Believe it or not, winning new jobs isn’t usually about being the cheapest or working the longest hours. It usually comes down to professionalism, and part of that is the impression you give from the very beginning. After first meeting a potential customer, how quickly and clearly do you quote? If you’ve ever sent a quote and realised weeks later you never followed it up, you’re not alone. Tightening up your quote process is one of the simplest ways to bring in steadier work. So, if you’ve been wondering how to win more trade work in 2026, read on. Because, in this article, we’re sharing some practical ways to sort your quotes out, cut the faff, and turn more enquiries into booked jobs.

Quotes That Match Your Work

You might do a top-notch job on site, but if your quote is written on a piece of dusty A4 that’s been lying around in your van, or worse, you offer a head scratch and verbal back of a fag packet figure, it can put customers off before you even get started. But a clear, well-laid-out quote tells people you’re organised and serious about the job.

Every quote should clearly itemise:

• The work that’s included – This avoids awkward conversations later when a customer assumes something was included and you know it wasn’t.
• The prices you’re charging – Include any materials you’re providing.
• Any assumptions you’re making – For example, if you think the client is arranging other contractors around your work.
• How long the quote is valid for – This one is important, and means you can protect yourself against material price rises, and schedule work effectively.

Using a standard quote template saves you time. Instead of rewriting the same descriptions over and over, you can reuse common jobs and items, tweaking where needed. If you’re using Xero (our favourite accounting software), built-in quote templates make it easy to keep everything consistent, and you won’t need a separate Word document or spreadsheet floating about. In fact, a word on that… Please don’t send Word or Excel attachments. If you are using these programs for quoting, at least convert to a PDF before sending to avoid formatting issues.

Speed Matters

In many cases, the first clear quote wins the work. Customers often just want to make a decision and move on.

However, quoting is often pushed to the evening or the weekend, when you’re already shattered, want to relax with the family, or meet your mates at the pub. A simple fix is to block out a short “admin” slot each day (during working hours) just for quotes and follow-ups. It’s amazing how much you can get done in 30 minutes!

Job management apps that link with Xero can also help here. A couple to mention are:

• Tradify – An all-in-one job management tool built specifically for trades. It offers robust quoting and invoicing features, smart scheduling, timesheets, and a 2-way sync with Xero to eliminate double data entry.
• ServiceM8 – A mobile-focused app which allows you to create quotes and invoices on-site, take payments immediately, and track job history in the cloud.

Follow-up for the Job

Your potential customers are busy people, too, and emails can get buried. So, if you don’t hear back after a few days, a polite follow-up can help move things along. A simple, friendly email saying “just checking you received this” or “if you have any questions” is usually enough.

Keeping track of which quotes are still outstanding is key. And that’s where those job management apps help. If everything lives in one place, you can quickly see what’s been accepted, what’s still open, and what needs a nudge. It becomes clearer and easier to stay on top of things, an important part of how to win more trade work in 2026.

Quote Smarter for Better Results

Sharpening up your quoting process doesn’t mean more paperwork or longer evenings at the kitchen table. Quite the opposite! It’s about clear templates, quicker responses, and not letting good enquiries slip through the net.

And while you’re busy quoting and winning work, don’t forget the bigger picture. Quotes, invoices, and cash flow all link together. If you need help with your bookkeeping, without the jargon, we can help. Give us a call!