When a customer approves an estimate from a Send for Approval link, Manifold keeps a record of exactly what they approved.
On the estimate, and on the invoice created from it, a badge reads "Approved online by" the customer's name and the date, with "(deposit paid)" when they paid a deposit. Click it to open the approval record. While a deposit is still unpaid the badge does not show yet; open the record from the "by" link next to the approval in the estimate's Approval links list.
The record shows
- The name the customer typed, and that they ticked the approval box
- When they approved, and the IP address they approved from
- Where the link was sent, or that it was copied by staff
- The deposit, and when it was paid
- What they approved: every line with its quantity and price, the subtotal, discount, tax and total, and the terms they were shown, as they were at that moment
That copy never changes, even if the estimate or invoice is edited later, so you can always compare what was approved with what was billed.
When a customer declines The estimate is marked Lost and the customer's choice becomes the lost reason: "The price" becomes Price, "I went with another shop" becomes Lost to competitor, "Not ready / changed my mind" and "Prefer not to say" become Declined, and "Something else" becomes Other, with the note they typed. You get an "Estimate declined" notification. If the customer changes their mind, open the estimate and click Reactivate, then send it again.