Turn vague quotes into start‑ready proposals clients trust. Capture on site, send fast, get e‑signed, and convert to invoice. A real edge for small teams.
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Contractors across Europe trust Donizo to handle their quotes and invoices while they focus on what they do best: their craft.
Ever lost a job because your quote “looked like the others”? It’s common. Homeowners compare price, but they buy confidence. A powerful way to win that confidence is to turn every quote into a start‑ready proposal: it explains exactly what you’ll do, what you’ll need on day one, and how the client can say yes without a phone marathon. In practice, that means you capture the scope on site, state the start conditions clearly, send a branded PDF the client can e‑sign, and convert to invoice when accepted. Here’s how that becomes your competitive edge—and how to implement it fast.
Most quotes don’t explain how the job actually begins. No mention of parking, access, protection, or waste. That vagueness triggers client hesitation, pushes them to keep shopping, and creates extra calls before you can even schedule. It’s common for teams to burn 20–40 minutes per proposal answering the same three questions: “Where will you park?”, “How will you protect my home?”, “What happens to the waste?”
A start‑ready proposal solves the decision gap. You present:
This gives the homeowner confidence that “these folks are organised and ready to start”.
Small residential electrical firm: instead of a two‑line email, they send a branded PDF that includes “Start Conditions” and “House Protection Plan.” Many clients now approve inside a day, and the team reports 1–2 fewer pre‑start calls per job because the basics are already answered.
Think of start conditions as the checklist the client confirms before you roll in:
Many contractors find spelling this out in 6–8 bullet points removes most of the client’s last‑minute questions.
Clients decide faster when the next step is obvious:
Start Conditions (Client To Confirm):
Many contractors struggle to type on a phone in a hallway. Talk instead. While you’re still on site, narrate scope, start conditions, and protection steps into your phone, and snap 3–5 photos of the work area and access route. It’s common for this to shave 20–30 minutes off admin later.
In general, this flow helps small teams deliver proposals in under a day, often before leaving the driveway on small jobs.
A two‑person joinery team began narrating scope and start conditions on site and sending a branded, e‑signable proposal the same afternoon. They report saving 2–3 hours per week on admin and getting “go‑ahead” within 24 hours on most small interior jobs.
| Feature | Current State | Improvement |
|---|---|---|
| Client Questions | Multiple calls about parking, access, dust | 1–2 fewer pre‑start calls per job |
| Decision Speed | Proposal sits for days | Clear, e‑signable PDF often signed inside 24 hours |
| Admin Time | 20–40 minutes lost per proposal | Voice capture + instant PDF saves 20–30 minutes |
| Cash Flow | Lag between acceptance and invoice | One‑click convert to invoice on acceptance |
Use assumptions to clarify, not to scare. A few examples:
Plain English wins: short sentences, active voice, and no legalese. It’s common for this to reduce follow‑up by about half because clients actually read it.
If the work is in an occupied home, include a one‑liner: “Daily tidy, sweep, and wipe‑down included.” Many contractors find this single sentence eliminates end‑of‑day complaints and callbacks.
Start conditions are the few practical items that must be true for work to begin smoothly—parking, access, power for tools, clear space for staging, and how waste is handled. State them as short bullets the client can agree to when they e‑sign.
Yes. Even a 90‑minute call benefits from two or three bullets on access and protection. Many contractors report that simple notes like “Protect floors and isolate the room before tool use (10 minutes)” reduce questions and speed approval.
Digital e‑signatures are widely accepted as legally binding when properly captured. Donizo includes e‑signature integration so clients can sign proposals digitally for valid acceptance.
If conditions or scope change, issue a revised proposal that reflects the adjustment and get it re‑signed. Keeping the paper trail clean protects both sides and makes invoicing accurate.
A few clear photos are enough—access, staging space, and the work area. In general, 3–5 images provide the context clients need to feel confident.
If you want to win on more than price, make every quote start‑ready. Spell out the first day, state the start conditions, show your protection plan, and give clients a clear e‑sign path. You’ll cut admin, get faster yeses, and arrive on site with fewer surprises.
Want to try the workflow without friction? Use Donizo to capture scope by voice with photos, generate a branded PDF, send for e‑signature, and convert accepted proposals to invoices in one click. Start on the free Discover plan; upgrade to add custom branding, payment tracking, templates, and more when you’re ready.
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