Tests aren't a line item

A common mistake I see with new Developers and Development teams when starting with automated testing is to split development time and testing into separate tasks.

They'll say when quoting a client or in an estimation session that the development time will take x hours and writing tests will take y hours.

This is something I've always avoided.

When broken out this way, it implies the automated tests are optional when they should be an integral part of the development process.

They aren't a separate task that can be removed or skipped to save time or money.

If I take my car to a garage, I don't ask them how long it will take to repair and how long to test what they've done.

I want to know how much the whole task will cost and how long it will take.

I assume they automatically test and verify the work they do and follow their industry's standard and best practices.

I'm doing the same when developing software.