Guides · UK trades
Protecting your money on quotes
Estimates vs quotes, deposits, validity, scope of work, and what to put on the paper.
- What is the legal difference between an estimate and a quote in the UK?
- Should trades charge for providing a quote or estimate?
- How long should a quote remain valid for UK trade customers?
- How to ask a customer for a deposit before starting work
- How to write a clear scope of work on a quote to prevent scope creep
- Should tradespeople show a line-item breakdown of labor and materials?
Create quotes and invoices from WhatsApp with Pencil assistant
Stop spending your Sunday evenings stuck behind a screen with a calculator. Dictate your site notes or snap a photo of your scribbles, and Pencil turns them into clear, professional PDFs you can check and send in seconds.
- Turns quick voice notes or scribbled site photos into neat PDFs
- Invoices sent on the spot so you get paid before you pack up
- Adjust line items, labour, or VAT on the fly
No credit card required · Cancel anytime · 14-day trial
Pencil
Alright Pencil, need a quote for Dave on High Street. Full repaint of the hall, stairs, and landing. Call it £220 for materials, 3 days labour at £200 a day, plus VAT. Address is 14 High Street, TN11 8LX.
Quote for Dave Smith, TN11 8LX
Hall, stairs and landing repainting£600.00
Materials (paint, primer, protection)£220.00
Total: £820+VAT (£984)
Quote for Dave Smith, TN11 8LX
Hall, stairs and landing repainting£600.00
Materials (paint, primer, protection)£220.00
Gloss 4 internal doors£120.00
Total: £940+VAT (£1,128)
Start date: Thursday, 8th October