Estimates, invoices, and getting paid.
Practical guides for small service businesses. No fluff, no invented statistics, and when the answer isn't our product, we say so.
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Estimate vs quote vs bid vs proposal: what's the difference?
An estimate is an educated guess, a quote is a fixed price, a bid is a competitive offer, and a proposal is the pitch wrapped around the number.
June 12, 2026
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Getting estimates accepted online: signatures, terms, and what counts
How online estimate acceptance works: typed or drawn signatures, what record you keep (who, when, from where), and how to attach your terms.
June 12, 2026
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How long should an estimate be valid? Setting expiry dates
Most estimates should be valid for 30 days, shorter when material prices move. Here's how to pick a window, state it, and handle late acceptances.
June 12, 2026
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How to ask a client for a deposit before starting work
Put the deposit on the estimate as a standard term, name a percentage, and invoice it before you schedule the job. Here's how to say it.
June 12, 2026
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How to write an estimate that wins the job
What a winning estimate includes: clear line items, a firm price, a validity date, terms, and a way to accept it without printing anything.
June 12, 2026