For Excel & Word Users

Stop Using Excel for Quotes

Millions of South African tradies use Excel, Word, or a WhatsApp message to send quotes. Here's why that's costing you jobs — and what to use instead.

Start quoting free

8 free quotes · No card needed · Then R189/month · Cancel anytime

5 Reasons Excel Quotes Are Costing You Jobs

It's not the quality of your work that's losing you the job. It's the quote.

1

Your Quote Looks Like Everyone Else's

An Excel quote in 12pt Arial, no logo, no professional formatting — it looks the same as the quote from the guy who didn't even measure. Professional proposals with your branding, logo, and a clean PDF layout win more jobs at the same price. First impressions happen before the client has even read a word.

2

You Have No Proof the Client Agreed

A quote emailed as an Excel file is not a signed agreement. When the job goes wrong or payment stalls, you have no leg to stand on. TradiQuote proposals require digital e-signature before work begins — that signature is legally binding under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECTA) 25 of 2002.

3

It Takes You 30–60 Minutes to Write

Formatting cells, typing out the scope line by line, adding T&Cs, converting to PDF, attaching to an email — a detailed Excel quote takes the better part of an evening. TradiQuote takes under 4 minutes. You can quote on-site while still standing with the client, and send it before you drive home.

4

You Don't Know If the Client Opened It

Send an Excel file and it disappears into their inbox. You have no idea if they saw it, ignored it, or are actively comparing you against a competitor. TradiQuote notifies you the moment the client opens the proposal link — so you know exactly when to follow up, or when they've already moved on.

5

You're Not Collecting a Deposit

No deposit means no commitment — and no protection if the client cancels after you've ordered materials. Once a client signs a TradiQuote proposal, a deposit invoice is automatically created and sent to them, complete with your SA bank account details for EFT. You drive home with a signed quote and a deposit on its way.

What TradiQuote Does Instead

Three steps. Done before you close your toolbox.

1

Fill in the Job (90 seconds)

Client name, address, job type — all on your phone. Add line items from your saved product list or create custom ones on the fly. No formatting, no spreadsheet fiddling.

2

AI Writes the Proposal (30 seconds)

Professional scope, payment terms, timeline, and a confident intro — generated in seconds. Edit anything you want before you send. Your words, your business, your brand.

3

Client Signs. Deposit Follows.

WhatsApp the link. They open it on their phone, read the proposal, and sign digitally. A deposit invoice is sent automatically with your bank details. Job secured.

Simple, Honest Pricing

Excel is free — but losing one job a month costs far more than R189.

Free to Start
Free
your first 8 quotes — no card needed
Then R189/month — cancel anytime, no penalty
"One job won because of a faster quote pays for months of TradiQuote."
  • Unlimited proposals & invoices
  • AI-written scope and terms
  • ECTA-compliant digital e-signature
  • Automatic deposit invoicing
  • PDF download (client & tradie copies)
  • Your logo, brand colours, contact details
  • Works on any phone — no app download
Get 8 quotes free

Common Questions

Is Excel good enough for quoting as a tradesperson?
Excel can work for simple quotes, but it has serious limitations: documents look unprofessional to clients, there's no digital e-signature so you have no legal protection, you can't track whether quotes were opened, and it takes 30–60 minutes to write up a detailed quote manually. Professional quoting software like TradiQuote generates a professional proposal in under 4 minutes.
What is the main difference between Excel quotes and TradiQuote?
Excel is a spreadsheet — TradiQuote is a professional proposal platform. TradiQuote includes AI-written scope and terms, a client-facing proposal link, ECTA-compliant digital e-signature, automatic deposit invoicing, proposal tracking (open notifications), and your branding. An Excel quote is a file attachment. A TradiQuote proposal is a professional experience.
How long does it take to quote with TradiQuote vs Excel?
A detailed Excel quote takes 30–90 minutes to write, format, and send. TradiQuote takes under 4 minutes — fill in the job details, pick your line items, and AI generates the professional scope. Send via WhatsApp before you leave the client's property.
How much does TradiQuote cost compared to using Excel for free?
Excel is free, but losing one job a month costs far more than R189. Most TradiQuote users report winning at least one extra job per month because of faster, more professional quotes. Start free with 8 quotes, no card needed — one job won covers months of subscription.

Compare TradiQuote Against Other Software

Your Next Quote Could Win the Job

Professional proposal. Digital signature. Deposit invoice. All done before you drive home.

Start free — 8 quotes, no card