What's the difference between a quotation and a quote?

None — same document. "Quotation" is more common in the UK and in formal business writing; "quote" is the everyday, mostly-US term.

Can I change the price after the client accepts my quotation?

Not for the scope you quoted — that's the point of a firm quote. If the client asks for something beyond what you quoted, that's a change order: document it separately and quote or invoice the difference.

Should a quotation include a deposit or payment terms?

If you require one, yes — state it on the quotation itself, so accepting it means accepting the payment schedule too, not just the headline price.

How is a quotation different from an invoice?

A quotation is sent before the work, asking the client to agree to a price. An invoice is sent for work already done or in progress, asking to be paid. Converting an accepted quotation into an invoice is the normal next step, not a rewrite.

How to Write a Quotation

What a firm price quotation needs to hold up: a defined scope, a validity date, and terms the client agrees to before you start.

A quotation is a firm price, so it needs a defined scope before you can write one. List exactly what's included — materials, labor, delivery, install — so a "yes" from the client is a yes to a specific deal, not a vague number that could mean different things to each of you.

Use line items with quantities and unit prices rather than a single lump sum, so the client can see what's driving the total and where it would change if they cut something from the scope.

State how long the price is guaranteed for — "valid until [date]" — since component and material costs move, and a quotation with no expiry isn't really firm; it's just a number someone could try to hold you to indefinitely.

Include payment terms, and a deposit if you require one before starting. A quotation is the natural place to say "50% deposit, balance on completion," since accepting the quotation should mean accepting the whole deal, price and payment schedule together.

Once accepted, convert the quotation into an invoice for the actual billing. The quotation is the offer; the invoice is what asks to be paid.

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Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a quotation and a quote?: None — same document. "Quotation" is more common in the UK and in formal business writing; "quote" is the everyday, mostly-US term.
Can I change the price after the client accepts my quotation?: Not for the scope you quoted — that's the point of a firm quote. If the client asks for something beyond what you quoted, that's a change order: document it separately and quote or invoice the difference.
Should a quotation include a deposit or payment terms?: If you require one, yes — state it on the quotation itself, so accepting it means accepting the payment schedule too, not just the headline price.
How is a quotation different from an invoice?: A quotation is sent before the work, asking the client to agree to a price. An invoice is sent for work already done or in progress, asking to be paid. Converting an accepted quotation into an invoice is the normal next step, not a rewrite.