A compliant construction quote: the template and details

What a quote is really for

A quote is not just a price: it's a document that commits your margin for months, frames the relationship with the client and serves as the basis for the order. A vague quote is a dispute in the making.

The essential mentions

• Your full details and your company number (CBE) / VAT
• The issue date and the validity period of the quote
• The client's identity (and their company number if professional)
• The breakdown of line items: description, quantity, unit, unit price
• The VAT rate per line (6% or 21%) and the appropriate mention (reverse charge, exemption…) where relevant
• The totals: net total, VAT, total to pay
• The terms: deposit, deadlines, payment method and due date

The standard structure

1. 1Header: your logo, your details, the quote number and date.
2. 2Subject: the site concerned and its address.
3. 3Line-item table: each row with quantity, unit, unit price, total.
4. 4Summary: net total, VAT (by rate), gross total.
5. 5Terms: validity, deposit, deadlines, payment, possible revision.
6. 6Signature: space for acceptance (ideally an electronic signature).

The mistakes that cost dearly

• Line items too vague ("various", "works"): a source of disputes
• Forgetting the validity period (material prices move)
• Getting the VAT rate wrong
• Not planning a deposit or revision terms

Does a quote commit you?

A quote accepted and signed by the client commits both parties, within the limits of its validity period. Hence the importance of setting a clear validity and precise terms. Electronic signature, via a portal, speeds up acceptance and secures the proof.

The most reliable "template": a generator

A fixed template (a file to fill in) quickly forgets a mention or the right rate. A quote generator automatically applies the mentions, the right VAT rate per line and your terms — and produces a branded document, ready to sign online. That's safer than a static template.