Are you a plumber, electrician, landscaper, carpenter, roofer or fabricator looking for the best quoting software for your service based tradie business?
Before we get into the variety of quoting software tools on the market, we have to explain that there’s a big difference between estimating and quoting software.
Estimating tools will help you:
- Break down the job or project that you’re quoting
- Get measurements and calculations
- Work out the value of the work you need to do
Quoting software will:
- Take these calculations and let you turn them into the actual quote that the client sees.
There’s a bit of a cross over in these 2 things but in this blog, we’ll be looking specifically at the Quoting software tools that are out there.
If you’d like to know more details about estimating tools and how they can be used with your technology systems then please check out our recent podcast with Matt Jones from the Site Shed where we go a bit deeper on this subject, and of course you can always reach out to us for a one on one discussion, but for now, let’s take a look at our options when it comes to quoting.
The right quoting software can help tradie businesses win more work by streamlining the sales process and making it easy to quickly create and send professional quotes to your clients.
A good quoting software will let you create custom branded quote templates, specify labour, equipment and materials allowances, present this information in a professional layout the way you want your client to see it, and even automate follow-up emails and text messages to give you every chance of winning the work.
When the client is ready to accept they can approve your quote online with an e-signature and you can even collect payment instantly using accounting software or payment integrations.
Sounds like something you need in your business? Let’s check out the best quoting software for tradies.
Best quoting for software for Tradies in 2024
In no particular order, these are the top 9 quoting software options for Tradies in 2024:
- ServiceM8
- Tradify
- Fergus
- Ascora
- SimPRO
- Aroflo
- Nextminute
- FlatRateNow
- Xero
If you’re looking for quoting software for your Building or Construction business click here to view our full list of Builder quoting software options.
ServiceM8
ServiceM8 is an easy to use job management software that allows you to create and send professional quotes to clients quickly and efficiently from the office or onsite from an iPhone or iPad.
ServiceM8 quotes can include labour and materials, items grouped into sections, and you can even create multiple quote versions and options for your client to review and choose which one they’d like to accept. You can have multiple document templates with FULLY customisable formatting and layout using Microsoft Word templates with merge fields.
ServiceM8 can have a list of pre-set labour rates and standard parts plus you can create bundles which are prebuilt kits of your labour and materials expenses for common jobs. These options speed up your quote creation process and any job specific options can be added before sending to the client.
For larger jobs you may choose to use the ServiceM8 proposal function, which is a more polished, detailed and interactive style of quote for bigger jobs that can incorporate text sections for scope of works, material sections for your pricing including optional and multiple choice items, and gallery sections that can have photo and video content and it even has built in AI that can help you write the content! This unique feature will create quotes like your clients have never seen before!
Once your ServiceM8 quote has been created you can email or text to the client and they simply click the link to accept or ask any questions before proceeding. Didn’t get an instant quote acceptance? ServiceM8 automated emails and text message follow ups can be fully customised and scheduled to do the chasing for you, following up on quotes and proposals until you get a result.
Top Features:
- Automated email + text quote reminders with configurable messages and timing
- Proposal function creates interactive online quotes with rich content
Considerations:
- Mobile app is available on iOS only (web browser version will work on any computer)
- Can create multiple “quote versions” but only one quote number per job
- No integrations to any take-off systems
- No real ability to handle variations effectively
Find out if ServiceM8 is right for your business.
Tradify
Tradify job management software allows you to quickly create quotes using customisable document templates with your logo and branding.
Quote templates can be pre-built and used to speed up your quoting process for common types of work. Supplier price lists make it easy to add the right parts and the ability to create kits that combine labour and materials helps tradies price quickly and accurately each time with minimal effort. You can even insert optional line items for your clients to accept or decline. Customer pricing levels allow you to set specific labour rates and markups for individual customers meaning that with the right training and guidance anyone in the team should be able to create a customer quote.
Finished quotes can be sent to the client via email or text where they can view the quote online and then approve and sign digitally. Automated quote reminders feature follows up on open quotes via a basic email or text message until the client responds.
Allows the creation of a “partial invoice” as a percentage of the total quoted value, but it is not a true “progress claim” like seen in other systems.
Integrations to accounting software like Xero, MYOB and Quickbooks allow Tradify to turn an accepted quote into an invoice instantly and have it feed straight to your accounting package, including an ability to invoice for a percentage of a quote or individual line items and accept payment online with Stripe.
Top Features:
- Automated email + text quote reminders
- Available on desktop, android and iOS
- Supplier Price lists and customer pricing levels
- Can add as many quotes to a job as you need
Considerations:
- At this stage “Quote Options” can only be utilised in the web console version, not the app
- Can report on quoted vs actual costs but only at a basic level
- No integrations to any take-off systems
- No dedicated “variations” function, but this can be managed through tasks and adding secondary quotes to jobs
- Doesn’t create a true “progress claim” like other systems
Find out if Tradify is right for your business.
Fergus
Fergus job management software lets you build quotes in minutes using templates and price books. For tradies that do lots of similar, repeat work you can create a template of grouped items and labour to use each time to build quick quotes. Simply open the template, change your markups and the quote is ready to send.
