Blog & Chips
Honest, practical advice on quoting, pricing and running a tidy trade business — from electrician Tom Harris.
- How to Win More Quotes as a Tradesman: 7 Tactics That Book Jobs
Practical tips on how to win more quotes as a tradesman: quote fast, look professional, itemise clearly, build trust and make it easy for customers to say yes.
28 May 2026 · 6 min read - How to Build a Quote: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide for Tradespeople
New to quoting? This beginner's guide on how to build a quote covers scope, pricing labour and materials, overheads, VAT, payment terms and presentation.
21 May 2026 · 7 min read - Quote vs Estimate: What's the Difference and When to Use Each
A UK electrician explains quote vs estimate, the legal difference, when to use each, and how to word them properly so you don't get caught out on price.
14 May 2026 · 4 min read - How to Price a Job: Labour, Materials and Markup Done Right
A practical UK guide to how to price a job: working out labour, pricing materials with markup, covering overheads and travel, and building in real profit.
7 May 2026 · 5 min read - How to Follow Up a Quote Without Being Pushy: A UK Tradesman's Guide
Learn how to follow up a quote the right way — timing, tone, the best channel, what to say, plus real message examples and when to let it go.
30 April 2026 · 6 min read - What to Include in a Quote: The Anatomy of One That Wins Work
What to include in a quote that wins work — scope, itemised costs, VAT, exclusions, validity and payment terms. A practical UK tradesman's template.
23 April 2026 · 7 min read - 8 Common Quoting Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
A working electrician's run-through of the most common quoting mistakes UK tradespeople make, from underpricing to forgetting VAT, and how to fix each one.
16 April 2026 · 6 min read - How Fast Should You Send a Quote? Why Speed Wins Jobs
How fast to send a quote and why speed wins work. A UK electrician on speed-to-lead, doorstep quoting, and simple systems to quote faster without cutting corners.
9 April 2026 · 6 min read - Deposits and Payment Terms: How to Get Paid On Time as a Tradesperson
Practical guide to deposits and payment terms for UK trades — how much to ask for, staged payments, clear wording and chasing late payers without the stress.
2 April 2026 · 6 min read - VAT, CIS and the Reverse Charge: Quoting Right for UK Trades
Plain-English guide to VAT bands, CIS deductions on labour and the domestic reverse charge for UK trades — and how to show it all clearly on your quotes.
26 March 2026 · 7 min read