How to Manage a Standard Variation

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Create Variations

To create a standard variation:

1. Access the job and go to Cost Centre List > Variations.
   • If you are adding a variation to a service job, click Cost Centres in the breadcrumbs to access the Cost Centre List.
2. To create a variation in a project job, enter a Name for the variation section, and then click Add.
   • To include this variation in your retention total, select Include section value in retention totals. Learn more in How to Set Up Retention.
3. Create the variation by adding sections, cost centres, and parts and labour as normal. Learn more in How to Create a Service Job and How to Build Your Project.
   • You can also enter a new cost centre name to differentiate cost centres from each other, as well as provide more detail on what is involved in a cost centre. If you select multiple cost centres and enter a name, they all use this name. Learn more in Rename a cost centre in a quote, job, recurring job, or recurring invoice.
4. Click Save and Finish.

As the cost centre is not locked, standard variations are generally ‘do and charge’ with labour and materials to be invoiced.

To perform this variation for a fixed price, first add your parts and labour, and then lock the cost centre. Alternatively, Add a linked variation quote or Add a linked variation job.

US only: If you use Simpro Premium in the United States, the term 'retainage' is used instead of 'retention'.

You can approve or decline a variation to determine if the work should be completed.

To approve or decline a variation:

1. Open the project as normal.
2. Go to Cost Centre List > Variations.
3. Click the variation.
4. Go to the Details > Settings.
5. Under Cost Centre Stage, select Declined if the work is not going to be continued, or select another stage to approve the variation.
6. Click Save and Finish > Save.

When the variation stage is changed from Awaiting Approval to Pending, In Progress, Complete, or Invoiced, the Approval Date is updated.

To approve or decline multiple variations, go to Cost Centre List > Variations, select the check boxes and click Approved or Declined at the bottom of the page.

When you invoice a job with standard variations, the variation sections / cost centres are highlighted in yellow. You can then invoice the job as normal.

On invoices, variation sections and cost centres appear below the primary sections. If you have raised a progress claim against a job with standard variations, the variation sections / cost centres appear on an itemised progress claim as normal sections.

In the claim summary, there is an additional contract table specifically for variations. This table displays the Description and Total Value for each variation section / cost centre, as well as the percentage or value claimed for each section / cost centre in the Current claim and To Date.

Learn more in How to Set Up Invoice Forms.

US only: If you use Simpro Premium in the United States, the terms 'progress invoice', 'deposit invoice' and 'final invoice' are used instead of 'progress claim', 'deposit claim', and 'final claim'.

US only: If you use Simpro Premium in the United States, the terms 'progress invoice', 'deposit invoice' and 'final invoice' are used instead of 'progress claim', 'deposit claim', and 'final claim'.