How to Split Labor and Material Items
When a line item includes both labor and material costs combined, Bolster allows you to split it into two separate components when creating a work order or purchase order. This is useful when you need to assign labor and materials to different vendors or subcontractors
Steps
1. Start in Purchasing
From within the project, navigate to the Purchasing section and click Create New.
2. Select a Vendor or Subcontractor
Choose the vendor or subcontractor the order is going to, and add a description if needed.
3. Select the Line Item
Click Select to choose the line items you want to include in the order. When you select an item that contains both labor and material, Bolster will present the option to split it.
4. Split the Item
Click Split on the combined item. Bolster will prompt you to confirm, then automatically divide it into two separate components:
- Labor — shown with the labor unit (e.g., 2,000 square feet)
- Material — shown with the material unit (e.g., 9 gallons)
5. Save the Order
Once the item is split and the order details are complete, click Save Order. Bolster will create the work order or purchase order with the split line items.
What Happens on the Estimate
After saving, the split is also reflected back on the estimate. The original combined line item will be split into its labor and material components on the estimate side as well — no manual update required.
Key Notes
- The split option only appears when the selected line item contains both labor and material together.
- Splitting allows you to route labor and materials to different vendors or subcontractors via separate orders.
- Units are preserved accurately after the split — labor retains its unit (e.g., square feet) and material retains its own (e.g., gallons).
- The estimate is automatically updated to reflect the split once the order is saved.