Put together a clear quote in minutes: your details, the work you are proposing, the validity date and your terms. 5% GST and 9.975% QST are calculated automatically, and you can print the document or save it as a PDF straight from your browser.
No data is stored on our servers. Everything stays in your browser.
Your draft is kept in this browser only. It disappears if you clear your browsing data.
Document preview
This is what will print. Choose "Save as PDF" in the print dialog.
GST number :
QST number :
Client
| Description | Qty | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
Notes
Terms and conditions
This is not an invoice. No amount is payable until you accept it.
This tool is provided for information purposes only. An accepted estimate can bind you contractually — re-read your terms before sending it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an estimate and an invoice?
An estimate is an offer: it proposes a price for work still to come and requires no payment. An invoice records work already delivered and makes the amount payable. That is why this generator adds a "This is not an invoice" line to the document.
Is an accepted estimate a contract?
In many cases yes: a sufficiently precise offer, accepted by the client, forms a contract. Which is why it matters to state the exact scope of the work, what is excluded, the validity date and your payment terms. Anything left unwritten will be argued about later.
Should taxes appear on an estimate?
If you are registered for GST and QST, show them: the client sees the real amount to budget and there is no 14.975% surprise at invoicing time. If you are not registered, uncheck both taxes.
How long should an estimate stay valid?
Thirty days is the most common window. A validity date protects you when material or labour costs move: past that date you are no longer bound by the amount you offered.
Can I ask for a deposit?
Yes, and it is common for work requiring materials to be bought up front. Enter the amount in the "Deposit paid" field and the document will show the balance due. Also state in your terms when the deposit becomes payable.
Estimate, quote, proposal: what is the difference?
In practice all three words describe the same thing: a price offer for work still to come. “Estimate” suggests an approximation, “quote” suggests a firm number, and in Quebec you will also see the French word soumission, especially in construction and the trades.
What matters is not the label but the precision of the offer. A document titled “estimate” that spells out the scope, the price and the terms will bind you just as much as one titled “quote”.
The distinction that really matters is elsewhere: a quote is an offer, while an invoice records work already delivered and makes the amount payable. That is why this generator automatically prints “This is not an invoice” on the document.
What a good quote contains
| Element | Why |
|---|---|
| Detailed scope of work | Anything left unwritten gets argued about later |
| What is excluded | Just as important as what is included |
| Price per line | The client understands where the total comes from |
| Validity date | Protects you if your costs move |
| Payment terms | Deposit, schedule, payment method |
| GST and QST | The client sees the real amount to budget for |
The exclusions section is the one contractors most regret leaving out. Writing “moving furniture is not included” takes ten seconds and avoids an awkward conversation on the day.
Is an accepted quote a contract?
In many cases, yes. A sufficiently precise offer, accepted by the client, forms a contract: you are bound to do the work at the price stated, and the client is bound to pay.
Three practical consequences:
- Be precise about scope. A vague offer exposes you to doing more than planned for the same money.
- Date the validity. Past that date you are no longer bound by the amount offered. Thirty days is the most common window.
- Write your terms down. Deposit, timeline, what triggers an extra charge.
A change requested after acceptance should never be handled verbally: issue a new quote for the addition, or a written change order.
Should taxes appear on a quote?
If you are registered for GST and QST, yes. A client who sees $10,000 on a quote and then receives an invoice for $11,497.50 feels ambushed, even though everything is perfectly legal. Showing the taxes avoids that conversation entirely.
If you are not registered, uncheck both taxes in the generator. To find out whether registration has become mandatory for you, our $30,000 threshold tool answers from your own figures.
Deposits
For work that requires buying materials up front, asking for a deposit is normal and widespread. Enter the amount in the field provided and the document will show the balance due after the deposit.
State in your terms when the deposit becomes payable — on signature, when materials are ordered, or when work begins. A 30% deposit is common for mid-sized projects.
Excel template to download
If you would rather use a spreadsheet, the template below already contains the GST and QST formulas plus a terms and conditions section.
From quote to invoice
The real cost of a template shows up the moment a quote is accepted: you have to retype everything into an invoice and hope you do not get an amount wrong. And once you have a dozen quotes outstanding, nothing tells you which ones got a reply.
That is where the estimates and quotes module in InnoBooks changes things: an approved quote becomes an invoice in one click with no retyping, and you can see at a glance which ones are still waiting for an answer.
For writing quotes that convert better, see also our guide quotes and estimates that convert.