What App Do Tradespeople Use to Create Quotes?

Most tradespeople in the UK currently create quotes using a combination of WhatsApp, text, email, or a Word/Excel template – and this is exactly the problem. These tools were not designed for quoting, produce inconsistent output, and give customers no formal approval mechanism. The good news: there are now apps built specifically for this, and the best ones take under 5 minutes per quote.

How Most Tradespeople Currently Create Quotes

The reality of how trades quotes get created in the UK in 2026:

• WhatsApp message: “It’ll be £400 all in mate”
• Text message: Brief description and a price
• Email with Word doc: Better, but time-consuming and often inconsistently formatted
• Handwritten note: Common on domestic jobs, but offers no record or approval trail
• Verbal agreement: No written quote at all

Each of these creates problems: disputes about what was included, no record of customer approval, no professional presentation that builds confidence.

What a Quote App Does That These Methods Don’t

A dedicated quoting app for tradespeople provides:

• Professional PDF output with your logo, job description, itemised costs, and payment terms
• Saved line items – standard jobs you do repeatedly (boiler service, socket installation, day rate) that you pull into any new quote in seconds
• Digital customer approval – the customer approves from their phone, creating a clear record
• Quote-to-invoice conversion – one tap to turn an approved quote into an invoice
• Customer database – all your customer details in one place

The result: quotes that take 5 minutes instead of 30, look professional, and reduce disputes.

CoreQuote: The App Built Specifically for Trades Quoting

CoreQuote is the quoting and invoice app built for UK trades businesses. It is currently free for 6 months during the beta.

What tradespeople use CoreQuote for:
– Building professional quotes on site from their phone
– Storing saved line items for their standard work
– Sending quotes for digital customer approval
– Converting approved quotes to invoices
– Managing their customer database

Built for: electricians, plumbers, gas engineers, builders, roofers, plasterers, decorators, landscapers, and all UK trades businesses.

Try CoreQuote free at kwowta.com.

Other Apps Tradespeople Use for Quotes

Tradify – job management and quoting for larger trades teams. Starts from £35/month. Good for multi-person businesses, more than a sole trader typically needs.

ServiceM8 – field service management including quoting. iOS only. From £29/month.

Invoice Ninja / Billdu – generic small business invoicing tools. Work for basic quoting but not built for trades workflows.

QuoteAddon / BuildCalc – specialist tools for builders and contractors, more focused on large project estimating than day-to-day quoting.

Conclusion

The trades industry rewards those who combine excellent work with professional business practices. The guidance above covers the practical fundamentals – applying it consistently is what separates the tradespeople who stay busy and profitable from those who struggle with feast-and-famine cycles. For further guidance, visit Federation of Master Builders: digital tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest app for a tradesperson to create quotes?

CoreQuote is designed to be the fastest way for a tradesperson to create a professional quote on site. With saved line items for your standard services, a full quote takes under 5 minutes. See kwowta.com for a demo.

Can I create a quote on my phone and send it on site?

Yes – CoreQuote is designed for exactly this workflow. Build the quote, preview the professional PDF, and send it to the customer by email or WhatsApp directly from the app.

Do I need expensive software to create professional trades quotes?

No. CoreQuote is free for 6 months during the beta, then from £3.40/month – less than the margin on a single additional job per year. The tools that make a material difference don’t have to be expensive.