How to write a quote that actually wins the job: tradie tips

Accurate quoting starts before the job, not at the job. To price a job correctly, you need to know what it actually costs you to run your business: vehicle costs, tools, insurance, and if you have employees, their charge-out rate. These are your operating costs, and they belong in every quote before you add a single dollar of materials or labour.

Once you’ve got that foundation, pricing a job becomes more straightforward: materials, labour, travel, and anything specific to the job like waste removal, call-out fees, or quote fees. If a job has a high chance of surfacing surprises, that risk belongs in the number too, not just added through variations after the fact.

An inaccurate quote doesn’t just cost you margin on this job. If you underquote and have to go back to the homeowner for more money, it costs you the relationship and the review.

Underquoting to win the job is one of the most common ways tradies end up doing their worst work. Stress jobs, squeezed margins, cut corners. Our 2026 Kiwi Home Improvement Survey found that trust edges out budget as the number one concern for homeowners starting a project. They’re not looking for the cheapest option. They’re looking for the one that feels most reliable. A fair price from a tradie with a strong BC profile will outperform a lowball number every time.