Follow-Up Email After Sending a Quote or Estimate

You sent a quote and heard nothing. That silence usually means the client is busy, comparing options, or unsure about one line item, not that they have said no. A short follow-up that answers questions and makes the next step obvious can turn a maybe into a booked job.

Quotes are smaller decisions than proposals

A quote or estimate is often a quick decision: a price for a defined job. Clients compare a few quotes, check the number against a budget, and pick. That means timing matters more than with a long proposal. Following up within a few days, while they are still deciding, is helpful rather than pushy. For larger, multi-stakeholder proposals, see the proposal follow-up guide.

When to follow up

1. One to two business days after sending: confirm it arrived and offer to answer questions.
2. About a week later: check whether anything in the quote needs adjusting, such as scope, timing, or options.
3. When the quote's validity date approaches (if you set one): a short note that it is about to expire, and that you can re-quote later if needed.

Then stop. Three short touches are plenty for most quotes. If you hear nothing after that, log it and move on.

Free template 1: did you get it?

Replace every [bracket] before sending.

Hi [Client Name],

I sent over the quote for [Job / Project] on [Sent Date] ([Amount]) and wanted to make sure it reached you.

If you have any questions about what's included, or want to see a version with [Option: fewer items / a different timeline / a phased start], I'm happy to put that together.

Thanks,
[Your Name]
[Your Business]

Offering a specific alternative gives the client an easy way to respond even if the original number was a stretch.

Free template 2: anything to adjust?

Hi [Client Name],

Following up on the [Job / Project] quote from [Sent Date]. Is there anything you'd like me to adjust, such as the scope, the start date, or how the payments are split?

If the timing isn't right, no problem. Just let me know and I'll close it out on my end. I can start as early as [Earliest Start Date] if you'd like to go ahead.

Best,
[Your Name]

"I'll close it out on my end" is a respectful way to ask for a decision. It tells the client a "not now" is fine, which often prompts a reply either way.

Make your quotes easier to say yes to

• State what is included and what is not, so the client is not left guessing about extras.
• Add a validity date (for example, "valid for 30 days") if your costs or availability change. Only state it if it is true.
• Explain the next step to accept: reply "yes," sign, or pay a deposit.
• Keep a list of open quotes with sent date and next follow-up date, so none of them quietly expire.

Once they say yes

Confirm the scope and start date in writing the same day, and send any deposit invoice with clear payment terms. Our guide on how to ask a client for payment politely has a template for that first invoice.

Related guides

• Invoice follow-up email templates: the full soft-nudge-to-final-notice sequence
• How to ask a client for payment politely: wording for the first ask, before anything is late
• Friendly payment reminder after the due date: short, warm reminders for the first week late
• Past-due invoice payment reminder: a timing plan for 1, 7, 14, and 30+ days late
• Final notice before collections email: a calm, documented last notice for long-overdue invoices
• Proposal follow-up emails: for proposals that go quiet before any work starts
• Client not responding to invoice: what to email when you get radio silence

More free guides

• Client not responding after proposal
• Follow-up after discovery call
• Follow-up when contract not signed
• Free 3-template mini-pack (PDF)
• All free guides

Practical communication guidance only, not legal or sales advice. Adjust templates to match your contracts and how you actually work with clients.