Charge* — set a fixed price manually; optionally enable "Specify powder coating" toggle to record color/powder details for tracking and ordering without affecting the flat price; always fill in the Color Name field so it appears in the Custom Powder Order description
+ 4. *Labor Only* — bill by the hour at the standard labor rate; no coating or prep step
+ 5. *AI Photo Quote* — upload photos; AI (Claude) analyzes the item and estimates surface area, complexity, and labor
+ 6. *Merchandise* — sell off-the-shelf items (T-shirts, tumblers, accessories) from your catalog at a fixed price
+ 7. *Custom Formula* — use a formula template from Company Settings to calculate price from exact measurements (e.g. length × width × height for a box)
**Pricing breakdown components:**
- Powder/material cost (cost per sq ft × surface area)
@@ -215,7 +219,7 @@ public static class HelpKnowledgeBase
**Custom Powder Order — ordering costs as a separate line item:** When a coat is configured with a manually entered cost per lb (no inventory item selected) or with a powder color that must be ordered (the "Order this color" path), the material cost for that powder is NOT added to the individual item price. Instead, the system auto-generates a separate **"Custom Powder Order"** line item that collects all ordering costs in one place. This lets you add shipping/freight to the total before presenting it to the customer.
- While building the quote, a dashed yellow **Powder Order** preview card appears below the item cards. It shows the calculated material cost with an editable price field. Enter the final amount you want to charge — material plus any shipping — before saving.
- - On the saved quote, the Custom Powder Order appears as its own line item with the color name(s) in its description (e.g. "Custom Powder Order (Gloss Black, Satin Silver)").
+ - On the saved quote, the Custom Powder Order appears as its own line item with the color name(s) in its description (e.g. "Custom Powder Order (Gloss Black, Satin Silver)"). Always fill in the Color Name field in the coating layer — if you typed a color name in the catalog search box but did not select a catalog result, the wizard copies the typed text to Color Name automatically when you tab away. If no color name is entered, the item card shows a red "No color specified" badge as a reminder.
- A yellow banner on the Quote Details page reminds you when a Custom Powder Order is present so you don't forget to account for shipping.
- The Custom Powder Order is created only once (on first save). After that, the price is yours to edit — the system will not overwrite it on subsequent saves.
diff --git a/src/PowderCoating.Web/Views/Help/Quotes.cshtml b/src/PowderCoating.Web/Views/Help/Quotes.cshtml
index 8bdd91d..9e494a5 100644
--- a/src/PowderCoating.Web/Views/Help/Quotes.cshtml
+++ b/src/PowderCoating.Web/Views/Help/Quotes.cshtml
@@ -107,39 +107,73 @@
- Enter the surface area in square feet, quantity, and complexity. The system calculates
- material cost, labor, and equipment time automatically. Choose one or more coatings
- and optional prep services (sandblasting, masking, cleaning). Best for standard
- powder coating work where you know the dimensions.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Enter a free-text description and type a price manually. Use this for one-off work,
- repairs, or services that do not fit the standard surface-area calculation model.
- No automatic pricing calculation — you set the price directly.
+ Pick a pre-priced item from your catalog. Price is fixed — no surface-area
+ calculation. Best for recurring services or parts with a known flat price.
+
+ Enter the surface area in square feet, quantity, and complexity. The system calculates
+ material cost, labor, and equipment time automatically. Choose one or more coatings
+ and optional prep services. Best for standard powder coating work where you know the dimensions.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Enter a description and set a fixed price manually. Use for setup charges, handling
+ fees, or custom work that doesn’t fit the surface-area model. Optionally enable
+ Specify powder coating to record the color and track powder ordering
+ — price stays flat regardless.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Bill by the hour at your standard labor rate. Enter billable hours (minimum
+ 0.25 hr). No surface area, no coating step. Use for prep work, assembly,
+ or any time-based charge.
+
+
+
+
+
Upload photos of the parts and let the AI estimate the surface area and complexity.
- The AI analyses the images and returns a suggested surface area (sq ft), complexity
- rating, estimated minutes, and a confidence score. You can review and override any
- value before accepting the estimate. Up to two follow-up rounds of questions are
- supported.
+ Returns a suggested surface area, complexity rating, estimated minutes, and confidence
+ score. You can review and override any value before accepting. Up to two follow-up
+ rounds supported.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Use a reusable formula template (set up in Company Settings) to calculate price from
+ exact measurements — e.g. a 6-sided box by length, width, and height. Staff
+ enter the measurements; the formula does the math.
Coatings and Prep Services
- For Calculated and AI Photo items, after entering the surface area you proceed to the coatings
- step. Select one or more powder coatings from your inventory. The wizard shows how much powder
- will be needed per coat based on the coverage rate and your surface area. You then choose any
- prep services — sandblasting, masking, and/or cleaning — that will be performed before coating.
+ For Calculated and AI Photo items, after entering the surface area
+ you proceed to the coatings step. Select one or more powder coatings from your inventory. The wizard
+ shows how much powder will be needed per coat based on the coverage rate and your surface area.
+ You then choose any prep services — sandblasting, masking, and/or cleaning — that will
+ be performed before coating.
+
+
+ Flat-Rate Charge items can also optionally specify powder coating: enable the
+ Specify powder coating toggle on step 2 of the wizard. This opens the same
+ coating layer step so you can record the color, order quantity, and cost per lb for powder
+ tracking and ordering purposes — the item’s flat price is not affected. Enter the
+ Color Name field so the color appears on the quote and in the Custom Powder
+ Order description.
Custom Powder Order
@@ -197,6 +240,12 @@
The Custom Powder Order is created once on first save. After that the price
is yours — the system will not overwrite it on subsequent saves.
+
+ Always fill in the Color Name field in the coating layer. The color name
+ appears in the Custom Powder Order description (e.g. Custom Powder Order (Gloss Black))
+ and in the quote details. If you typed the color name into the catalog search box and did not
+ select a result, the wizard automatically copies it to the Color Name field when you tab away.
+
Save to Product Catalog