Cost Calculator by BoldThemes is a WordPress plugin designed to help website owners create customizable, interactive cost estimation and price calculation forms. This plugin is especially useful for businesses offering services or products where pricing depends on various factors, such as the size, quantity, or complexity of the services provided. It allows you to create a flexible and dynamic pricing calculator that enables visitors to estimate the cost of a product or service based on their specific inputs.

Key Features of Cost Calculator by BoldThemes:

1. Customizable Calculator Fields:
   • The plugin allows you to create and customize multiple fields for users to input their preferences or details (e.g., quantity, size, material, service options).
   • You can choose from various types of fields such as text boxes, dropdowns, checkboxes, radio buttons, and sliders, allowing you to tailor the calculator according to your needs.
2. Real-Time Calculation:
   • The cost is calculated in real-time as users input their data into the fields. This provides immediate feedback to visitors about the potential cost, enhancing the user experience.
   • You can configure the calculator to show a final price based on the selections made by the user.
3. Multiple Pricing Methods:
   • You can set different pricing strategies based on your business needs. For example:
     • Fixed prices for specific products or services.
     • Dynamic pricing based on selected options (e.g., price per square foot, weight, time, or other variable factors).
     • Discounts and surcharges based on selected options.
4. Multiple Currencies:
   • The plugin supports multiple currencies, allowing you to display the estimated price in the currency that your business supports or your visitors are familiar with.
   • You can set the currency manually or allow the plugin to automatically adjust to the user's location.
5. Conditional Logic:
   • Conditional logic enables you to show or hide certain fields based on user input. For example, if a user selects a certain option (like "premium service"), additional fields or price changes can appear.
   • This feature enhances the user experience by keeping the form clean and relevant to the user’s selections.
6. Customizable Design:
   • The plugin provides customization options for designing the calculator to match your website’s look and feel.
   • You can change colors, fonts, and button styles, or even customize the layout to fit your theme's design.
7. Price Breakdown and Summary:
   • The plugin can display a price breakdown that shows users a summary of the different factors contributing to the total cost. This transparency helps in building trust with your customers.
   • You can include detailed breakdowns like the base price, additional options, discounts, taxes, etc.
8. Payment Integration (Optional):
   • While the core plugin does not include payment gateways, you can integrate it with other WordPress plugins or use its final form to link to a payment processor or shopping cart.
   • The Contact Form 7 integration allows users to submit the form and make payments or inquiries based on the calculated cost.
9. Save or Send Results:
   • After the calculation, users can choose to save the results or send them via email. This feature is useful for lead generation or for providing quotes to customers.
   • You can also include a contact form at the end of the calculator to allow customers to get in touch for more detailed pricing or services.
10. Integration with WordPress Themes:
    • The plugin is designed to work smoothly with most WordPress themes. It's also compatible with popular page builders like Elementor, WPBakery, and others.
    • It is fully responsive and optimized for use on mobile devices, ensuring that your calculators work seamlessly across different screen sizes.
11. Pre-Built Templates:
    • The plugin comes with pre-built templates that you can import into your website, making it easier to get started quickly. You can then adjust them according to your needs without having to build the calculator from scratch.
12. Export Results:
    • The plugin allows you to export the submitted data into a CSV file for later reference or processing. This is helpful for tracking leads or for administrative purposes.

How to Set Up Cost Calculator by BoldThemes:

1. Install and Activate the Plugin:

• You can download the Cost Calculator by BoldThemes plugin from the WordPress plugin repository or purchase the premium version from the BoldThemes website.
• After downloading the plugin, go to the WordPress admin dashboard > Plugins > Add New, and then upload and activate the plugin.

2. Create a New Calculator:

• Once the plugin is activated, you can start creating your cost calculators by going to the Cost Calculator tab in your WordPress admin menu.
• Click on the Add New Calculator button to create a new calculator form.
• You can now add different fields (e.g., input fields, dropdowns, sliders, etc.) based on the information you need to collect for the price calculation.

3. Configure the Pricing Options:

• For each field, you can set the pricing options and rules. For example, you can specify a fixed cost, or set the price to increase or decrease depending on the quantity or choice made by the user.
• You can also define conditional logic to show or hide fields based on user input.

4. Customize the Design:

• Use the design settings to customize the appearance of the calculator to match your website’s branding.
• You can adjust colors, fonts, button styles, and more to ensure the calculator integrates seamlessly with your website's theme.

5. Insert the Calculator in a Page:

• After setting up the calculator, you can embed it into any page or post using the shortcode provided by the plugin.
• If you're using a page builder like Elementor or WPBakery, you can directly insert the calculator into your page layout using the available widgets.

6. Test the Calculator:

• Before going live, test the calculator to ensure that it calculates correctly based on different inputs and pricing rules. Make sure the results display properly and that users can submit or save their results.

7. Track Results and Follow Up:

• Once the form is live, users will be able to input their details and get a calculated price in real time. You can monitor the submissions and follow up with leads, send quotes, or process payments.

Use Cases for Cost Calculator by BoldThemes:

1. Service-based Businesses:
   • For companies offering services that vary in price (e.g., web design, consulting, cleaning, or event planning), this plugin can help potential customers get an instant estimate based on their specific needs.
2. Product Customization:
   • If you sell customizable products (e.g., furniture, printing services, or custom apparel), you can use the calculator to provide instant pricing based on factors like size, material, quantity, or color.
3. Real Estate & Construction:
   • Builders, real estate agents, and contractors can use the cost calculator to provide estimates for construction projects, renovations, or real estate commissions.
4. Travel & Booking Services:
   • For travel agencies or booking websites, you can use this plugin to estimate the cost of a trip based on dates, destinations, accommodations, and additional services.
5. Insurance & Financial Services:
   • Insurance brokers or financial planners can use the plugin to give potential customers a quick quote for different insurance plans, loans, or financial services.

Conclusion:

Cost Calculator by BoldThemes is a powerful tool for any business that needs to offer customized pricing for services or products. With features like real-time calculations, multiple pricing options, customizable fields, and integration with WordPress themes, it provides a user-friendly way to engage with visitors and convert them into customers. Whether you're a freelancer, service provider, or eCommerce business, the Cost Calculator plugin can help improve the customer experience by giving them quick, accurate pricing estimates.