How to write a quote that wins the job
Most jobs are not won by the cheapest quote. They are won by the quote that turns up first, is easy to understand, and makes the customer feel like you know what you are doing. Price matters, but clarity and speed matter more than most tradies think.
Here is how to put together a quote that gets a yes.
Lead with what the job is
Start with a short title the customer recognises: "Back yard tidy up", "Bathroom vanity swap", "Switchboard upgrade". Then one or two lines on what you are going to do. The customer should know straight away that you understood what they asked for.
Say what is included
A short list of what is in the price does more to win a job than almost anything else. It answers the questions the customer was going to ring you about, and it makes your price look complete rather than vague.
- Remove and dispose of the old vanity
- Supply and fit new vanity, tapware and mirror cabinet
- Silicone, test and clean up
Three to five lines is plenty.
Say what is not included
This is the part that saves arguments later. If something might come up, say so now and say what it would cost. For example: "Plumbing changes behind the wall, if needed: charged hourly plus parts." or "Tree work over 3 metres not included."
Customers respect this. It shows you have done the job before and you are not going to surprise them with a bigger bill.
Break the price into lines
One big number with no detail makes people nervous. A few clear lines lets them see where the money goes:
- Materials and supply items, each on their own line
- Labour, shown the way you worked it out
- Rubbish removal or tip fees if they apply
For labour on bigger jobs, show the crew. "Labour: 3 workers x 8 hours @ $75 an hour" reads as honest and easy to check. It also shows the customer why the job costs what it does. If you would rather show one tidy total, that is fine too, but have the breakdown ready in case they ask.
Make GST obvious
If you are registered for GST, make it clear whether the price includes GST or has GST added. "Subtotal, GST, Total" at the bottom removes any doubt. Nothing kills trust faster than a customer finding out the price they agreed to was before GST.
Put a valid until date on it
Material prices move. A quote that is good for 14 or 30 days protects you, and it gives the customer a gentle reason to decide. Put the date on the quote, not just "valid for 30 days", so nobody has to work it out.
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Make it easy to say yes
Tell them exactly how to accept. Reply to the email, ring you, or tap an accept button. The fewer steps between "that looks good" and "go ahead", the more jobs you win. If you take a deposit for bigger jobs, say how much and when it is due, right there on the quote.
Speed beats polish
A good quote sent the same day usually beats a perfect quote sent next week. By the time the slow quote arrives, the customer has often already said yes to someone else. If you can, send it before you leave the driveway. Even sending it that evening puts you ahead of most of the trade.
If you are struggling to find the time, that is a sign the way you quote takes too long, not that you need more evenings.
Follow up once, politely
Plenty of quotes go quiet because people get busy, not because they said no. A short message a few days later is not pushy. Something like: "Hi Sam, just checking you got the quote for the back yard. Happy to answer any questions." That one message wins a surprising number of jobs.
And if they do say no, ask why. Price, timing or someone else? It is the cheapest market research you will ever get.
Look like a business
Your business name, ABN, phone number and a clean layout on every quote. A tidy PDF tells the customer you will be tidy on the job too. A quote typed into a text message does not.
A checklist you can steal
- Clear job title and a line or two on the work
- What is included
- What is not included, and what it would cost
- Price broken into lines, crew x hours x rate for labour
- GST shown clearly
- Valid until date
- How to accept, and any deposit
- Your business name, ABN and phone
- Sent the same day, followed up once
How Its All Sorted handles it
In Its All Sorted you can walk the job and say it out loud, and Kel writes the quote with your rates in it. It comes out as a clean PDF with included and not included sections, a workers column for crew pricing, GST worked out, and an Accept button your customer can tap. You find out the moment they say yes.