An electrical quote has two jobs. It tells your customer what they are paying for, and it pins down exactly where your work starts and stops. On a switchboard upgrade or a run of new power points, the gap between those two is where most arguments come from. A clear template closes that gap before you pick up a single tool.
This one is built around the jobs sparkies quote most: switchboard upgrades, power points, lighting, safety switches, ceiling fans and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Use the line items, then edit the inclusions, exclusions and assumptions to suit each job. If you quote through QuoteSnap, the quote you send carries this same structure, and the customer's switchboard photos and answers are already in front of you when you write it.
What every electrical quote should include
Before the price, the customer needs to know who you are, what you looked at and what you are promising. Put these on every quote, whether it is one power point or a full board change.
- Your business details. Trading name, Australian Business Number (ABN), contact details, and your electrical contractor licence number if your state requires it on quotes. Check what applies to you.
- Customer and site. Name, site address and how you assessed the job: on site, from photos, or both.
- Scope of work. A plain description of each task, room by room or circuit by circuit.
- Line items. Quantities and units for fittings, points and cable runs, with labour shown the way you prefer to show it.
- Price and GST. The total, with goods and services tax (GST) shown separately if you are registered. Ask your accountant how it should appear.
- Validity and acceptance. How long the price holds, deposit terms if you take one, and how the customer accepts.
Scope and line items for common electrical jobs
Write each line so a customer who has never opened a switchboard can still follow it. Name the item, the location and the quantity. Leave brand and model blanks for the customer to confirm, because a photo of a fan box or charger does not always tell you which one they bought.
Group lines by job if one visit covers several. A switchboard upgrade with three extra power points reads better as two short blocks than one long list.
- Switchboard upgrades. Board replacement, number of circuits, safety switches added, and whether the meter panel is part of the job.
- Power points and lighting. Count of points or fittings, the rooms they go in, and the wall type you are cutting into.
- Ceiling fans. Fan supplied by you or the customer, existing light point or a new one, and the control: wall switch, remote or both.
- EV chargers. Charger supply, mounting position, the cable run from the board, and any board work needed to take the new circuit.
Inclusions and exclusions on an electrical quote
Inclusions tell the customer what they get. Exclusions protect you from the jobs that grow once the wall is open. On electrical work the usual traps are patching after a cut-in, hidden faults in old wiring, and network work that is out of your hands.
Keep exclusions specific. "Anything not listed" is a weak line on its own. "Plaster patching and painting after cut-ins" is one a customer can actually read and agree to.
Assumptions and variations wording
Assumptions are the conditions your price depends on. If one turns out wrong, it is what lets you raise a variation without an argument. Write each one as a fact you are relying on, then say what happens if it is not true.
For variations, state that extra work is priced and agreed in writing before it starts. That single line heads off more disputes than anything else on the page.
Terms worth stating
- Deposit. Whether you take one, the amount, and when the balance is due. Set your own terms, and ask your accountant if you are unsure.
- Customer supplied fittings. Who carries the warranty on fans, lights or chargers the customer buys, and what happens if one is faulty on arrival.
- Access. Clear access to the switchboard, roof space and work areas on the day.
- Paperwork. Any certificate or notice your state requires after the work. Check what applies to you.
Typical line items
| Item | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Supply and install new switchboard with [number] circuits and [number] safety switches | item | $ |
| Supply and install double power point in [room], [wall type] wall | each | $ |
| Relocate existing power point from [location] to [location] | each | $ |
| Supply and install downlight in [room] | each | $ |
| Install customer supplied ceiling fan [brand/model] to existing light point in [room] | each | $ |
| Supply and install wall control for ceiling fan in [room] | each | $ |
| Supply and run cable from switchboard to [location] | lm | $ |
| Install EV charger [brand/model] on a dedicated circuit at [location] | item | $ |
| Test existing circuits on [board/area] and report findings in writing | lot | $ |
Questions about electrician quotes
Should I itemise labour and materials on an electrical quote?
It depends on the job and the customer. Plenty of sparkies itemise fittings and points but roll labour into each line, so the customer sees what they are buying without picking apart your hourly rate. On bigger jobs like a switchboard upgrade, a separate labour line can help the customer understand why the price is what it is.
What should I write when the customer supplies the fan or charger?
Name the item and model if you know it, mark it as customer supplied, and say who carries the warranty. Add an assumption that it arrives complete and working. If the box is missing parts on the day, the time spent sorting it out becomes a variation rather than your cost.
How do I quote a switchboard upgrade from photos?
Photos of the board open and closed, plus the meter, tell you a lot but not everything. Quote what you can see, list the assumptions that would change the price, and say the final figure is confirmed once the cover is off on site. You decide whether the photos are enough or a visit is needed.
Do I need my licence number on an electrical quote?
Rules differ between states and territories, so check what applies to you with your licensing body. Even where it is not required, putting your licence number on the quote costs nothing and gives the customer one more reason to trust the price.
How long should an electrical quote stay valid?
Pick a period you can stand behind and print the expiry date on the quote. Cable, switchgear and charger prices can move, so a shorter window protects you on supply and install jobs. If the customer comes back after it lapses, reprice before you accept the job.
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