Guide

How to write a quote that wins work

Most trades lose jobs they should have won because of the quote, not the price. A number scribbled in a text next to a detailed written quote from someone else makes the decision easy, and not in your favour.

Send it fast

A quote that lands the same day while the customer still remembers you carries more weight than a better priced one that arrives a week later.

If you cannot price it that day, send a line saying when it will come. Silence reads as not interested.

Spell out what is included

List the work, the materials, who supplies what, how long it takes and what is not included. Most disputes come from something nobody mentioned.

Being specific also justifies your price without you having to defend it.

Give a choice where it makes sense

Two options, a standard and a better version, work well. People who were deciding whether to use you start deciding which one to take instead.

Do not go past three. More than that stalls the decision.

Make it look like a business sent it

A quote should have all of this on it.

  • Your business name, logo, number and email
  • The customer name and the address of the job
  • A clear description and a clear total
  • Payment terms and any deposit
  • How long the price holds for

Then follow it up

Most quotes never get chased and a good share of them would have been accepted with one polite nudge. A short message a few days later is not pushy, it is normal.

Common questions

Should I quote by phone or in writing?

Always in writing, even for small jobs. It protects both of you and it makes you look far more professional.

How long should a quote stay valid?

Thirty days is common and it gives you room to adjust if material prices move.

Where to go next

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