How do you come up with quotes for large, multi-piece jobs?

[JuneC]

I've seen the time standards manuals but 95% of the upholstery that I get to quote is too unique for the standards to be of much help.  In fact, given my own experience, it's really hard to gauge the time required until you start.  For instance, pulling 5/8 leg staples from ABS plastic takes MUCH longer than 1/4" stapes from expanded PVC foam board.  You know the ones... they squeal and get hot just from pulling them out.  Also on their standards, they don't even differentiate between cushions stapled to boards versus soft-backed (mesh) cushions with snap tabs or Keder hangers.  There's so much variability, it's next to impossible to standardize the hours. 

June