Understanding Material Types

VoltPro supports two main types of items in your catalog:

1. Materials: Physical products used in electrical installations (wires, panels, outlets, etc.)

2. Services: Labor or service items charged at hourly or fixed rates

Adding a New Material

1. Access the Materials Section

   • Click on "Materials" in the left navigation menu

   • This will take you to your materials catalog

2. Create a New Material

   • Click the "+ Add Item" button in the top-right corner

   • A drawer will slide in from the right side of the screen

3. Fill in Basic Material Information

   • Name: Enter the material name (required)

     • Example: "Square D QO 100 Amp Main Breaker Panel"

   • Description: Enter additional details about the material

     • Example: "24-space, 24-circuit indoor main breaker panel"

   • Item Number/SKU: Enter the manufacturer's SKU or your internal tracking number

     • Example: "QO124M100PC"

4. Enter Price Information

   • Invoice Date: Select the date of the invoice or receipt

   • Unit Cost: Enter the cost you pay for this material

   • Unit Type: Select the appropriate unit of measurement (ea, ft, M, C, E)

     • "ea" (each) is most common for individual items

     • "ft" (feet) for wire or conduit sold by length

     • "M" (thousand), "C" (hundred), or "E" (each) for specialized counting

5. Assign Categories

   • Click in the "Categories" field to assign categories

   • Select from existing categories or create new ones by typing and clicking "+ Create [category name]"

   • Multiple categories can be assigned to a single material

6. Add Vendor Information

   • Select the vendor/distributor you purchased this material from

   • If the vendor doesn't exist, click "New vendor" to create one

7. Add Additional Notes

   • Enter any notes about this material that may be helpful for future reference

   • Notes are for internal use and don't appear on estimates

8. Save Your Material

   • Click the "Create" button at the bottom of the drawer

   • Your new material will be added to your catalog

Adding a Service Item

1. Start Creating a New Item

   • Click the "+ Add Item" button in the Materials section

2. Specify as a Service Item

   • Check the "Service" checkbox in the top-right corner of the drawer

   • The form will adapt to show service-specific fields

3. Enter Service Information

   • Name: Enter the service name (required)

     • Example: "Journeyman Electrician"

   • Description: Enter a description of the service

     • Example: "Licensed journeyman electrical work"

4. Set Service Rates

   • Labor Cost: Enter your cost for providing this service (per hour)

   • Labor Rate: Enter the rate you charge customers (per hour)

   • The difference between cost and rate determines your profit margin

5. Save Your Service Item

   • Click the "Create" button

   • Your new service item will be added to your catalog

Advanced Material Options

VoltPro offers advanced options for special material types:

1. Coverage-Based Materials

   • Click "Advanced options" at the bottom of the material form

   • Toggle on "Coverage-Based Material" for items like paint that cover an area

   • Enter the coverage rate (e.g., 400 sqft)

   • Toggle "Single-Use" for items that can't be partially used and stored

2. Service Area Settings

   • For service items, you can optionally set a "Service area" in square feet

   • This helps calculate how much area can be serviced per hour