Fergus has integrations to a bunch of plumbing and electrical suppliers which provides automated price book updating or lets you easily upload supplier price books from any csv files. Use this to add materials to quotes and the latest pricing will appear, add your markup and choose whether you want the cost/markup prices visible on the quote.
The tiered pricing feature assists tradies to adjust markups and margins for different job types and clients. If your jobs have different stages or you need to create a new version of the quote as the client has requested changes, Fergus offers version tracking where you can view a full history of quotes sent per client and track the quote status.
Clients can accept quotes via email and integrations to accounting software Xero, Quickbooks and MYOB provide instant invoices for the clients to pay online or collect credit card payments on the spot with Fergus Pay powered by Stripe.
Allows the creation of a “partial invoice” as a percentage of the total quoted value, but it is not a true “progress claim” like seen in other systems.
Has a dedicated “Variations” function to help communicate and track the acceptance of variations and allows you to invoice them separate to the quoted amount
Top Features:
- Integrations to Xero, Quickbooks and MYOB
- Integrations to plumbing and electrical supplier for automated catalogue/price list updates
- Dedicated Variations function
Considerations:
- No integrations to any take-off systems
- Doesn’t create a true “progress claim” like other systems
Find out if Fergus is right for your business.
Ascora
Ascora is a detailed job management software which allows you to create either simple time and material or fixed price quotes, or more detailed sections or stages based quotes for larger projects. Ascora lets you create kits and custom quote templates to speed up the quoting process by pre-building labour and materials used for common tasks. You can even copy and edit an existing quote for similar jobs.
Has an excellent integration to GroundPlan which can be used for takeoff and measurements plus has an automated tool for identifying and counting symbols on your drawings, and all this then feeds straight into the quote sections in Ascora to create your pricing. This is a super important feature for anyone quoting off plans!
Supplier price lists can be created for any supplier and an integration to Reece maX provides up to date pricing, products and ordering to make quote generation fast and accurate. All quotes can specify “inclusions, exclusions and assumptions” which can be pre-built to save typing the same thing out over and over. Quotes can include images for each line item which is perfect for catalogue items or custom photos of a specific job component.
All currently open quotes are easily viewed and filtered on a quotation list or in the “Quote Pipeline” tool that can be customised to show your sales process phases/workflow. Reminder emails and SMS can be set to automatically follow up with customers and help manage your quotes until acceptance.
Accepted quotes can be turned into proper progress claims broken down into claim sections that can reflect the quote section structure or a completely custom format. The progress claim allows claiming of the % of completion of each individual claim section and shows what claimed and what’s remaining.
Any labour on the quote will be turned into a labour budget to track your actual quantity of hours against what was quoted, as well as tracking the dollar figure cost of labour.
Has a dedicated Variations function that ties into the progress claim and makes invoicing variations a breeze and super easy for the client to understand.
Mobile quotations can be created onsite from jobs in Ascora using your custom templates. These can be emailed to the customer and approved with the customer’s signature on the spot. This is perfect for creating variations when they occur and getting instant approval that then feeds straight into the invoicing/progress claim.
Ascora integrates with Xero, MYOB, Quickbooks and Ezzybills for quick invoicing and payment.
Top Features:
- Integrations to Xero, Quickbooks, MYOB, Ezzy Bills, Reece maX and GroundPlan
- Features dedicated fields for inclusions, exclusions and assumptions that can be pre-written to save time and provide consistency
- Quote Pipeline helps manage the sales process
- Detailed reporting for quoted vs actual labour and materials/costs tracking broken right down into individual sections/stages
- Dedicated Variations function that feeds into proper Progress Claims
Considerations:
- Has excellent detail and the ability to break quotes right down into individual components, but this can lend itself to a bit more complexity. Having some decent training is a must!
Find out if Ascora is right for your business.
SimPRO
simPRO is another detailed job management system that can create a quote for a simple maintenance job through to a multi-million dollar project with multiple phases/sections. Pre-builds allow you to create combinations of labour and material to speed up the quoting process and has an inbuilt takeoff function, or can integrate to GroundPlan.
Supplier integrations mean up to date price lists and automation for placing orders if the quote is accepted.
simPRO also features a “supplier Quote” function to send a request for pricing to your suppliers which is then entered into the quote as a cost item, this is excellent for keeping a track of who you’ve asked for pricing and who can provide the best price.
A dedicated Variations function that allows the Variation to be linked into the original job/project or managed independently.
Quotes can be created in the field using the “Quote and Sales Module” of the simPRO Mobile app including access to labour and material lists, pre-builds, plus add-on items and membership packages which is ideal for those doing “flat rate pricing”. Can also include optional items that the client can choose to accept or decline, and a presentation mode when going through the quote with the client on site.
Top Features:
- Integrations to Xero, Quickbooks, MYOB, Ezzy Bills, a bunch of electrical and plumbing suppliers and GroundPlan
- Has built in take off functionality
- Supplier Quote function helps keep a track of requests for pricing
- Detailed reporting for quoted vs actual labour and materials/costs tracking broken right down into individual sections/stages
- Dedicated Variations function that feeds into proper Progress Claims
Considerations:
- Just like Ascora, simPRO has excellent detail and the ability to break quotes right down into individual components, but this can lend itself to a bit more complexity. Having some decent training is a must!
