5 Best Quoting Apps for Small Businesses in 2024

Whatever your business does, you probably need to provide quotes to your clients. Getting your business quotes right can make your business look more professional and increase trust in your brand, leading directly to an improved reputation and increased sales. But what is a quote? Why are quotes so important? And do you need a business quoting app to get your quotes right?

Here we share everything we know about quotes, including the ways our Billdu quote maker can help make the entire process quicker and easier for you.

What is a quote?

A quote is a document which tells the customer what you will charge them for doing a particular job. Not all businesses need to use quotes – if you sell goods, for example, you will normally have standardized prices listed so the customer can see straight away what price they will pay for the items they want.

However, if your business provides services, it is likely that every job will be different, so if a potential client is interested in hiring you to do the work, they will probably ask you to provide a quote. This is why quotes are so important; a good quote can make the difference when it comes to getting chosen over your competitors.

If someone asks you for a quote, this means they are seriously interested in hiring you. The quote is normally provided at the stage when you have had a detailed consultation with the client. You’ll know the nature and scope of the job, how long it will take, how many team members will be needed and what materials you will need, as well as timescales and budgets. Once you have all this information, you can work out how much to charge for the job by pricing all the elements and adding them together.

Comparison of best Quoting Apps for Small Businesses

Dive into a quick comparison of the best quoting apps for small businesses, streamlining your selection for the perfect tool to enhance your sales process​.

5 Best Quoting Apps for Small Businesses

We’ve handpicked the top 5 quoting apps ideal for small businesses, ensuring you find the perfect match for your specific needs.

1. Billdu

Billdu is an invoicing and quoting solution designed to make finances and administration easier for small businesses. One of its many features is a professional quote maker, which enables you to produce impressive, professional-looking quotes quickly and easily.

It offers a quote template, which contains all the relevant information you need to include in your quotes. This saves you a lot of time in creating quotes and ensures that nothing is left out, giving your clients confidence and peace of mind. This means your quotes are much more likely to be accepted, increasing the success of your business.

Using the Billdu app or online dashboard for creating business quotes is super easy and requires no experience with accounting or complicated software. Simplicity is the key with our business quote maker app.

The main advantage of Billdu is that it is a cloud-based system, so everything is stored securely and in an orderly fashion. Every time you create a quote, it integrates with the system, making it easier for you to keep track of the jobs you are working on and ensuring the right amounts are invoiced for. It also enables you to check that payments are made on time so jobs can run more smoothly. Billdu is most famous for its online invoice generator features but it contains much more!

Features

• Quote Maker: Billdu’s intuitive quote maker allows for easy creation and customization of professional quotes, streamlining the sales process​​​​.
• Invoice Generation: Seamlessly convert quotes to invoices, enhancing the efficiency of billing and payment collection​​.
• E-Signature Capabilities: Securely obtain signatures on quotes and invoices directly within the app, adding a layer of convenience and legality​​.
• Expense Tracking: Effortlessly monitor and categorize business expenses, helping you stay on top of your financial health​​​​.
• Payment Processing: Facilitate quick and secure payments through integrated payment solutions, improving cash flow management​​.

Pricing

• Free Plan: 30 days.
• Lite Plan: At $3.99/month.
• Standard Plan: Priced at $8.99/month.
• Premium Plan: For $16.99/month.

Review

G. Michael– “I have great experience. Works pretty well on both the web and Android apps, very configurable, and although pretty old looking, it’s super easy to use, which is way more important. Thx!”

2. Bitrix24

Bitrix24 is a comprehensive CRM system renowned for its versatile quote-making capabilities, especially suited for small to medium-sized businesses. This platform stands out for its ability to seamlessly integrate various aspects of business operations, from sales and marketing to project management and collaboration.

Bitrix24’s quote maker is particularly praised for its unlimited quoting capacity, allowing users to effortlessly convert deals into quotes, and then into invoices with just a click, streamlining the sales process significantly.

The platform offers a range of features that enhance the quote generation process, including lead, client, and contact management, e-signature capabilities, and payment processing options. These functionalities not only save time but also add a layer of professionalism and efficiency to the sales cycle. Bitrix24’s CRM features further complement the quoting tools, providing a holistic approach to managing sales activities and customer relationships.

Features

• Quote Maker: Bitrix24 offers a robust quote maker that allows for easy creation and conversion of quotes to invoices, enhancing the sales workflow​​.
• CRM Integration: Seamlessly integrates CRM functionalities, providing a comprehensive view of customer interactions, lead management, and sales tracking​​.
• Task and Project Management: Includes advanced tools for managing tasks and projects, facilitating team collaboration and project tracking​​.
• Communication Tools: Features extensive communication tools such as chat, video calls, and email within the platform, promoting efficient internal and client communication​​.
• Document Management: Allows for the centralized storage, management, and sharing of documents, streamlining the document workflow and accessibility.

