THE QUICK ANSWER
A business quote proposes specific work at a stated price, with an acceptance period and terms. It helps the customer decide what to approve before the business starts the work.
Agree on the work before starting.
A useful quote answers three questions: what will you do, what will it cost, and what does the customer need to decide? A line saying “repairs — $500” leaves much more room for misunderstanding than a defined repair, named parts, exclusions and proposed timing.
Use a new quote number and a clear customer or job reference. Put assumptions next to the proposed work so the customer can see what would require a revised price.
Quote, estimate and invoice serve different purposes.
Use the document that matches the conversation. Avoid treating an approved quote as evidence that work is complete or that a payment was received.
| Document | Purpose | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Quote | Proposes defined scope, price and terms | Customer decides whether to approve |
| Estimate | Communicates an approximate expected cost | Confirm scope and refine the price |
| Invoice | Requests payment for the work or goods being billed | Review due dates and arrange payment |
A complete fictional quote.
Example Service Co. proposes a $75 service call, 1.5 hours of repair labor at $100 per hour, and $45 in replacement parts. The total is $270 before any applicable tax. It covers an accessible sink leak; concealed pipework and wall repairs are excluded.
These are demonstration rates, not market guidance. The editable example includes assumptions and a proposed schedule.
Example Service Co.
100 Example Avenue Sample City, USA
QUO-1042
Sample Customer
200 Sample Street Sample City, USA
- Issued
- 2026-09-16
- Valid until
- 2026-10-16 · 23:59 UTC
- Currency
- USD
- Terms
- Balance on completion
Kitchen sink leak repair
Repair the accessible leak beneath the kitchen sink.
Service call, repair labor and listed replacement parts.
Hidden pipework, wall repairs and additional faults.
Existing connections are accessible and serviceable. Extra work requires a revised quote.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service callflat fee | 1 | $75.00 | $75.00 |
| Leak repair — laborhours | 1.5 | $100.00 | $150.00 |
| Replacement partsitems | 1 | $45.00 | $45.00 |
Subtotal$270.00
Total$270.00
Start date to be agreed after approval
Fictional example for illustration. Replace with your actual job details.
No payment has been received. Confirm the payment schedule before work starts.
Approval confirms the proposed work, price and terms shown in this quote.
Customer approval requested. No drawn signature required.
Fictional example · editable prices · tax unset
Separate validity from the work schedule.
“Valid until” means the period in which the customer can accept this version. The builder defaults to 30 days after issue and states an end time of 23:59:59 UTC. The proposed start or completion schedule is a separate field.
If the acceptance period ends, reissue the quote deliberately. Extending validity or changing the price creates a new version; the old approval does not carry over.
Make the decision explicit.
The normal action is Approve quote. The customer enters a name and confirms the exact quote number and version. A drawn signature is optional and only appears when the owner enables Request customer signature.
Customers can also request changes or decline. A change request records feedback; it does not edit the offer automatically. The owner must review the note and reissue before another approval can be collected. The tool records the decision and self-reported name without making a universal claim about legal enforceability.
A requested deposit is not a payment.
Choose a fixed amount or percentage when proposing a deposit. A 25% request on a $780 quote is $195. The quote still totals $780; it does not show $195 as money received or subtract it from the proposed price.
When you create an invoice later, check what is actually being billed and independently confirm any payment before recording it.
Start from an old document, then review the new job.
Upload an invoice or quote to extract reusable details on your device. Confirm whether the source was issued by your business or a supplier. Supplier costs are not automatically your selling prices.
Owned Beside records can move directly between the Quote Generator and Invoice Generator. Conversion creates a fresh draft with a source reference, new dates and a signature option that starts off. Original documents and decisions stay unchanged.
Common questions
General product guidance, reviewed September 16, 2026. Enter the details and tax treatment that apply to your business. Read about storage and privacy.