Find out if SimPRO is right for your business.
AroFlo
Aroflo job management software lets you quickly quote jobs using integrated supplier and price lists. The Aroflo quote CRM lets you set client rates and custom statuses and keep a track of the quote from creation to acceptance.
Tailor quotes and estimates the way you want them, with custom formatting options for repeat clients, or the next big project you’re chasing.
Select from a range of your favourite suppliers, and your live prices are easily selected and included in your quotes.
Group together materials into one easy item to display in your quotes, or break things down into line item detail.
Send and accept quotes online, allowing your customers to ask questions with online quotes functionality. AroFlo’s powerful Quote CRM strengthens your customers’ experience.
Capture electronic signatures from your customers to lock in their agreement. Storing their signature in AroFlo forever, for added security.
Top Features:
- Integrations to Xero, Quickbooks, MYOB and Reckon, a bunch of electrical and plumbing suppliers, and GroundPlan
- Lots of templates and automation tools
- Can handle simple quotes through to multi section/phase project breakdowns
- Dedicated Variations function that feeds into proper Progress Claims
Considerations:
- Just like Ascora and simPRO, AroFlo has excellent detail and the ability to break quotes right down into individual components, but this can lend itself to a bit more complexity. Having some decent training is a must!
Find out if Aroflo is right for your business.
Nextminute
Nextminute job management software makes building professional quotes simple. Customise your quotes with your branding, terms and conditions and billing information, provide a detailed outline of materials and labour. Add variable rates such as standard, reduced or after hours quickly via the template library and add disbursements for delivery or travel charges. If changes happen mid job, information can be quickly updated or changed as needed and sent to the client for approval.
One unique feature of Next Minute is the ability to add as many sections and sub-sections as you want. This is important for businesses that need to break things down into a lot of detail and descriptions and provides customisable formatting on how this is presented to the client.
Once created, send the digital quote to your client and they can approve instantly online. Once a quote has been accepted you can generate an invoice straight from the quote.
Allows the creation of “Quote Variations” but these are just grouped in with other quotes in the job and is not a “dedicated” variations function like seen in other systems. Allows the creation of a “part invoice” as a percentage of the total quoted value but it is not a true “progress claim” like seen in other systems.
Top Features:
- Excellent integration to Xero and MYOB including a 2 way supplier invoice integration
- Ability to add as many sections and sub-sections as required
- Simple to use but very powerful and detailed
Considerations:
- No integrations to any take-off systems
- Not a “dedicated” variations function like other systems
- Doesn’t create a true “progress claim” like other systems
Find out if Nextminute is right for your business.
FlatRateNow
FlatRateNow is a little different to the other systems mentioned above because it is an online sales and quoting software that integrates with job management programs such as ServiceM8 and Simpro.
FlatRateNow is designed for plumbers, drainers, gasfitters and electricians who want to offer a flat rate service for their work. Quotes are fully customisable with your branding, product markups and labour sell rates. You can create tiered pricing for your customers and offer membership or loyalty pricing to your clients. Quotes display all material and labour required to complete the job and you can create multiple quotes with alternative options for your client to choose between.
One of the great things about FlateRateNow is that they take care of updating supplier price lists from common suppliers each month, allowing you to quote with confidence knowing that the materials are priced correctly.
Top Features:
- Integrations to Xero, Stripe, Reece maX and Brighte
- Very unique sales process and presentation to the client, ideal for those wanting to follow a “flat rate pricing model”
Considerations:
- Can be used stand alone but best when working alongside simPRO or ServiceM8
Xero
If you don’t need all the bells and whistles that a job management software provides, another quoting software option is Xero. Xero is accounting software that allows you to create and send basic quotes or estimates from the app or desktop.
Quotes can be created using the inventory, pricing and contacts you have saved in Xero and sent to clients as a pdf or link via email. You have visibility to check the status of each quote to know whether it has been viewed, accepted or declined. Create quotes from scratch or copy and edit an existing similar quote to save time. Once quotes are accepted they can quickly be converted into invoices for the client to pay.
If you’re using Xero Projects then quotes are created within the project and an accepted quote becomes the budget that you can track actual costs against.
Top Features:
- Super simple and easy to use
- Built right into Xero so no extra cost and an integrated part of Xero Projects
Considerations:
- Xero quotes don’t usually integrate into other systems so it’ll only really work if you’re using Xero by itself
- No ability to enter your “cost prices” in the quote, only your sell prices, and no ability to group items together into sections/stages etc for subtotals
Find out if Xero is right for your business.
Good quoting software should assist you to create fast and accurate quotes on the go. When choosing a quoting software check that it will integrate to your accounting software and have the ability to integrate or upload supplier price lists. Templates and kits are also an amazing feature to create quick quotes for similar or recurring work with a couple clicks.
Searching for quoting software for your tradie business? Let’s chat!
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