Pricing

• Free Plan: 30 days.
• Basic Plan: At $61.00/month.
• Standard Plan: Priced at $124.00/month.
• Professional Plan: For $249.00/month.
• Enterprise Plan: For $499.00/month.

Review

E. Giovanni– “Bitrix24 is a great all in one CRM. I use it and set my clients up with it for use in their marketing funnels and outside sales efforts. Great product that keeps getting better.”

3. Scoro

Scoro software is designed to enhance the quoting and budgeting process for businesses, particularly beneficial for small businesses. It enables the creation of detailed proposals while simultaneously estimating delivery costs, ensuring projects stay within budget and time constraints.

This tool is part of Scoro’s broader suite of features aimed at streamlining business operations and improving profitability. For a deeper understanding of how Scoro can fit into your business workflow, consider exploring their website for more insights​.

Features

• Quote Maker: Enables streamlined creation of proposals and estimation of delivery costs.
• Project Management: Offers comprehensive tools for managing projects from quote to cash.
• Sales & CRM: Manages customer accounts and tracks the sales pipeline effectively.
• Time Tracking: Provides detailed tracking of billable and non-billable time.
• Invoicing: Automates billing processes and collects payments efficiently.

Pricing

• Free Plan: 14 days.
• Essential Plan: At $28.00/month.
• Standard Plan: Priced at $42.00/month.
• Pro Plan: For $71.00/month.

Review

K. Tillman– “Looks brilliant… small issue with device initially but solved without bluster or complaint! Really very excited about the potential of this platform… exciting things about to happen!!!”

4. Jobber

The Jobber app’s quote maker is designed to streamline the quoting process for businesses, making it quick and easy to generate professional-looking quotes on the go.

With features like contractor quote templates, the ability to include optional line items for upselling, and automated follow-ups, Jobber helps businesses not only save time but also increase their chances of winning more jobs.

Additionally, the app enhances the customer experience by allowing for online quote approvals and providing financing options, making it a comprehensive tool for business operations.

Features

• Quote Maker: Allows for the quick creation of professional-looking, customer-friendly quotes.
• Automated Follow-ups: Ensures timely follow-ups on quotes, increasing the chance of securing jobs.
• Online Quote Approvals: Enables customers to approve quotes online for faster job initiation.
• Consumer Financing: Offers financing options within quotes to help win bigger jobs.
• Job Scheduling: Efficiently schedules jobs upon quote approval, optimizing workflow and resource allocation.

Pricing

• Free Plan: 14 days.
• Core Plan: At $69.00/month.
• Connect Plan: Priced at $169.00/month.
• Grow Plan: For $349.00/month.

Review

J. E. Lozada– “Easy navigation and easy to create invoices, quotes and payments. highly recommended.”

5. PandaDoc

PandaDoc is a dynamic tool designed to elevate the proposal and quoting process for businesses. It streamlines the creation of personalized, professional quotes, integrating seamlessly with a robust set of features such as e-signatures, interactive pricing tables, and rich media embedding.

This platform is tailored to enhance client engagement and accelerate the sales cycle, making it a valuable asset for businesses looking to optimize their document workflow.

Features

• Quote Maker: Facilitates the quick creation of customized, interactive quotes.
• E-Signatures: Enables secure, legally binding electronic signatures for faster deal closure.
• Interactive Pricing Tables: Allows clients to adjust quantities or options, providing real-time quote updates.
• Template Library: Offers a wide range of customizable templates for various business needs.
• Document Analytics: Provides insights into how recipients interact with documents, improving follow-up strategies.

Pricing

• Free Plan: 14 days.
• Essentials Plan: At $35.00/month.
• Business Plan: Priced at $65.00/month.
• Enterprise Plan: Custom quote.

Review

T. Alexander – “Wow. What a great platform and made even better with the app. PandaDoc is out there to help you close more deals and it sure will.”

Why are quotes so important for businesses?

Understanding the importance of quotes is crucial for businesses aiming to foster strong client relationships and maintain a professional image. Here’s why quotes are a key component in business operations:

• Enhances trust and transparency with clients.
• Demonstrates professional and clear pricing structure, avoiding hidden costs.
• Provides written terms and conditions, ensuring clarity and protection for both parties.
• Signals business credibility and seriousness in securing contracts.
• Aids in business self-assessment by clarifying service value and work scope.

What are the differences between Quotes, Estimates, Bids, and Proposals?

Quotes, estimates, proposals and bids are important documents that are regularly used in business, but many people don’t know the difference between them. It is essential to know what each one is so you can conduct your business properly.

