A quote states what a job will cost, not what it might cost. It pairs a specific price with a specific scope, and once the customer accepts it, both sides are generally committed: you to doing that work, them to paying that amount.
The contrast is with an estimate, which is a forecast that can move. The difference is not formality or presentation — it is whether the number is a commitment or a projection, and which one you are giving should be stated explicitly on the document.
Why It Matters
A quote moves the risk of overrun onto you. If the work takes longer than expected, that is your cost to absorb, which is why quoting against a scope you have not properly understood is expensive. The protection is not a bigger number but a better scope description: state what is included, state what is excluded, and give the quote an expiry date so a price built on today’s costs cannot be accepted a year from now.
Example
A designer quotes £2,400 for "a five-page marketing site, two rounds of revisions, valid 30 days". The client accepts. When they later ask for a booking system, that falls outside the stated scope — so it is priced as a variation and agreed in writing before work starts, rather than absorbed or argued about at invoice time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a quote legally binding?
Once accepted, generally yes — it operates as an offer that acceptance converts into agreement on price for the described scope. Before acceptance it is just an offer, and an expiry date lets you withdraw it cleanly.
Can I change a quote after the client accepts it?
Not unilaterally. Changes go through a variation: the client requests something outside the agreed scope, you price it, and they agree before you do the work.