How to Win More Quotes as a Tradesperson — 10 Proven Tips

Every tradesperson has been there. You visit the property, spend an hour measuring up, go home and work out the costs, send the quote — and hear nothing. Or worse, you find out the customer went with someone else who charged more than you. The frustration is real, but the problem is rarely your price. It is almost always your process.

The tradespeople who consistently convert quotes into jobs are not necessarily the cheapest or the most experienced. They are the ones who respond fastest, present most professionally, and make the customer feel confident that the job will be done right. Here are ten proven tips that will help you win more of the quotes you send.

1. Respond to Enquiries Within Two Hours

Speed of response is the single biggest factor in winning quote requests. When a homeowner contacts three plumbers, two electricians, or four builders, the first one to respond professionally almost always has the advantage. Research consistently shows that the first tradesperson to respond wins the work around sixty per cent of the time.

This does not mean you need to drop your tools every time the phone rings. It means having a system for handling enquiries quickly. If you cannot answer the phone because you are on a job, set up a professional voicemail message and call back within an hour. If enquiries come through by text or email, reply within two hours with a friendly message confirming your availability and suggesting a time for a site visit.

The customer is not just evaluating your price — they are evaluating how it feels to work with you. If it takes three days to get a reply to their initial enquiry, they will assume the job itself will be equally slow.

2. Present Professional, Branded Proposals

A customer asking for a kitchen extension quote is about to spend forty thousand pounds or more. They expect a professional document, not a price scrawled on the back of an envelope or a text message saying "thirty-eight K all in." Whether you are a builder, kitchen fitter, or plumber, an alarming number of tradespeople still quote this way and then wonder why they lose work to competitors charging more.

A professional proposal includes a branded header with your business name and contact details, the customer's name and property address, a detailed scope of work explaining exactly what is included, an itemised or sectioned cost breakdown, a clear timeline with estimated start and completion dates, payment terms and schedule, terms and conditions, and your guarantee.

This does not take hours to create. Tools like QuoteSmith generate branded PDF proposals from your input in minutes. You enter the job details and costs, and it builds the scope of work, terms, and professional formatting automatically. The difference in conversion rate between a professional proposal and a text message price is enormous. Read more about why professional proposals win more work.

3. Quote Within Twenty-Four Hours of the Site Visit

The momentum from a positive site visit fades quickly. If you visit a property on Monday and send the quote on Friday, the customer has had four days to receive and review other quotes, lose the enthusiasm they felt when discussing the project with you, and start questioning whether you are reliable.

Aim to send your quote within twenty-four hours of the site visit. Same day is even better. The customer remembers meeting you, they remember feeling confident in your expertise, and your quote arrives while that positive impression is fresh. This alone can significantly increase your conversion rate.

4. Follow Up — Every Time

Many tradespeople send a quote and then wait passively for the customer to get back to them. This is a mistake. Customers are busy. They receive multiple quotes. They intend to accept yours but get distracted. A simple follow-up can be the nudge that converts a maybe into a yes.

Follow up three to five days after sending your quote. A brief text or email is enough — "Hi Sarah, just checking you received the quote and whether you had any questions." This is not pushy. It is professional, and it shows you are keen to do the work. If you do not hear back after the first follow-up, try once more after another week. After that, move on — but you will be surprised how often the first follow-up is all it takes. See our full guide on how to follow up on a quote.

5. Price Competitively — Not Cheaply

There is an important distinction between competitive pricing and being the cheapest. Being the cheapest signals to customers that you might cut corners, use inferior materials, or lack experience. Being competitive means your price is fair for the quality and scope of work you are offering.

Know your market. Understand what other tradespeople in your area charge for similar work. Your price does not need to match the lowest — it needs to be justifiable. If you charge more than a competitor, make sure your proposal explains why. Better materials, longer guarantee, more detailed scope, inclusion of elements that others exclude — these all justify a higher price and actually make customers feel more confident, not less.

If you are consistently losing quotes on price alone, re-examine your cost base. Are your overheads too high? Is your materials markup appropriate? Are you pricing in too much contingency? Use our profit margin calculator to check your numbers, and read our pricing guide for tradespeople to audit your approach.

6. Build a Strong Online Presence

Before a customer even contacts you, they have almost certainly searched for you online. If they find nothing — no website, no Google reviews, no social media — that creates doubt. If they find a professional Google Business Profile with positive reviews and photos of your work, they are already half-convinced before you quote.

The essentials for a tradesperson's online presence in 2026 are a Google Business Profile with at least twenty reviews, photos of completed work on Google and social media, a simple website or landing page (even a single page with your services, service area, and contact details), and consistent business information (name, address, phone number) across all platforms.

