How to Write a Quote for Electrical Work in Australia (with a WA Checklist)

Most electrical jobs are won or lost on the quote. A clear, written quote tells the customer exactly what they are paying for, protects you if there is a dispute, and, once the customer accepts it, becomes a legally binding agreement. This guide walks through how to write a quote for electrical work in Australia, what has to be on it, and how to price it without leaving money on the table. It has extra notes for electrical contractors in Western Australia.

Quote or estimate: know which one you are giving

Before you write anything, decide whether you are giving a quote or an estimate.

• A quote is a fixed price for a defined scope of work. According to business.gov.au, if a customer accepts your quote it becomes a legally binding contract.
• An estimate is your best guess at the cost when you cannot yet see the whole job, for example a fault find, or work behind walls you have not opened.

If you are not sure what you will find, say so in writing. Either give an estimate with a clear range and what could change it, or quote the parts you can see and list the unknowns as exclusions with a rate for extra work.

What every electrical quote must include

The Australian Government's business.gov.au checklist says a written quote should include at least:

1. Your business name, Australian Business Number (ABN) and contact details.
2. The customer's name and contact details.
3. A clear description of the work or service.
4. Itemised and total costs, including GST if it applies.
5. Any variations and revisions you discussed.
6. Payment terms and conditions, such as the due date and late payment penalties.
7. Work start and finish dates.
8. Space for the customer's acceptance (signature and date).

For electrical work, add three more things:

• Your electrical contractor licence number. Every state and territory licenses electrical contractors, and customers increasingly check. In Western Australia it is a legal requirement for advertising (see the WA section below), so it makes sense to put it on every quote too.
• Compliance paperwork. Say that you will provide the certificate or notice your state requires when the work is finished, and whether that is included in the price.
• How long the quote is valid. Material prices move. A validity period, for example 30 days, protects you from honouring an old price after cable or switchgear costs have gone up.

Step by step: writing the quote

1. Get the scope right on site

Walk the job with the customer. Ask what they want to end up with, not just what they want installed. Note the switchboard, the age of the wiring, access (roof space, slab, ceilings), and anything that might need upgrading to meet current standards. Take photos. Most quote disputes start with a scope that was never written down.

2. Break the job into line items

Itemise. A line like "Electrical work, $2,400" invites haggling and doubt. Break it into clear lines the customer can understand, for example:

• Supply and install double power points (quantity and location)
• Supply and install LED downlights (quantity, brand or rating)
• Run new circuit from switchboard
• Install RCD protection
• Testing, certification and paperwork

Itemising also makes variations easier: if the customer drops two downlights, you change one line instead of re-quoting the whole job.

3. Work out labour

Estimate the hours for each part of the job, including the parts customers do not see: travel, picking up materials, testing, cleaning up, and paperwork. Multiply by a charge-out rate that covers not just wages but super, workers' compensation, insurance, vehicle costs, tools, and the hours nobody pays you for (quoting, admin, callbacks). If your rate only covers wages, every job quietly loses money.

4. Add materials and markup

List the materials and cost them at what you will actually pay, then add your markup. Markup covers the time spent sourcing and collecting materials, the risk of breakages and returns, and the warranty you stand behind. Be consistent: use the same markup rules on every quote so your pricing is predictable and defensible.

5. Show GST correctly

If you are registered for GST, show it. Either show the GST amount as its own line, or state clearly that the price includes GST. Customers comparing quotes should never have to guess whether your number is GST inclusive or exclusive.

6. Write down exclusions and assumptions

This is the section that saves you the most arguments. Typical exclusions for electrical quotes include:

• Patching and painting after cable runs
• Work required if existing wiring is found to be unsafe or non-compliant
• Supply authority or network fees
• Work outside normal hours
• Anything not listed in the quote

Pair the exclusions with how you will handle extra work, for example "Additional work will be quoted as a written variation before it starts."

7. Set clear payment terms

State when payment is due, whether you take a deposit, the payment methods you accept, and what happens if payment is late. Make it easy to pay: a link to pay by card on the invoice gets you paid faster than asking customers to transfer money and quote a reference number.

8. Send it fast, then follow it up

Speed matters. The tradie who sends a clear quote the same day often wins the job, even against a cheaper price that arrives a week later. Then follow up. Many quotes are not rejected, they are simply forgotten. A short message two or three days later asking whether they have any questions wins back a surprising amount of work.

From quote to tax invoice

When the job is done, the accepted quote becomes your invoice. If you are registered for GST, the Australian Taxation Office's tax invoice rules apply. For taxable sales under $1,000, a tax invoice must show enough information to identify:

1. That the document is intended to be a tax invoice
2. The seller's identity
3. The seller's ABN
4. The date it was issued
5. A brief description of what was sold, including quantity (if applicable) and price
6. The GST amount, either shown separately or, if GST is exactly one-eleventh of the total, a statement that says "Total price includes GST"
7. The extent to which each item is a taxable sale

For sales of $1,000 or more, the invoice must also show the buyer's identity or ABN. If a customer asks for a tax invoice, you must provide it within 28 days (unless the sale is $82.50 including GST or less). A PDF emailed to the customer is fine, as long as it contains all the required information.

If your quote already has your ABN, a clear description, itemised prices and GST, turning it into a compliant tax invoice is a matter of minutes, not a second round of paperwork.

Extra notes for electrical contractors in Western Australia

In WA, regulation 45(1) of the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 requires a licensed electrical contractor to conspicuously display their licence number in any advertisement for their electrical contracting business. The WA Government's electrical licensing page says contractors must show their licence number, starting with "EC", on business materials such as ads, vehicles and business cards. Building and Energy guidance explains the number should be shown with the EC prefix (for example EC 004700), although leading zeros can be left off, and that not displaying it is an offence.

Putting your EC number on your quote template means it is on every quote, invoice and email you send, and customers can check it using the Building and Energy licence search.

A quick electrical quote checklist

Before you hit send, check that your quote has:

• Your business name, ABN, contact details and EC licence number
• The customer's name, contact details and the job address
• A clear scope of work, broken into line items
• Labour and materials priced, with GST shown clearly
• Exclusions, assumptions and how variations will be handled
• Payment terms, deposit (if any) and how to pay
• Start and finish dates, and how long the quote is valid
• A place for the customer to accept

Frequently asked questions

How do I write a quote for electrical work?

Visit the site, write down the scope, break the job into line items, price labour and materials with your markup, show GST, list exclusions, set payment terms and a validity period, then send it with a place for the customer to accept. Follow it up a few days later.

What is the difference between a quote and an estimate for electrical work?

A quote is a fixed price for a defined scope and, once accepted, is legally binding. An estimate is an approximate cost when the full scope is not yet known. Tell the customer in writing which one you are giving.

How do I estimate electrical labour cost?

Estimate the hours for each task, including travel, collecting materials, testing and paperwork, then multiply by a charge-out rate that covers wages, super, insurance, vehicle and tool costs, and unpaid admin time, not just your hourly wage.

Does my electrical contractor licence number have to be on my quote?

In WA, the licence number must be displayed on any advertisement for your electrical contracting business, and the government's guidance lists business materials such as ads, vehicles and business cards. Including it on every quote is the simplest way to make sure you are always covered, and it builds trust with customers. Check the rules with the licensing regulator in your own state.

Make quoting the easy part

BronzeOffice is built in Perth for Australian tradies. It lets you build itemised, GST-correct quotes on your phone while you are still on site, with your ABN and licence number already on the template. It follows up quotes that go quiet, turns accepted quotes into jobs and tax invoices with a pay-online link, and syncs with Xero. You can try it free for 14 days.