5 Quoting Mistakes That Are Costing Your Trade Business Money

Quoting feels simple on the surface: add up materials, factor in labour, send it across. But small errors compound fast. Here are the five most common mistakes we see trade businesses make, and how to fix each one.

1. Underestimating labour time

It is tempting to quote based on best-case timelines. But traffic delays, tricky access, and unexpected complications are the norm, not the exception. Build a realistic buffer into every quote. If you consistently finish early, your customers will be delighted rather than hit with extras.

2. Forgetting material mark-ups

Passing materials through at cost seems fair, but it ignores the time you spend sourcing, collecting, and transporting them. A 15 to 20 percent mark-up on materials is standard and expected in the industry.

3. Not itemising properly

A single lump-sum quote tells the customer nothing. Itemised quotes build trust, reduce disputes, and make it easier to adjust scope without starting over. They also help your team understand exactly what was agreed.

4. Slow turnaround

The trade business that quotes fastest often wins the job. If your quotes take days because you are writing them on the kitchen table after work, you are losing to competitors who can send a professional quote from site within minutes.

5. No follow-up process

Sending a quote and hoping for the best is not a strategy. A simple follow-up at 48 hours and again at one week can increase your conversion rate by 25% or more. Automate it so it happens without you thinking about it.