Trade specific
5 Quoting Mistakes That Cost UK Plumbers £15k+ Per Year
Five common leaks in plumbing estimates—and the practical controls that close them.
Most lost margin does not come from one dramatic mistake. It disappears through repeated omissions: travel, fittings, collection time, making good and unrecorded changes. A consistent quote checklist makes those costs visible.
Do not price from the headline task
Replacing a cylinder, bathroom suite or run of pipe includes more than fitting time. Survey access, isolation, protection, testing, waste and making good should appear in the job build-up.
Use assemblies or saved groups for work you repeat. They make it harder to omit small fittings and the labour around them.
Treat collection time as labour
A merchant run takes paid time and vehicle cost even when the customer never sees it. Plan materials before the job and price unavoidable collection into the work.
Record substitutions and price changes as they happen. A different valve or fitting may be individually small but repeated variance changes the result.
Close every change before proceeding
When the customer changes the scope, describe the effect on price and programme before doing the additional work.
A short written approval is easier for everyone than a disputed conversation at the invoice stage.
This article provides general business information, not accounting, tax or legal advice. Check current requirements with the relevant authority or a qualified adviser.