You do not need to spend thousands on marketing. A well-maintained Google Business Profile and a steady stream of positive reviews will generate more leads than most paid advertising. For a complete breakdown, see our guide on how to market your trade business online.

7. Listen Before You Prescribe

When you visit a property to quote, listen to what the customer wants before you start telling them what they need. Many tradespeople launch into technical explanations or recommendations before understanding the customer's priorities, budget, and concerns.

Ask open questions. "What are you hoping to achieve with this project?" "What is most important to you — cost, speed, or specification?" "Have you had any previous work done that you were particularly happy or unhappy with?" These questions show you care about their needs, not just the job, and the information you gather helps you tailor your quote to what actually matters to them.

8. Offer Options Where Appropriate

Instead of providing a single take-it-or-leave-it price, consider offering two or three options at different specification levels. See our proposal examples for how this looks in practice. For example, a bathroom quote might offer a standard option with basic sanitaryware and tiling, a mid-range option with upgraded fittings and full-height tiling, and a premium option with high-end fixtures, underfloor heating, and bespoke tiling.

This approach has several benefits. It gives the customer control over their budget. It anchors the mid-range option (which most people choose) as the sensible choice. And it often upsells — customers who intended to go basic end up choosing the mid-range option because the premium option makes it look like good value by comparison.

9. Show Social Proof

Customers trust other customers more than they trust you. Including testimonials, review scores, or case studies in your proposals can significantly increase your conversion rate. If you have completed similar work recently, mention it. "We recently completed a similar extension in the next street" is powerful because it demonstrates relevant experience and implies local reputation.

If you use QuoteSmith, you can include your Google review rating and selected testimonials directly in your proposals. This builds trust at the exact moment the customer is making their decision.

10. Make it Easy to Say Yes

Remove every obstacle between the customer reading your quote and accepting it. Your quote should include a clear acceptance method — whether that is replying to the email, signing and returning the document, or clicking an accept button. State the next steps clearly: "Once you accept, we will confirm a start date within forty-eight hours and arrange the deposit payment."

If the customer needs to take additional action — like obtaining planning permission, arranging party wall agreements, or clearing access — spell this out clearly. Uncertainty kills decisions. The more clarity you provide, the easier it is for the customer to move forward.

Measuring Your Quote Conversion Rate

You cannot improve what you do not measure. Track every quote you send and whether it converts into a job. A simple spreadsheet works — date, customer name, job type, quote value, result (won, lost, no response), and any notes on why you think you won or lost.

A healthy conversion rate for an established tradesperson is thirty to fifty per cent. If you are below twenty-five per cent, focus on improving the quality of your quotes rather than the quantity. If you are above fifty per cent, you may be under-pricing — consider raising your rates and see if the conversion rate drops to a more balanced level while your revenue increases.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I win more quotes as a tradesperson?

The most effective ways to win more quotes are to respond to enquiries within two hours, present professional branded proposals, follow up within three to five days, build a strong online presence with Google reviews, price competitively while protecting your margins, and communicate clearly throughout the process. Customers choose tradespeople based on trust and professionalism as much as price.

How quickly should I respond to a quote request?

You should respond within two hours during working hours. The first tradesperson to respond wins the work around sixty per cent of the time. Even if you cannot visit immediately, a quick reply confirming availability and suggesting a site visit time demonstrates reliability. Consistently slow responses lose work before you even quote.

Should I be the cheapest quote to win work?

No. Most customers do not choose the cheapest quote. They choose the one that gives them the most confidence. A well-presented quote with a clear scope, realistic timeline, and professional format will often beat a cheaper quote that is vague or poorly presented. Focus on communicating value rather than competing solely on price.

How many quotes should I send per week?

The number depends on your conversion rate and workload. If you win one in three, you need three quotes per job. Most established tradespeople aim for thirty to fifty per cent conversion. If your rate is below twenty-five per cent, improve quality over quantity. If it is above fifty per cent, you may be under-pricing.

What is the best way to follow up on a quote?

Follow up three to five days after sending your quote with a brief, friendly message asking if they had any questions. If no response, try once more after another week. Never be pushy — a professional, low-pressure approach works best. You will be surprised how often a simple follow-up converts a silent prospect into a confirmed job.

Do Google reviews help win more quotes?

Yes. Google reviews are one of the most powerful tools for winning work. When customers compare quotes from multiple tradespeople, they almost always check reviews. A business with twenty or more positive reviews and a rating above four point five stars wins significantly more work than competitors with no reviews. Ask every satisfied customer for a review and send a direct link to make it easy.