Is a quote legally binding in the UK?

Yes. Once a client accepts a quote — in writing, by text, or by authorizing you to start — it becomes a binding agreement at the stated price. You generally can't charge more afterward without a good reason, such as the client requesting extra work.

Can I charge more than my quote once it's accepted?

In the UK, not without a valid reason like a change in scope — that's the point of a quote versus an estimate. If a job has no fixed price agreed at all, UK law defaults to requiring only a reasonable price, not an arbitrary one.

How long should a quote stay valid?

There's no legal requirement, but 15 to 30 days is common practice. Stating an expiry date on the quote itself protects you if material costs change before the client responds.

Should a quote be itemized or one lump sum?

Itemized where you can manage it — breaking a quote into labor, materials, and any fees makes it easier for the client to see what they're paying for, and easier for you to justify the total if they push back on price. A lump sum is fine for simple, single-deliverable work.

Can I ask for a deposit before starting work?

Yes, and it's common practice for larger jobs — state the deposit amount or percentage directly on the quote so it's agreed before work begins, not requested afterward. Some US states cap how large a deposit can be for home improvement work, so check your state's contractor licensing rules if that applies to you.

What if the client wants changes after accepting the quote?

Treat it as a new quote for the additional scope rather than quietly absorbing it into the original price — a short written confirmation of the change and its cost protects you if the final bill is questioned later.

Does a quote need a number, like an invoice does?

It's not legally required, but numbering them (QTE-1001, QTE-1002) makes it much easier to reference a specific quote later, especially once you convert an accepted one into an invoice.

Is a verbal quote enforceable?

It can be, but it's far harder to prove what was actually agreed if there's a dispute. A written quote is what gives a verbal conversation an actual record — which is the entire practical argument for sending one instead of just stating a price out loud.

Can I make a quote in Spanish, French or another language?

Yes. Pick the document language — English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian or Dutch — and every heading on the PDF switches, along with the date and number format. You can also rename any label yourself under Customize labels, for example "Prepared for" to "Client". The form itself stays in English.

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Rename any heading printed on the PDF — e.g. “Prepared for” to “Client”. Leave a field empty to keep the wording shown in grey. A label only prints when its field is used (Discount needs a discount, Amount Paid a payment); check the result with Preview.

QuoteFromPrepared forDateValid UntilReferenceDescriptionQtyRateAmountSubtotalDiscountShippingTotalPayment DetailsNotesTermsTax IDSignature: Accepted by (client signature)Signature: Date

FromBusiness / your nameAddress

CityStateZIP

EmailPhoneoptional

VAT / Tax numberoptional

Prepared forClient nameCompanyoptionalAddress

CityStateZIP

Client emailoptional

Quote DetailsQuote numberQuote dateValid untilCurrencyReferenceoptional

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DescriptionQtyRateAmount

Description

Qty

Rate

Amount$0.00

Subtotal$0.00

Discount

Tax

Shipping

Total$0.00

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NotesTerms

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How to send a quote in 3 steps

Step 1

State the scope and price

Exactly what's included, and the fixed price you're committing to for it.

Step 2

Set a validity date

How long the price holds — 15 to 30 days is typical.

Step 3

Send it before work starts

Get it agreed in writing before you commit any time or materials.

Is a quote legally binding?

In the US, there's no statute that makes a quote binding, but a written, accepted quote still functions as a contract under ordinary offer-and-acceptance principles. In the UK, yes — once your client accepts it, a quote becomes a binding agreement at that price.

US: no binding-quote statute, but the FTC's advice still applies

The US has no federal law that makes an accepted quote binding at a fixed price the way UK consumer law does. The FTC's consumer guidance on hiring contractors recommends a written estimate that includes a description of the work, materials, completion date, and price, and advises comparing multiple bids rather than defaulting to the cheapest one (FTC Consumer Advice — How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam). Several states go further and require a written contract above a set dollar threshold — check your state's contractor licensing board if you work in a regulated trade.

UK: quotes, estimates, and the Consumer Rights Act 2015

A quote is a fixed price the tradesperson commits to once the client accepts it — that's what separates it from an estimate, which is a non-binding best guess that can move within a reasonable range as the job unfolds. If a service is agreed without a price being fixed at all, UK law doesn't leave that open-ended: Section 51 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 states that “the contract is to be treated as including a term that the consumer must pay a reasonable price for the service, and no more,” with what counts as reasonable being “a question of fact” ( legislation.gov.uk — Consumer Rights Act 2015, Section 51). In practice: send a quote, not a vague verbal number, if you want the price you stated to actually hold.

Turning a quote into an invoice

Once the work is done, convert the accepted quote into an invoice with the same line items and pricing, plus your payment terms and due date. For the full breakdown of when to send which document, see invoice vs quote.

What a quote should include

Beyond the price itself: a clear scope of work so there's no ambiguity about what's covered, a validity date so the price doesn't sit open forever, and your payment terms for once it's accepted — deposit required, when the balance is due, and how the client can pay. A quote missing a scope is the single biggest source of “that wasn't included” disputes later. The generator sets the validity date 30 days out by default, and can add an acceptance line for the client to sign, so you have the written agreement on the quote itself.

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Why use a quote generator instead of a verbal price?

A price stated out loud is hard to prove later, and — as the Consumer Rights Act 2015 shows — if no fixed price was actually agreed, UK law falls back to whatever counts as “reasonable,” not the number you meant to charge. A written quote removes that ambiguity entirely: the price, the scope, and the client's acceptance are all in one place.

It also protects you from the other direction — a client who claims they remember a lower number than what was actually discussed. A quote your client accepted in writing settles that question before it becomes one.

Need more background first?

If you're not sure whether you need a quote, an estimate, or an invoice, these guides go deeper than this page does:

Invoice vs quote — which one to send, and when
How to make an invoice — for once the quote is accepted and the work is done
How to invoice as a freelancer — the full billing process, start to finish

Frequently asked questions

There's no federal rule making a quote automatically binding the way there is in the UK. In practice, a quote a client accepts in writing functions as an offer-and-acceptance agreement under ordinary contract principles — which is why the FTC recommends getting everything in writing regardless of whether it's strictly required.