No need to know the vocabulary first
A few words, explained
- Overhead
- Everyday business costs, such as rent, that need to be covered by the work you sell.
- Markup
- The amount added to a cost, expressed as a percentage of that cost.
- Margin
- The amount left after the included costs, expressed as a percentage of the selling price.
- Cash flow
- When money enters and leaves your business.
- Scope
- What an agreed job includes, and what it leaves out.
Lead with the project and client
Use the client name, email, project title, date, quote number, and your business information. Those simple details prevent confusion when a customer is comparing several projects or returns to the document later.
Describe what the quote includes
State the size, wood species, finish, hardware, design assumptions, delivery or installation, and what is excluded. Clients are more likely to approve a quote when they can see what their money buys.
Make approval and payment explicit
State the total, deposit, balance timing, expiration date, estimated lead time, and how changes are handled. Then give the client one clear approval action instead of requiring a long email exchange.
Shop 101
Apply this reference to your project
Use your own project measurements and record how the result affects the material, setup or estimate.
- Name the material, dimension, or cost input that affects the decision.
- Use the reference and related calculator to check the measurement or estimate.
- Test or compare the result before committing final material, time, or client scope.
Try it with your own numbers
Common questions
What payment terms should a woodworking quote include?
Use terms that match your cash flow and project risk. State the deposit amount, when the balance is due, how long the quote is valid, and what happens when scope changes.
Should a quote show profit margin to the client?
No. Show the client the deliverable, price, schedule, and payment terms. Keep internal cost, overhead, and profit detail in your estimate and job-costing records.
When should a client sign off on a quote?
Before ordering project-specific material or committing production time. The approval should confirm the scope, total, schedule assumptions, and payment terms.