1. Quotes

A quote is a legally binding document. This means that the price you charge for the job can’t be changed once the quote has been accepted by the client. Even if the job ends up involving a lot more work than you anticipated, you can’t charge any extra for the additional workload.

When the quote is finalized, the deal enters the contract management phase.

2. Estimates

An estimate is a lot more flexible than a quote. It is not a binding document so it is basically your best guess at what the job will cost, subject to change. If you want to give your customers confidence without the legal formality of a quote, you can give them a number of different estimates based on best-case, worst-case and average scenarios to prevent them from being too surprised by the costs if the job does not run smoothly.

However, if you end up charging significantly more than you estimated, this will have a negative effect on the reputation of your business. Providing a quote will always inspire more trust and confidence than an estimate as it shows the client you are prepared to keep to your word.

3. Proposals

A proposal is a document which aims to persuade the client to buy a product or service from you. It is a longer document than a quote or estimate. It will often give an overview of the problem before explaining how your business can solve it, providing a detailed strategy along with the qualifications and experience of key team members, as well as a schedule and costs.

A proposal is not legally binding unless the client hires you. Even then, a proposal only becomes a legal document once it has been signed and dated by the client and you have received the first payment.

4. Bids

A bid is a competitive document. The client has asked several different businesses to bid for the work so your bid is an attempt to persuade them to choose you. It should explain exactly how you intend to tackle the job and what unique qualities you will bring to it. It should also contain an exact quote rather than an estimate to give the client extra confidence.

Once a bid has been accepted it becomes legally binding, so you then have to stick to the terms you have stated in your bid, including the price.

Understanding quotes in comparison to these other documents is key to making sure you get them right.

Read on to find out more about how a quote should look like, whether using a quote maker is a good idea and where to look for the best business quote app.

What information should a quote contain?

A professional quote should contain the following items:

1. Unique reference numbers – a client number and a quote number.
2. Contact information– names, addresses and telephone numbers for your business and the client.
3. Pricing– this should be itemized so the client can see exactly what they are paying for each element of the job, such as labor and materials. All items should then be added up so the total price can be seen clearly.
4. Timetable– a schedule for the job including the completion date.
5. Payment terms– this section should tell the client when and how you want to be paid, including how many installments and the due dates of all payments.
6. Valid until– quotes are very rarely open-ended as prices can change quickly. It is normal to include a “valid until” date on your quote, which is often 30 days from the date the quote is issued.
7. Terms and conditions– these are the legal terms and conditions for your services, so it might help to have a lawyer draft them with you. They should be written in simple language so all clients can understand them.
8. Signature lines– there need to be lines or spaces at the bottom of the quote so you and the client can both sign and date it, making it legally binding.

As quotes are complex and require a lot of information to be included, they can become time-consuming if you have to prepare them regularly. For this reason, many small businesses choose to use quotes maker software or quoting apps to take the effort and stress out of the process.

Why is the Billdu Best Quoting App for Small Businesses?

When it comes to the best quote maker, it’s hard to beat the convenience and intuitiveness of Billdu. The centralized platform is a huge selling point, and so is the dashboard. You can easily view paid, unpaid, and created quotes at a glance, and this can help you keep your business’s finances running on the right track. A few other reasons why Billdu excels as a quote maker include but are not limited to:

1. Apps

It’s a busy world, and you may not be able to tie yourself to a traditional desk and PC to run your business. Instead, you can use Billdu’s user-friendly apps for Android and iOS devices to view your quotes, accept them, review payments, and use all of the features right from your phone anywhere you have a stable internet connection. As a bonus, the apps are very secure.

2. Host of Services

Billdu takes great pride in making itself a one-stop shop for all of your business’s financial needs. It’s not just a quote maker. It allows you to create and track invoices, purchase orders, delivery notes, credit notes, recurring invoices, set up different payment methods, track expenses, and much more all in one cloud-based platform.

3. Accountant Onboarding

It’s essential that your accountant or accounting team can view all of the necessary information they need to set up your taxes, check your business finances, and ensure that your business is on the right track. With Billdu, you can invite your accountant right to your platform where they can get everything they need.

Tip: Explore the best invoicing apps for tradies and delve into our detailed article.

How to create quotes with Billdu app?

Billdu business quote app comes with three different options for creating quotes:

1. Online business quote maker
2. Quote maker app for iPhone
3. Quote maker app for Android

This gives you the ultimate flexibility as it means you can create and send quotes from any PC or mobile device. We understand that business does not stop when you leave the office, so no matter where you are, you can always provide professional quotes with Billdu.

You can try both our online quote maker and our business quote apps for Android and iOS for free by signing up for a trial today!

Explore Billdu: 30-Day Free Trial for Business Quoting

Start optimizing your business quoting process with Billdu’s 30-day free trial today!