How to write a construction quote: the complete guide

The devis (quote) is the first impression your client gets of your professionalism — and it is also a legally binding document. A clear, complete and compliant quote reassures the client, speeds up the signature and protects you in the event of a dispute. Conversely, an incomplete quote can lose you the job… or expose you to a fine.

This guide explains how to draft a compliant construction quote, what the mandatory mentions (mentions obligatoires) are, how to handle VAT, and how to avoid the most common mistakes. At the end, you will find a template and a method for producing a professional quote in a few seconds.

What is a quote in the building trade?

A devis (quote) is a detailed and dated price proposal for works to be carried out. It describes the nature of the services, the quantities, the unit prices and the total amount. Once dated, signed and accepted by the client, it becomes a contract that binds both parties on the price and the content.

A written quote is mandatory in several cases, notably:

• for works whose estimated amount exceeds €1,500 incl. VAT;
• for troubleshooting, repair and maintenance services in the building trade and household appliances (whatever the amount);
• as soon as the client (a private individual) requests one.

The mandatory mentions of a construction quote

This is the heart of the matter. A quote intended for a private individual must include all of the following mentions. Use it as a checklist:

1. Company identity

• Name or company name and legal form (auto-entrepreneur, sole trader, limited company, etc.)
• Full address and contact details (phone, e-mail)
• SIRET number
• Registration number with the RCS (Trade and Companies Register, for traders) or the Répertoire des métiers / RM (Trades Directory, for artisans)
• Intra-EU VAT number (unless you are under the VAT-exemption (franchise en base) scheme)

2. Professional insurance

• A mention of your assurance décennale (ten-year liability insurance): the insurer's details and the geographical coverage of the policy. This is mandatory for building works.

3. Client identity

• The client's name and full address
• The place where the works are carried out (if different)

4. The quote itself

• The word "Devis", its date of issue and its validity period (e.g. 3 months)
• Whether the quote is free or paid
• The itemised breakdown, line by line: description, quantity, unit price excl. VAT, labour, materials
• Any travel costs
• The total excl. VAT, the VAT rate and amount for each applicable rate, and the total incl. VAT
• For a construction, renovation or demolition job: the mention on waste management (mandatory since 1 July 2021) — estimated quantities, removal arrangements, collection points and associated costs

5. Conditions and signature

• The payment terms and conditions (deposit, payment schedule, late-payment penalties)
• Information about the consumer mediator (médiateur de la consommation, for private clients)
• Space for the handwritten mention "Devis reçu avant l'exécution des travaux" (Quote received before the works are carried out), the date and the client's signature

💡 Just one missing element can make the quote non-compliant. A template that includes them by default spares you the oversight.

VAT in the building trade: 20 %, 10 % or 5.5 %?

The VAT rate depends on the nature of the works and the dwelling:

The reduced rates require a dwelling completed more than 2 years ago and a VAT certificate (attestation TVA) signed by the client. (Detailed guide: see the Construction VAT article.)

How to draft a quote, step by step

1. Qualify the need on site or by phone: nature of the works, surface areas, constraints.
2. Break it down into clear line items (preparation, supplies, labour, finishing).
3. Price each line item: quantity × unit price, separating materials and labour.
4. Apply the correct VAT rate per line item.
5. Add the mandatory mentions (see checklist above).
6. Set the validity period and the payment terms (deposit, payment schedule).
7. Proofread, send, and make it easy to sign (ideally electronic signature).

Common mistakes to avoid

• ❌ Forgetting a mandatory mention (insurance, SIRET, mediator, etc.)
• ❌ Mixing up the VAT rates or applying them to the wrong line item
• ❌ Being too vague about the services → disputes and unpaid invoices
• ❌ Not stating a validity period (material prices move)
• ❌ Forgetting the deposit and the payment schedule

Construction quote template

You can start from a ready-to-use template that already includes all the mandatory mentions, then adapt it to each job. (See: quote and invoice templates to download.)

A compliant quote in 30 seconds

Drafting a complete quote by hand often takes 1 to 2 hours. With Zoplee, you describe the job — by keyboard, by voice, or even from a photo — and you get a detailed quote, priced at the market rate and compliant (mandatory mentions, VAT, breakdown) in 30 seconds. You adjust it, you send it, the client signs, and the invoice follows automatically.

👉 Try it for free — your first quote goes out the same day.

FAQ

Is a quote mandatory? Yes, in writing above €1,500 incl. VAT, for troubleshooting/repairs, and as soon as the client requests one.

Does a quote bind the company? Yes: once signed and accepted by the client, the quote serves as a contract on the price and the content, throughout its validity period.

Is the quote paid? It is free in principle, but it can be paid (notably for a call-out or a study) — provided you state this clearly to the client beforehand.

What validity period should I state? You set it freely (often 1 to 3 months). Always state it: beyond that, you are no longer bound by the price.

Related articles (coming soon): Mandatory quote mentions · Construction VAT 10/5.5/20 % · Quote & invoice templates · Construction e-invoicing 2026.