JobsPaid

Quote vs Invoice: When to Use Each

Understanding when to use quotes versus invoices is simple once you know the basic difference: quotes come before you do the work, and invoices come after you complete the job.

What is a Quote?

A quote (also called an estimate) is like making a promise to your customer about how much a job will cost. You create quotes when:

  1. A customer asks "How much will this cost?"
  2. You want to win new business
  3. You need to get approval before starting work
  4. The customer is comparing prices from different contractors

In JobsPaid, go to Quotes from your dashboard to create professional estimates that show your expertise and help you win more jobs.

What is an Invoice?

An invoice is your official request for payment after you've completed the work. You create invoices when:

  1. The job is finished (or partially finished)
  2. You're ready to get paid
  3. You need to document what work was actually done
  4. Materials and labor costs are final

Navigate to Invoices in your app to create and send payment requests that get you paid faster.

The Simple Workflow

Here's how most contractors use both:

  1. Customer contacts you about a job
  2. You create a Quote with estimated costs
  3. Customer approves the quote
  4. You complete the work
  5. You create an Invoice based on the actual work done
  6. Customer pays the invoice

Converting Quotes to Invoices

JobsPaid makes this easy! Once your quote is accepted and work is complete:

  1. Open your approved quote
  2. Click Convert to Invoice
  3. Adjust any changes in actual costs or work performed
  4. Send to your customer for payment

Common Mistakes

Don't send an invoice before completing the work - customers expect to pay only after receiving value

Don't skip the quote phase for big jobs - it protects both you and your customer from misunderstandings

Don't forget to update your invoice if the final work differs from your original quote

Related Articles

• How to Create Your First Quote in JobsPaid • Setting Up Automatic Payment Reminders for Invoices • Converting Quotes to Paid Invoices: Complete Guide

Remember: quotes sell the job, invoices collect the money! 💰