Quoting Tips to Win More Work

The Quote That Wins Isn't Always the Cheapest

Let's get this out of the way: most customers don't pick the cheapest quote. They pick the one that feels most professional, most trustworthy, and most clear.

If you've ever lost a job to someone who charged more than you, it wasn't because the customer liked paying extra. It's because the other quote was better presented, faster to arrive, or made the customer feel more confident.

Here are seven ways to win more work — and make better money doing it.

1. Be Fast — Quote Within 24 Hours

Speed wins more jobs than price. Full stop.

When a customer reaches out for a quote, they're in buying mode. They're motivated, they've got a problem, and they want it solved. Every hour you delay, that motivation fades — or worse, someone else gets there first.

The Numbers

Research across the trades industry shows:

Tradespeople who quote within 24 hours have a 60% higher conversion rate than those who take longer
The average homeowner contacts 3 tradespeople — whoever quotes first has a significant advantage
After 48 hours, the customer has often already accepted another quote

How to Be Faster

Use templates for common jobs — don't start from scratch every time
Quote from site — if you've just done the site visit, send the quote from your van before you drive to the next job
Use quoting software — pulling prices from a saved list is faster than working out every quote on paper
Set a daily routine — dedicate 30 minutes each morning to outstanding quotes

It's not about rushing and getting the price wrong. It's about having systems that let you quote accurately in minutes rather than days.

2. Use Package Pricing: Good / Better / Best

This is one of the most powerful pricing strategies in any trade — and almost nobody uses it.

Instead of giving one price and hoping the customer says yes, give three options:

Example: Bathroom Renovation

Option 1 — Essential (Good): €6,500

Standard white suite
Basic chrome fittings
Standard tiling
All plumbing and electrical

Option 2 — Premium (Better): €9,200

Higher-quality suite with soft-close
Thermostatic shower valve
Feature wall tiling
LED mirror and heated towel rail
All plumbing and electrical

Option 3 — Luxury (Best): €13,500

Designer suite
Walk-in rainfall shower
Full floor-to-ceiling tiling
Underfloor heating
Smart lighting
All plumbing and electrical

Why This Works

Customers feel in control — they're choosing between your options, not choosing between you and another tradesperson
The middle option wins most often (70% of the time, according to pricing research)
You anchor the price high — €13,500 makes €9,200 feel reasonable
You capture upsell revenue — some customers will pick the top option
You never leave money on the table — if a customer would have paid €9,200 but you only quoted €6,500, you've lost €2,700

3. Include Optional Extras

Even with package pricing, optional extras give customers more ways to say yes.

Great Extras by Trade

Plumber:

Magna clean filter: +€280
Smart thermostat upgrade: +€350
Extended guarantee (3 years): +€150

Electrician:

Surge protection: +€180
USB sockets throughout: +€220
Smart lighting control: +€500

Builder:

Upgraded insulation: +€800
Power wash and seal driveway: +€400
Attic storage flooring: +€650

Painter:

Mould treatment before painting: +€200
Exterior power wash: +€300
Premium paint upgrade: +€350

List extras at the bottom of your quote with a simple tick-box. Customers often add one or two — and that's pure profit you'd have missed otherwise.

4. Show Professionalism With Branded Quotes

A professional quote doesn't just tell the customer what you'll do and what it costs. It tells them what kind of business you are.

What a Professional Quote Includes

Your logo and branding — consistent colours and fonts
Your contact details — phone, email, address, Eircode
Your credentials — Safe Electric, RGII, CIF membership, insurance details
A clear description of works — not just "bathroom renovation" but a detailed scope
What's included and what's not — prevent disputes later
Payment terms — deposit required, when balance is due
Validity period — "This quote is valid for 30 days"
Terms and conditions — even a simple paragraph protects you

The Difference It Makes

Compare these two quotes from a customer's perspective:

Quote A: A text message that says "I can do the bathroom for 7 grand, let me know"

Quote B: A branded PDF with your logo, a breakdown of works, three package options, photos of similar jobs you've done, and clear payment terms.

Who would you hire? Price being equal, Quote B wins every single time. And even if Quote B is 10% more expensive, many customers will still choose it — because it feels safer.

5. Follow Up Automatically

You sent the quote. The customer said "thanks, I'll think about it." And then... silence.

Sound familiar? Most tradespeople never follow up. They send the quote, hope for the best, and move on. This is leaving thousands of euros on the table every year.

The Follow-Up Sequence

Day 2: Quick message — "Hi [Name], just checking you received the quote OK. Any questions at all, give me a shout."
Day 5: Add value — "I had a thought about the job — we could also [suggestion]. Happy to adjust the quote if you're interested."
Day 10: Gentle close — "Hi [Name], just a quick one — are you still planning to go ahead with the [project]? No pressure either way, just tidying up my schedule."

Why Most Tradies Don't Follow Up

They feel like they're "pestering" the customer (you're not — you're being professional)
They forget (busy doing actual work)
They don't have a system

That last one is the real issue. If you have to manually remember to follow up on every quote, it won't happen. Automation solves this — set it up once and every quote gets followed up without you lifting a finger.

6. Track Your Win Rate

If you don't know your win rate, you're flying blind.

What Is Win Rate?

Your win rate is the percentage of quotes that turn into paying jobs.

Win rate = (Jobs won ÷ Quotes sent) × 100

What's a Good Win Rate?

| Win Rate | What It Means | |----------|---------------| | Below 20% | You're quoting too high, too slow, or targeting the wrong work | | 20–40% | Average — room for improvement | | 40–60% | Strong — you're doing most things right | | Above 60% | You're probably undercharging (or very niche) |

What to Do With This Number

Track it monthly — is it trending up or down?
Break it down by job type — you might win 60% of boiler installs but only 15% of bathroom renovations
Break it down by source — referrals might convert at 70% while online leads convert at 25%
Test changes — try package pricing for a month and see if your win rate improves

You can't improve what you don't measure. TradeTime tracks your win rate automatically across all your quotes, so you always know where you stand.

7. Use Proper Markup

We've written a full guide on material markup, but here's the short version: if you're charging materials at cost, you're losing money.

The Quick Markup Checklist

Are you marking up materials by at least 20–30%? If not, you're subsidising the customer's project
Are you covering your overheads? Van costs, insurance, tools, software, phone — these need to be in your price
Are you paying yourself properly? What's your effective hourly rate after expenses? If it's under €30, something's wrong
Have you accounted for non-billable time? Quoting, admin, travel, and rain days all need to be covered by the jobs you win

The Confidence Factor

Here's the thing about proper pricing: when you know your numbers are right, you quote with confidence. You don't apologise for your price. You present it clearly and stand behind it.

Customers sense that confidence. And confidence sells.

Putting It All Together

Let's see what happens when you combine all seven tips:

Before: You send a plain text quote three days after the site visit. One price, no options, no follow-up. You win 25% of your quotes at razor-thin margins.

After: You send a branded quote within 24 hours, with three package options, optional extras, and proper markup. An automatic follow-up goes out on day 2, 5, and 10. You track your win rate monthly.

Result: Your win rate jumps to 45%. Your average job value increases by 20% (thanks to package pricing and extras). Your profit margin improves by 15% (thanks to proper markup). You're working the same hours but earning significantly more.

That's not a fantasy. That's what happens when you treat quoting as a skill, not a chore.

Send Quotes That Win

Try TradeTime free — built for Irish & UK tradespeople. Professional branded quotes, package pricing, optional extras, automatic follow-ups, and win rate tracking — all in one app. Quote faster, win more, earn better.