How do I train my cabinet shop’s estimator before I step away?

Pricing a kitchen or built-in is a skill that grows from experience, so train in layers. Begin by walking the estimator through your method on current jobs: how you read drawings, check the site, choose materials and account for waste. Explain what you look for that a quick glance would miss.

Next, use past work as a classroom. Pull a set of finished jobs and compare the original quote with the real cost in materials and shop time. Ask the estimator what they would have done differently. Mistakes in old files are a safe place to learn.

Then let them quote live work while you review before it goes out. Set a clear point at which they can approve estimates alone, and a size or risk level that still needs your eye. Write your pricing rules in a short guide, including how you adjust for rushed schedules and unusual finishes. A buyer may ask whether the estimator can work without you. Pay attention to the questions the estimator asks the customer. A good estimator learns to draw out details about layout, finishes and installation access before pricing. Teach those questions explicitly, because missing details are where money-losing jobs begin.

Key takeaways

• Review past quotes against actual job costs as a training exercise.
• Let them quote live jobs with your review before approval.
• Write down your pricing rules and the limit for solo approval.