Side Quests · Small missions. Real progress.
Time: 15–20 minutes | Cost: $0 | You’ll need: a notes app, email, or word processor, plus a few past price requests to reference.
If someone asks “how much do you charge?” and you scramble to remember what details you need before you can answer, you’re losing time and sometimes losing the customer to whoever replies first. A quick quote template fixes this by combining two things in one document: the questions you need answered to price the job, and a ready-made structure for sending the actual quote back. Instead of starting from scratch every time, you fill in blanks and hit send.
This isn’t a full contract or a pricing strategy overhaul. It’s a practical shortcut that turns “let me get back to you” into a same-day response, which often matters more than the price itself when someone is comparing options.
Your mission: Build one reusable quick quote template that captures the information you need and outputs a clear, professional price response you can send in minutes.
Steps
- List the 3–5 facts you always need to price a job. Think about your last few price requests. What did you have to ask before you could quote? Maybe it’s square footage, number of items, timeline, or location. Write these down as a short checklist — this becomes your “intake” questions.
- Draft a short reply for when details are missing. Write one template response you can send when someone asks for a price without giving you enough to go on. Something like: “Happy to get you a quote — just need a few quick details: [your checklist]. Once I have those I can send pricing same day.” This keeps the conversation moving instead of stalling.
- Build the quote template itself. Create a second template for the actual price response, with blanks to fill in. Include: the specific job description, the price (or price range), what’s included, how long the quote is valid, and a clear next step like “Reply to confirm and I’ll get you on the schedule.” Keep it to a few short paragraphs — clarity beats length.
- Save both templates somewhere you’ll actually use them. Drop them in email drafts, a notes app, or a document titled “Quote Templates.” If your email client supports canned responses or signatures, even better — the goal is zero friction when a request comes in.
- Test it on one real request. Next time someone asks about pricing, pull up the template, fill in the blanks, and send it. Notice how much faster it feels compared to writing from scratch. Adjust the wording if anything felt clunky.
Quest complete when: you have a saved intake checklist and a fillable quote template ready to use on your very next price request.
