What action should be taken if an estimated cost does not appear in the Estimates vs. Actuals report?

The action of changing the status of the estimate to either Closed or Accepted is appropriate because it allows the estimate to be properly accounted for in the Estimates vs. Actuals report. When estimates are marked with a status that reflects their current state, it ensures that QuickBooks recognizes them accurately, which is essential for generating precise financial reports.

This action indicates that the estimate has been finalized or is no longer active, allowing for correct comparisons with actual costs incurred. Ensuring that estimates have the correct status supports better project tracking and financial analysis, as it provides clarity on which estimates have been fulfilled and which are still pending.

Other options like submitting a query to support or creating a new estimate do not directly address the need for accurate status reflection in the existing estimates. Ignoring the discrepancy would lead to ongoing inaccuracies in reporting and financial assessments. Therefore, updating the status correctly aligns the estimates with tracked expenses.