What should a quote include?
A good quote tells the customer who you are, exactly what you'll do, what it costs and on what terms. It should also answer the questions a customer would otherwise ring you about. Here's a checklist that works for most UK trades.
Last updated September 2026 · by the TradeKwote team
Your details
- Your business or trading name, phone number, email and address.
- Your company number if you're a limited company, and your VAT number if you're VAT registered.
- Trade registrations and memberships, such as Gas Safe, NICEIC or a trade body, where they apply.
The customer and the job
- The customer's name and the address of the job, if different from theirs.
- The date and a quote reference number, so you can both refer to it later.
- A clear description of the work, written so the customer can understand it. Include materials, finishes and quantities where they matter.
Prices
- Each part of the job as a line item, such as labour, materials and hire.
- VAT shown clearly if you're registered. For homeowners, the total must include VAT.
- Provisional sums for anything you can't price yet, clearly labelled as estimates.
What isn't included
Exclusions prevent more arguments than anything else on a quote. Common examples are making good, decorating, skips, planning or building control fees, and moving furniture. If you're not doing it, say so.
Terms
- How long the quote is valid for, often 30 days.
- Any deposit, and when the balance is due, for example on completion or within 14 days of the invoice.
- How the customer can pay, such as your bank details.
- An expected start date and how long the work will take, if you know them.
Cancellation rights: the one many trades miss
If you agree a job with a consumer in their home, or online or by phone, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 usually give them 14 days to cancel. You must tell them about this right in writing and give them a cancellation form.
- If you don't, the cancellation period can be extended by up to 12 months, and you may not be able to charge for work you've already done.
- If the customer wants you to start within the 14 days, get their request in writing. If they then cancel, you can charge for the work done up to that point.
Some jobs are exempt, such as urgent repairs the customer asked for. GOV.UK and Citizens Advice explain the rules in more detail.
How TradeKwote helps
- Your business details, logo, company number, VAT number and trade registration are added to every quote from Settings.
- TradeKwote writes the description of the work from your notes. You enter every price.
- Add exclusions and anything else the customer needs to know as notes on the quote.
- Set a deposit, payment terms and how long quotes are valid for, and your bank details appear on the PDF.
Frequently asked questions
What must a quote include by law?
There's no single legal format, but consumers must be given clear information about the service, the total price including VAT and, for jobs agreed away from your premises, their cancellation rights.
Should I list exclusions on a quote?
Yes. Saying what isn't included, such as decorating or waste removal, prevents most disputes.
Do I need to give customers a cancellation form?
Usually, yes, for jobs agreed in the customer's home, online or by phone. Without it, the cancellation period can be extended by up to 12 months.
Should I put my bank details on a quote?
It helps, especially if you're asking for a deposit. It saves the customer asking how to pay.
This guide is general information for UK tradespeople, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules can change and can differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check GOV.UK or a professional adviser for your situation.
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