Quote
Definition
Priced commercial proposal detailing services, prices and conditions. A professional quote must include mandatory legal mentions (provider identity, VAT, payment terms, validity period).
Detailed explanation
The quote is both a commercial and a contractual document. It commits the provider to a scope, a price and a deadline. Mandatory legal mentions: full identity of the provider (SIRET), identity of the client, detailed description of the services, unit price excluding tax, total excluding tax, VAT rate and amount (or mention of exemption under article 293B of the French tax code for sole traders), payment terms (deadline, method, late penalties), validity period of the offer. A quote accepted by eIDAS electronic signature has immediate contractual value.
Concrete example
Showcase site redesign quote: UX design (15 h × 75 €/h = 1,125 €), Integration (40 h × 65 €/h = 2,600 €), Setup & tests (8 h × 65 €/h = 520 €). Total excluding tax: 4,245 €. VAT 20 %: 849 €. Total including tax: 5,094 €. 30 % deposit on signature. Balance on delivery.
Common mistake
Sending a flat-rate quote with no hourly detail or precise scope. First consequence: impossible to invoice out-of-scope changes. Second: the client negotiates the flat rate, not the line items.
Related terms
Invoice
Accounting document attesting to a commercial transaction. Invoices must comply with strict legal formalism: sequential numbering, mandat...
CommercialTerms of sale
Legal document governing business relationships between provider and clients. Terms define payment terms, responsibilities, warranties an...
CommercialDeposit
Partial payment made before or during service delivery. The deposit secures the freelancer by financially committing the client. Usually ...
Tools & methodsElectronic signature
Process allowing documents to be signed digitally with legal value. Compliant with eIDAS regulation, electronic signatures replace handwr...
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