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Changing presentation settings

Presentation settings control what your customer sees in the Proposal view, the customer portal, and the proposal PDF.

To edit your presentation and control what your customer sees on your proposal, enter the 'Theme settings' window.

Open Theme settings

  • Open an estimate

  • Go to the Proposal tab

  • In the bottom menu, click Theme settings

Bolster opens the Theme settings page for that proposal theme.

Theme settings options

Background image

What it does

  • Adds a background image to your proposal theme

  • Helps your proposal match your brand

How to update it

  • Click Add to upload a background image

Hero image

What it does

  • Sets the main “cover” image your client sees near the top of the proposal

  • Great for a strong project photo or a clean brand image

How to update it

  • Click the folder icon to replace the image

  • Click the trash icon to remove it

Logo image

What it does

  • Shows your company logo in the proposal theme

  • Keeps the proposal consistent with your website and trucks

How to update it

  • Click the folder icon to replace the logo

  • Click the trash icon to remove it

Credentials

What it does

  • Lets you list trust details like:

    • Business licence number

    • Insurance number

    • Tax number

    • Other credentials

How to update it

  • Click the + button

  • Enter the credential name

    • Example: Business licence

  • Enter the credential ID/value

    • Example: LIC-123456

  • Save

Recognition

What it does

  • Lets you show awards, memberships, badges, or seals

  • Helps clients trust you faster

How to update it

  • Click the + button

  • Upload or add your recognition badge(s)

  • Save

Attachments

What it does

  • Includes attachments by default for every proposal that uses this theme

  • Useful for:

    • Warranty PDFs

    • Insurance certificates

    • Process documents

    • Product brochures

How to update it

  • Click the + button

  • Add the file(s) you want included by default

  • Save

Default send message

What it does

  • Pre-fills the message that appears when you send a proposal

  • Saves time and keeps your outreach consistent

How to update it

  • Click into the text field

  • Write the default message you want

  • Close or save

Good structure

  • 1 line on what’s inside

  • 1 line on the next step

  • 1 line on how to reach you

Cover letter

What it does

  • Adds rich text at the top of your proposal

  • Helps you “frame” the estimate before the client sees pricing

  • Bolster only shows this before the project is booked

  • Bolster does not show it on revisions or change orders after approval

How to update it

  • Click into the cover letter editor

  • Add your intro, approach, and next steps

  • Close or save

Good structure

  • 1–2 lines on the outcome

  • 2–4 bullets on what’s included

  • 1 line on timing

  • 1 line on what you need from the client

Presentation-specific terms & conditions

What it does

  • Adds terms that apply only to proposals using this theme

  • The client must accept these terms to accept the proposal

How to update it

  • Click into the terms field

  • Add the terms you want tied to this proposal theme

  • Save

Best use

  • Add special notes for a specific presentation style

  • Keep your full company-wide terms in your estimating settings

Estimate visibility settings

These toggles control what pricing, quantities, and details show by default.

You can override some settings per item from the presentation view.

Show large format items and pictures by default

What it does

  • Shows items in a larger layout with bigger visuals

Use it when

  • You sell design-forward work

  • You want the proposal to feel more visual

How to update it

  • Toggle on for large format

  • Toggle off for a denser, faster-scanning layout

Show payment terms

What it does

  • Displays the project’s payment terms to the client

  • Shows in both the presentation and the PDF

How to update it

  • Toggle on to show payment terms

  • Toggle off to hide them

Show project discount

What it does

  • Shows any project-level discount

How to update it

  • Toggle on to display the discount line

  • Toggle off to hide it

Show project taxes and subtotal

What it does

  • Shows subtotal and taxes in the totals area

How to update it

  • Toggle on to show subtotal and taxes

  • Toggle off to simplify totals

Show rates by default

What it does

  • Shows rate-style pricing where applicable

How to update it

  • Toggle on to show rates

  • Toggle off to hide rates

Expand assemblies by default

What it does

  • Expands assemblies so clients see what’s inside by default

Use it when

  • You want transparency

  • Your client cares about scope detail

How to update it

  • Toggle on to expand assemblies

  • Toggle off to keep assemblies collapsed

Hide total price until review complete

What it does

  • Hides the total until the client scrolls through the estimate

Use it when

  • You want clients to review scope before price

How to update it

  • Toggle on to hide total until they reach the end

  • Toggle off to show total right away

Show quantities by default

What it does

  • Shows quantities on items

How to update it

  • Toggle on to show quantities

  • Toggle off to hide quantities

Show item/assembly pricing by default

What it does

  • Shows pricing at the item or assembly level

  • If disabled, the client only sees the total proposal price

How to update it

  • Toggle on to show item/assembly pricing

  • Toggle off to show only the total

Show line item prices by default

What it does

  • Shows line-level prices within sections

  • You can override this per item

How to update it

  • Toggle on to show line item prices

  • Toggle off to hide them

Show attributes by default

What it does

  • Shows item attributes (options/spec details) by default

How to update it

  • Toggle on to show attributes

  • Toggle off to hide them

Show assembly prices by default

What it does

  • Shows prices at the assembly level

  • You can override this per assembly

How to update it

  • Toggle on to show assembly prices

  • Toggle off to hide them

Show item costs

What it does

  • Shows item costs (not just prices)

  • Best fit for cost-plus projects

  • Applies to every project that adopts this theme

How to update it

  • Toggle on to show item costs

  • Toggle off to hide item costs

Show item specific taxes

What it does

  • Shows the tax breakdown by item

  • Or bundles taxes into one general rate

  • If disabled, Bolster only shows one total tax amount as “sales tax”

How to update it

  • Toggle on to show item-level tax detail

  • Toggle off to show a single combined tax line

Show Schedule tab in customer portal

What it does

  • Shows the Schedule tab for the client in the customer portal

How to update it

  • Toggle on to show the Schedule tab

  • Toggle off to hide it

Show Calendar tab in customer portal

What it does

  • Shows the Calendar tab for the client in the customer portal

How to update it

  • Toggle on to show the Calendar tab

  • Toggle off to hide it

Default upgrades/options layout

What it does

  • Sets how add-ons and options display by default

  • You can override per item

Options

  • Horizontal

  • Vertical

How to update it

  • Open the dropdown

  • Choose Horizontal or Vertical

Quick guidance

  • Horizontal works well for good / better / best

  • Vertical works well for longer lists with more detail

Show badges on the presentation PDF

What it does

  • Adds badge images to the header of your PDF

  • Useful for certifications and credentials

How to update it

  • Toggle on to include badges on the PDF

  • Toggle off to remove them from the PDF

Show gallery images on the presentation PDF

What it does

  • Includes gallery images in the body of the PDF for gallery item types

How to update it

  • Toggle on to include gallery images

  • Toggle off to exclude them