What Are Quote Templates?
Quote templates automatically generate line items on a new quote based on the details of an inquiry. Instead of manually adding items and calculating quantities every time, a template does the math for you — factoring in event length, number of baristas, number of carts, and more. You set up one template per event type (e.g., one for weddings, one for corporate events). When you create a quote from an inquiry, Cortado looks up the matching template and pre-fills the quote with the right items and quantities.Setting Up a Template
Go to Settings > Payments > Quote Templates to create or edit templates.Step 1: Choose an Event Type
Each template is tied to a specific event type. You can have one template per event type. Select the event type this template should apply to (e.g., “Wedding”, “Corporate Event”, “Private Party”).Step 2: Set Minimum Hours
The minimum hours value defines your base service commitment. For example, if you set minimum hours to 3, the first 3 hours are covered by your base fee. Any hours beyond that are calculated as overage.Step 3: Add Item Rules
This is where the power of templates comes in. Add catalog items to your template and choose how each item’s quantity should be calculated:| Scaling Type | How It Works | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed | Always quantity 1, regardless of event size | ”Coffee Service Setup” — $500 flat fee |
| Per Overage Hour | Extra hours beyond your minimum | ”Additional Hour” — $150 for each hour past the 3-hour minimum |
| Per Barista Per Hour | Scales with both barista count and event length | ”Barista Labor” — $50 per barista per hour |
| Per Cart | Scales with the number of carts | ”Cart Rental” — $200 per cart |
Step 4: Set Rate Overrides (Optional)
By default, template items use the price from your catalog. But you can override the rate on the template to charge a different amount for a specific event type. For example:- Your catalog lists “Barista Labor” at $50/hour
- On your wedding template, you override it to $65/hour
- On your corporate template, you keep the catalog price
How Templates Work in Practice
When you open the quote builder for a new inquiry, here’s what happens:- Cortado checks the inquiry’s event type and finds the matching template
- For each event on the inquiry, the template generates a set of line items with calculated quantities
- Items the customer selected on the inquiry form are added
- Your auto-include items are added
- Everything appears in the quote builder, ready for you to review and adjust
Multi-Event Quotes
If an inquiry has multiple events, the template generates a separate set of line items for each event. This means each event gets its own accurate pricing based on its specific details. Example: 2-event inquiry for a coffee cart business Event 1 — April 15, 4 hours, 2 baristas, 1 cart (3-hour minimum):- Coffee Service Setup: 1 x 500
- Additional Hour: 1 x 150
- Barista Labor: 8 x 400 (2 baristas x 4 hours)
- Cart Rental: 1 x 200
- Coffee Service Setup: 1 x 500
- Additional Hour: 3 x 450
- Barista Labor: 18 x 900 (3 baristas x 6 hours)
- Cart Rental: 2 x 400
Items You Can Still Adjust
The template pre-fills the quote — it doesn’t lock it. You can:- Change quantities or prices on any line item
- Remove items that don’t apply
- Add custom one-off items
- Add more catalog items
Template Tips
Best Practices
- Match items to scaling types — a flat setup fee should be “Fixed”, barista labor should be “Per Barista Per Hour”
- Set realistic minimums — your minimum hours should reflect your actual base service commitment
- Use rate overrides strategically — charge premium rates for event types that require more preparation
- Review regularly — as your pricing changes, update your templates to match
- Keep it simple — start with 3-4 items per template and add more as needed
Catalog
Set up the catalog items your templates use.
Creating Quotes
See how templates feed into the quote creation flow.