Blog→How to Write a Trade Quote in Australia (2026 Guide)
How to Write a Trade Quote in Australia (2026 Guide)
A clear, practical guide to writing professional trade quotes that win work — covering format, pricing, GST and what clients actually want to see.
PUBLISHED BY INSTA QUOTES
A good trade quote does two things: it gives the client enough information to say yes, and it protects you if something goes wrong. Most tradies do one but not the other. Here's how to do both.
What a trade quote actually is
A quote is a fixed-price offer. Unlike an estimate (which is approximate), a quote locks you in to the price you specify — so accuracy matters. Once a client accepts a quote, you're committed to that price for the scope of work described.
This is why vague quotes are dangerous. "Bathroom renovation — $8,000" leaves you exposed if the scope expands. Line items protect you: they define exactly what's included, so when the client asks for an extra coat of paint or a different tap fitting, you have a clear basis for a variation.
What every trade quote should include
- Your business details: Business name, ABN, phone, email, address. Required for a valid tax invoice if the client needs one later.
- Quote number and date: Keeps your records clean and makes follow-ups easy.
- Client name and job address: Not just the billing address — the actual site.
- Quote validity period: Typically 30 days. Material prices move; you don't want to be held to a price you quoted six months ago.
- Itemised line items: Break the job into materials and labour. Clients who can see exactly what they're paying for are more likely to accept.
- GST: Show it as a separate line. "Total ex GST: $3,200 + GST $320 = $3,520" is clearer than burying it in the total.
- Payment terms: Deposit required? Progress claims? Final payment on completion? State it up front.
- Scope notes: What's explicitly NOT included. "Does not include removal of existing tiles" saves arguments later.
How to price the work
Most experienced tradies price on three components:
- Materials at cost + markup. Your cost to buy and deliver materials. Add 15–25% markup to cover handling, wastage, and the risk that prices move.
- Labour at your hourly rate × hours. Know your all-in cost per hour (wages, super, insurance, vehicle, tools) and price above it. A sole trader billing $85/hr might have $55/hr in costs — the margin pays for slow periods, admin, and actual profit.
- A contingency buffer. On anything but the most straightforward jobs, add 5–10% for the unexpected. Clients rarely notice; your margins always thank you.
The hardest part is estimating hours accurately. Keep records of how long past jobs actually took, not how long you thought they'd take. That data is worth money.
Format matters more than you think
Two quotes for the same job at the same price: one is a handwritten note on a piece of paper, the other is a clean PDF with your logo, the client's name, and itemised line items. Which one wins the job?
Clients can't evaluate your work before you do it — so they evaluate how professional you look. A well-formatted quote signals that you run an organised business and will manage their job the same way.
Send it fast
The tradie who quotes fastest wins a disproportionate share of jobs. When a client calls three tradies, whoever gets back first is already ahead — the client has mentally started the relationship. Waiting until the weekend to write quotes is leaving money on the table.
If you can quote the same day as the site visit, do it. If you can quote on-site before you drive home, even better.
Follow up
Most tradies send a quote and wait. Send a follow-up three days later: "Just checking you received my quote for the [job] — happy to answer any questions." It takes 30 seconds and converts a meaningful percentage of non-responses into jobs.