When you Estimate with AI or Invoice with AI, it uses artificial intelligence to build estimates/invoices directly from your text or voice prompt. Instead of manually searching for client details and adding individual line items, you simply type or describe the work being performed, and the AI handles the rest.
Key Benefits
Save time and reduce manual work: Reduce estimate and invoice creation time by minimizing the amount of information you need to enter manually.
Seamless client matching: automatically connects the estimate/invoice to existing clients in your contact list.
Complete control: you always get to review and edit the generated estimate or invoice before sending it to your customer.
How to use Estimate with AI or Invoice with AI
Follow these simple steps to generate your Estimate or Invoice with AI:
Availability of Estimate with AI and Invoice with AI (as of August 28, 2026):
Estimate with AI and Invoice with AI are currently rolling out with limited availability on iOS and Web. We will update this article again as availability changes.
iOS
Step 1: Open your Joist app
Step 2: Tap on your Estimate or Invoice tab at the bottom of your screen
Step 3: At the top right corner of your screen, tap the + button
Step 4: Tap on Estimate with AI or Invoice with AI (depending on whether you're on the Estimates or Invoices page)
Step 5: A new screen will appear with a text box. In the text box, type a brief description of the job, client, and work being performed. If you prefer voice-to-text instead of typing, you can tap the microphone option in the bottom right corner to verbally describe the job, client, and work being performed.
Note: If you’re using voice-to-text for the first time on the Joist app, you will be prompted to grant permission in your device settings before using the feature.
Step 6: Once you’re done with your estimate/invoice description, tap the send arrow in the bottom-right corner of your screen to enter the information. It will take a few seconds for the AI to create the draft.
Step 7: Once the draft is created, an estimate or invoice draft button will appear on the screen. Tap it to open the draft.
Step 8: Add any more details you would like (e.g. line item details if they weren't included in your prompt, markup, discount, request a deposit, payment schedule, tax, turning on/off online payments, etc).
Depending on your Joist plan, you will be able to enhance your estimate/invoice with contracts, photos, attachments, or by linking them to a job before proceeding to the next step.
Step 9: Tap Done in the top-right corner of your screeto save the draft to your account or Cancel, if you want to exit without saving.
Web
Step 1: Open Joist on your desktop or laptop computer
Step 2: Click the Estimate or Invoice tab in the left-side menu bar
Step 3: At the top right corner of your page, click the dropdown arrow beside Create New. This will give you the option to either create an Estimate/Invoice manually or create an Estimate with AI or an Invoice with AI
Step 4: Click on Estimate with AI or Invoice with AI (depending on whether you're on the Estimates or Invoices page)
Step 5: A new screen will appear with a text box. In the text box, type a brief description of the job, client, and work being performed. If you prefer voice-to-text instead of typing, you can click the microphone option beside the text box to verbally describe the job, client, and work being performed.
Note: If you’re using voice-to-text for the first time on the Joist app, you will be prompted to grant microphone permissions in your browser settings before using the feature.
Step 6: Once you’re done with your estimate/invoice description, click Generate at the bottom of the pop-up screen to enter the information. It will take a few seconds for the AI to create the draft.
Step 7: Once the draft is created, an estimate or invoice draft button will appear on the screen. Click it to open the draft.
Step 8: Add any more details you would like (e.g. line item details if they weren't included in your prompt, markup, discount, request a deposit, payment schedule, tax, turning on/off online payments, etc).
Depending on your Joist plan, you will be able to enhance your estimate/invoice with contracts, photos, attachments, or by linking them to a job before proceeding to the next step.
Step 9: Click Save in the top-right corner of the page to save the draft to your account or Cancel, if you want to exit without saving.
Tips for writing effective estimate or invoice prompts
To get the best results, keep these simple tips in mind:
Include the client name: mentioning your client's namehelps the system link the estimate or invoice directly to the client's saved contact record
Separate tasks and materials: mention distinct services and supplies (e.g., "3 hours labor" and "paint supplies") so the AI can create separate line items.
Include quantity and rates: mentioning quantity and rates will allow the AI to populate these sections and automatically calculate how much it will cost (e.g. "1,450 square feet of hardwood at $6 per square foot1"). After the draft preview is created, you can tap on the line items to see quantity and rate filled in with your prompt information
Examples of written and voice prompts
Here are some examples of how you can text or voice your estimate/invoice:
Prompt example #1:
For Alex K, I will need to repair two holes in a bedroom wall that were left behind from an old TV mount. Patch the drywall, sand it smooth, prime the area, and paint it to match the existing wall color.
Drywall repair: 125, Sanding & surface prep: 50, Prime & Paint 75, Materials: 25, Labor: 100
Result example #1:
Prompt example #2:
For John Smith, cleaning a two-story house with 200 linear feet of gutters. Charge per linear foot is $1.75.
Result example #2:
When you tap into the line item for details, you will see the quantity and rate applied. You can also add additional details to the line item here.
How Client Matching Works
Estimate and Invoice with AI handles your customer records automatically:
Exact Match: If the client name in your prompt matches an existing contact, their details (address, email, and phone number) are automatically attached to the estimate or invoice
Multiple Matches: If you have multiple clients with similar names (e.g., two clients named "John Smith"), the AI lets you select the correct client from your client list before generating the draft preview. Or if it's a new client, you will have the option to generate without client details and enter them afterwards in the draft preview
New Client: If the client isn't in your system yet, you will be able to add the client's details after you generate the draft
Frequently asked questions
Can I edit an estimate or invoice before sending it?
Yes! When you Estimate or Invoice with AI, you will always get a draft preview first. You can modify any line item, rate, tax rate, or note before finalizing.
What information won't be included when generating an estimate or invoice from a prompt?
The following items are not currently supported when generating an estimate or invoice from a written or voice prompt:
Line item groups
Markups
Payment settings (enable/disable payments)
Deposit requests
Payment schedules
Discounts
Taxes
Estimate expiry dates
If these items are mentioned in your prompt, they will not be added automatically and must be manually entered after the estimate/invoice draft preview is created.
Do I need to calculate and enter the subtotal for my estimate or invoice?
No. You do not need to calculate the subtotal yourself. As long as you include the quantity and rate (or cost) for each item in your written or voice prompt, the subtotal will be calculated automatically.
If you'd like to add discounts or taxes, you'll need to do so manually after the draft preview is generated. Once added, the total will automatically update to reflect those changes.
Is Estimate and Invoice with AI available with my plan?
Yes, Estimate with AI and Invoice with AI are available on all Joist plans.