Plenty of good tradies lose jobs on the quote, not the work. A price scribbled in a text message looks cheap next to a clear, itemised quote with a scope and an expiry date. And a vague quote is where most “but I thought that was included” arguments start.
This guide covers what to put in a quote, how to handle GST, deposits and changes, and the Victorian rules that apply once a domestic job goes over $10,000. It finishes with a template you can copy. The rules are from Consumer Affairs Victoria and the ATO, checked in October 2026. Other states have their own home building laws, so check your state’s fair trading or building regulator for jobs outside Victoria.
What every quote should include
| Section | What to put in it |
|---|---|
| Your details | Business name, ABN, licence or registration number, phone and email |
| Customer and site | Name, job address, date of quote, quote number |
| Scope | What you’ll do, item by item, with quantities |
| Exclusions | What isn’t included (for example, patching, painting, rubbish removal) |
| Price | Itemised labour and materials, total, and whether GST is included |
| Terms | Validity period, deposit, payment terms, variations, start date and duration |
Consumer Affairs Victoria tells tradies to make clear whether a quote includes:
- transport to and from the job, and time spent getting materials
- materials
- labour and apprentice costs, and how they’re calculated
- call-out fees and weekend or public holiday rates
It also says to tell the customer, before you start, how you’ll handle changes, delays, late payments and any concerns about quality. Write it down, along with any conversations about cost or quality.
Before you price the labour, know what an hour of your time has to cost. Our hourly rate calculator works it out from your wage, super, business costs and the hours you can actually bill, and shows the working.
Quote or estimate?
Be clear which one you’re giving. A quote is a firm price for the work described. An estimate is your best guess, which can move. If you’re not sure what’s behind the wall, give a fixed price for what you can see and list the unknowns as separate items, or as provisional sums with a clear allowance.
GST on quotes
If you’re registered for GST, say whether the price includes it. Homeowners usually compare totals including GST, so a GST-exclusive figure can confuse them. If you’re not registered, don’t add GST. Our BAS and GST guide covers the $75,000 threshold and quarterly routine.
A quote isn’t a tax invoice. The ATO says a tax invoice for a sale under $1,000 must show it’s intended to be a tax invoice, your identity and ABN, the date, a description with quantity and price, the GST amount (or “Total price includes GST” where GST is exactly one-eleventh), and the extent each item is taxable. For sales of $1,000 or more, it must also show the buyer’s identity or ABN.
Victoria: when a quote isn’t enough
For domestic building work in Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria says:
- Over $10,000: you need a major domestic building contract for most work, even if the client is an owner builder, and you must give them the Domestic Building Consumer Guide before they sign.
- Deposits: no more than 10% if the price is under $20,000, and 5% at $20,000 or more.
- Over $16,000: give the client your domestic building insurance policy and certificate of currency before taking any money.
- Progress payments are for completed stages.
Homeowners are told to look for all of this. Our homeowner guide on reading a builder’s quote shows what they’ll be checking.
Handling variations
Most disputes come from changes made on the fly. A simple rule works: no extra work without a written variation the customer has agreed to. Even a text that says “Swap to 4 extra downlights at $95 each including GST, OK?” with a “Yes” reply is far better than nothing. Your quote’s terms should say how variations are priced.
A quote template you can copy
QUOTE
[Business name] ABN [00 000 000 000] Licence/registration no. [ ]
Phone [ ] Email [ ]
Quote no. [Q-0001] Date [DD/MM/YYYY] Valid for [30] days
Customer [Name] Site address [ ]
SCOPE OF WORK
1. [Item, with quantity and spec] Labour $[ ] Materials $[ ]
2. [Item] Labour $[ ] Materials $[ ]
3. [Item] Labour $[ ] Materials $[ ]
ALLOWANCES / PROVISIONAL ITEMS (charged at actual cost if needed)
- [Description, allowance amount]
NOT INCLUDED
- [e.g. painting, patching, rubbish removal, permits]
PRICE
Subtotal (ex GST) $[ ] GST $[ ] Total (inc GST) $[ ]
[If not registered for GST: "No GST has been charged."]
TERMS
- Deposit: [ ]% on acceptance (within legal limits for your state)
- Balance: due [7] days from invoice
- Changes to the scope are quoted and agreed in writing before the work is done
- Estimated start [ ] and duration [ ] days, subject to weather and access
- Call-out, after-hours or weekend rates: [ ]
ACCEPTANCE
Name ____________ Signature ____________ Date ________Adjust it to suit your trade, and get a lawyer or your industry association to check your standard terms if you do larger jobs.
Quoting in an app
A template in Word works, but a job app saves the retyping. Most let customers accept online, then turn the accepted quote into a job and an invoice. Our best invoicing and quoting apps guide compares the options, including free ones, and our ServiceM8 vs Tradify vs Fergus comparison covers the three main trade job apps.
Try ServiceM8 free Affiliate link. Opens the merchant site in a new tab.
Quote checklist
- Your ABN and licence number are on it.
- The scope lists each item with quantities.
- Exclusions and allowances are written down.
- The total says whether GST is included.
- There’s a validity date and payment terms.
- Variations need written agreement.
- For Victorian domestic jobs over $10,000, you’ve moved to a major domestic building contract.
Common questions
What should a tradie quote include?
Your business name, ABN and licence number, the customer and job address, a clear scope with inclusions and exclusions, an itemised price, whether GST is included, how long the quote is valid, payment terms, and how variations and delays are handled. Consumer Affairs Victoria also says to state whether the price covers travel, materials, labour, call-out fees and weekend rates.
Is a quote the same as a tax invoice?
No. A quote is your offer. A tax invoice is issued after the sale and has its own ATO requirements, including the words 'tax invoice', your ABN, the date, a description, the GST amount and, for sales of $1,000 or more, the buyer's identity or ABN.
Do I need a contract as well as a quote in Victoria?
For most domestic building work over $10,000, yes. Consumer Affairs Victoria says you need a major domestic building contract, even if the client is an owner builder, and you must give the client the Domestic Building Consumer Guide before they sign.
How much deposit can I take?
For domestic building work in Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria says no more than 10% if the contract price is under $20,000, and 5% if it's $20,000 or more. For work over $16,000 you must give the client your domestic building insurance policy and certificate before taking any money.
Should my quote show GST?
If you're registered for GST, show whether the price includes it. Most homeowners compare GST-inclusive totals. If you're not registered, don't add GST. Our BAS and GST guide covers the $75,000 registration threshold.
