How to write a professional quote that wins jobs
Most tradespeople lose jobs not because of their price — but because of how their quote looks. Here is exactly how to write a quote that makes customers say yes.
Why most quotes get ignored
You did the survey. You worked out the price. You sent the quote. Nothing.
A week goes by. You follow up. They say they went with someone else.
It happens to every tradesperson. And most of the time it has nothing to do with your price.
It is how the quote looked.
A customer getting 3 quotes from 3 plumbers sees one that looks like a WhatsApp message, one that is a photo of a handwritten note, and one that is a clean professional document with their name on it, a breakdown of work, a price, and a start date.
They go with the professional one. Every time.
What a winning quote includes
1. The customer's name and address at the top Not "Hi mate" — their actual name and the property address. Shows you paid attention.
2. A clear description of the work Not "bathroom job" — "Supply and installation of new bathroom suite including bath, WC, basin, full tiling and all plumbing connections." They should be able to show it to their partner and have it make sense.
3. An itemised price Labour and materials broken out separately where possible. Customers trust itemised quotes more than a single number.
4. A validity period "This quote is valid for 30 days." Creates urgency without being pushy.
5. Your payment terms "50% deposit required to book, balance on completion." Sets expectations before the job starts.
6. Your contact details and any certifications Gas Safe number, NICEIC registration, whatever applies. Trust signals matter.
The message that loses you the job
Here is a real example of a quote that loses jobs:
"Hi, for the bathroom it would be around £2500 maybe a bit more depending what we find. Let me know. Cheers"
And here is what it should say:
"Dear Mrs Johnson, Thank you for showing me around your property on Monday. I am pleased to provide the following quotation for the bathroom renovation at 14 Maple Close. Works to include: full strip out and removal of existing suite, supply and installation of new bath, WC and pedestal basin, floor and wall tiling (up to 10sqm), all plumbing connections and waste. Total: £2,650 including all labour and materials. This quotation is valid for 30 days. A 50% deposit is required to secure your booking. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Kind regards, Mike Johnson, MJ Plumbing Services, Gas Safe Reg: 123456"
Same price. Completely different result.
How Drafted helps
Drafted's Quote Generator takes your rough notes and turns them into a professional quote like the one above in seconds. Just tell it the job details — customer name, what you are doing, the price — and it writes the rest.
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