A good quote is not a list of prices: it is the moment the client decides whether to trust you. The difference between “let me think about it” and “let’s go” is almost always in how it is built, not in how much it costs.
What a quote must contain
- your details and the client's;
- the client's goal, written in their own words (it proves you listened);
- the detail of what you will do — and, just as important, what is excluded;
- the price, ideally with more than one option;
- delivery times and payment terms;
- how long the offer stands (an actual date).
The mistake that gets you a no: selling hours, not results
“8 hours × €30 = €240” invites the client to argue about the hours and to look for someone who needs fewer of them. Sell the result instead: what they get, what it fixes, what stops being a problem. The price justifies itself once it is anchored to the value, not to the clock.
Give the client a choice, not a yes/no
A quote with one price has two answers: yes or no (and often “let me think about it”). With three options — basic, recommended, complete — the question changes from “should I do this?” to “which one do I take?”. Most people pick the middle one: the one you wanted them to pick.
The terms that protect you
- Deposit on acceptance (typically 30-50%): it filters out the people who are not serious.
- What is excluded: it kills the “but I thought that was included” conversation.
- Timing tied to the client delivering their materials on time.
- Expiry date: your costs move, today's price is not forever.
The golden rule
The quote that wins is not the cheapest one: it is the one that makes the client feel understood and makes the decision easy. Clarity, options and an obvious result beat a discount almost every time.
The quote, the follow-up and the terms are written for you by Vanteo, ready to send, based on your own business. And before you send it, make sure the price holds up: how to set the right price.