Quote for One Engagement

Put the customer's goal, what you will do, what you will not do, the price and one next step on a single page. A quote that is easy to say yes to is also easy to hold to.

Research, strong on one point: the first number named in a negotiation tends to pull the outcome toward it (Galinsky & Mussweiler, 2001). Everything else on this page, including the structure of the quote and the checklist of conditions, is practice. The price itself comes from 6.22, and this page does not give legal advice.

Use it when:

• A qualified prospect asks "what would it cost?" or "can you send something?"
• You quote from a long email thread and the scope is only half written down.
• A past project grew beyond what you meant to do, and nobody can say what was agreed.

Skip it when:

• You have not yet set a price. Start with 6.22 Pricing Your Offer.
• The prospect is not qualified. Use 6.23 Sales Pipeline Tracker first.

A quote does two jobs. It helps the customer decide, and it becomes the record of what was agreed. Most disputes about scope trace back to something that was assumed, not written. A quote that names what is included, what is not, and what you need from the customer protects both sides.

First numbers matter. The first offer on the table pulls the final outcome toward it (Galinsky & Mussweiler, 2001), so name your price with its reasons rather than waiting for the customer's number. A smaller option beside the main one lets the customer choose scope instead of asking for a discount. Limit: the research is on negotiations, not on written quotes from freelancers, and the contract terms in your country are a matter for a lawyer, not for this page.

Strong answer: (illustrative) the goal in the customer's words with a measure: "More inquiries from the site, now about four a month, by the autumn campaign." Not: "Better website."

Customer and contact person:

What they want to be true when this is done, in their words:

How we will know it worked (a measure or a clear test):

The date that matters to them, and why:

Illustrative example: the person, customer and all numbers are made up.

The copywriter from 6.22 quotes a regional chain of accounting offices. Goal in the owner's words: more inquiries from the site, now about four a month. Scope: copy for five key pages, two revision rounds, 14 days to respond to each. Out of scope: translation, images, publishing, with a day rate for additions. Main price 24,000 SEK fixed; smaller option 14,000 SEK for the five pages; both are above her floor. Valid until 15 March. Payment: half at start, half at delivery, 14 days. She asks for one thing: a yes by 15 March, starting the following Monday. She phones the owner before sending the quote, so that nothing in it is a surprise.