Things to consider when preparing quotes

Whether plumber, accountant or photographer: When providing services, one usually also has to create quotations. Potential customers mainly want to know what a service costs. A good quotation not only shows the price, but also answers all the customer's questions.

Unlike contracts or invoices, quotations are made before the conclusion of business because the purpose of a quotation is to convince a potential customer of a service. Therefore, the quotation should contain all relevant information to eliminate any ambiguities.

Components of an informative quotation

There are no clear rules for creating quotations. In principle, it is up to each company to decide what is included in a quotation. However, a good quotation inevitably contains the information that is central to the potential customer. Before creating a quotation, you should therefore put yourself in the prospect's shoes and consider what they would want to know. Typically, a quotation will include information about the company, the service, and the price.

The Company

From the quotation, it should be clear who you are. Besides the company name and logo, the quotation should also show why a customer should choose your company. Set yourself apart from your competitors by disclosing qualifications, distinguishing features, and references. To avoid overloading the quotation, it is advisable not to print this information directly but rather to indicate where the customer can find out more. This is most easily done by referring to the company website.

The Service

In addition to information about your company, the quotation should also contain information about the services offered. In addition to the basic service, any additional options that might interest the customer should also be listed in the quotation. Make sure to print everything relevant without getting lost in unimportant details.  

The Price

For the customer, it is crucial to know how much your service will cost. Therefore, the quotation should also transparently show the price for all services. Whether you print the prices right next to each service or separately: it must be immediately clear to the customer what the costs are. Besides the base price, any possible discounts or special offers should also be shown. If the costs for certain services are not self-explanatory, it is also advisable to explain these additionally.

Customer-oriented quotation as a guarantee of success

In addition to the central components of company, service, and price, the quotation can also contain further information. Typical contents include the validity period of the quotation, the terms of conclusion, and the contact details.

Findea helps you keep an overview of your company's financial situation at all times.