Mirror the job
Use parent and child items to represent phases, rooms, installations or packages instead of squeezing the whole job into a flat price list.
CostForgeStructured quotes
Structured quoting for trades
Structure the quote around the work.
Separate a project into phases, rooms, systems or work packages, then add the detail beneath each section. CostForge keeps the working quote organised and the scope easier for the customer to follow.
Parent and child quote items
Quantities, unit prices and descriptions
Labour, tax, margin and commercial terms
Draft, sent, accepted and declined states
One connected quote record
Live commercial view
Estimate → quote → invoice
Costs
Visible
Margin
Protected
Client
Ready
The commercial problem
A flat list stops making sense when the work has a real structure.
Installations, refurbishments and multi-stage jobs are rarely understood as one undifferentiated list. When the estimate is organised in the same way the work will be delivered, it is easier to check what has been priced, explain the scope and spot what is missing before the quote goes out.
Price the detail
Add quantities, unit prices, descriptions and staff-hours labour beneath the relevant part of the scope.
Keep terms attached
Store issue and expiry dates, payment terms, terms and conditions, tax behaviour and the quote number with the commercial record.
Track the decision
Move the same quote through draft, sent, accepted or declined status instead of losing the outcome in separate files and inbox threads.
A repeatable workflow
Build the detail once, then carry it through to the decision.
The quote starts inside the client and job record. Its structure supports the internal pricing work, the cleaner customer presentation and the response that follows.
01
Lay out the scope
Create the main sections that match the work: for example preliminaries, room packages, first fix, second fix, testing or handover.
02
Add the costing detail
Nest materials, services and staff-hours labour beneath the relevant section, then apply the quote-level tax and internal margin settings.
03
Issue a clear quote
Choose the detail the customer should see, add the dates and terms, then send the branded quote for a signed accept or decline response.
Built for real work
Useful wherever the price needs more than a few line items.
Structured quoting is especially valuable when the work has stages, locations, optional packages or several types of cost that need to remain understandable as the quote grows.
Builders
Organise extensions and refurbishments by stage, trade package or area of work.
Explore pageInstallers
Group equipment, preparation, installation, commissioning and handover under a clear scope.
Explore pageElectricians
Separate circuits, rooms, equipment, labour, testing and certification without losing the whole-job total.
Explore pageProject-based teams
Give estimators and administrators one structured commercial record to review and reuse.
Example quote structure
Kitchen refurbishment
01
Preparation
Protection, strip-out and waste
02
First fix
Plumbing, electrical and carpentry
03
Installation
Units, worktops and appliances
04
Finishing
Decoration, testing and handover
The presentation layer
All the detail you need. Only the detail they need.
The structured working quote and the customer presentation come from the same record. Use item-level visibility to keep sensitive costing detail internal while preserving a clear, complete scope.
Explore internal and customer viewsQuestions trade teams ask
Use the answers below to compare a structured quoting workflow with spreadsheets and generic accounting tools.
Can CostForge quotes contain sections and sub-sections?
Yes. Quote items can have parent and child relationships, so the scope can be organised into nested sections rather than a single flat list.
Can I include labour inside a structured quote?
Yes. CostForge supports staff-hours quote items that use defined labour roles and hourly rates, alongside other material or service items.
What commercial details can be stored with the quote?
Quotes support issue and expiry dates, payment terms, terms and conditions, configurable tax, a quote prefix and number, internal margin and draft, sent, accepted or declined status.
Does the customer have to see every item?
No. Individual items can be retained in the working quote while being hidden from the customer-facing version. The visible scope should still make the work and price clear.
Build a calmer commercial process
Quote complex work with numbers you can defend.
Build the scope around the real job, keep the commercial reasoning together and send the customer a quote that is easier to understand.
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