Quote template Australia with GST done right
Quoting in Australia means getting GST, your ABN and the deposit right. Start from a template set up in AUD, then check your state’s deposit cap for building work.
- GST, your ABN and AUD totals already set up
- State deposit caps and cooling off rules in plain English
- Download it free or build the quote online
In Australia a quote is a price offer for described work. Once the customer accepts it, it generally becomes a contract. State the scope, exclusions, GST and a valid until date, keep deposits within your state’s cap for building work, and remember that services carry automatic consumer guarantees.
At a glance
A free quote template for Australia with GST, your ABN and AUD set up, plus the consumer rules that apply to quotes: when a quote becomes a contract, deposit caps by state and cooling off periods, from official sources.
- Usual title
- Quote, or Estimate when the price may change
- Tax on the quote
- GST at 10%
- Register for GST
- From $75,000 GST turnover
- Business ID
- ABN
- Paper and dates
- A4, 28 Oct 2026
- Spelling
- British: labour, colour
Is a quote binding in Australia?
A quote is your offer to do defined work for a defined price. When the customer accepts it, you generally have a contract. Consumer Affairs Victoria puts it simply for tradespeople: you have a contract with your customer whether the agreement was verbal or in writing. Treat every quote as if it could be signed tomorrow.
An estimate is different in practice: it is your best guess, and the final price can move. If you cannot fix the price, call the document an estimate, explain what could change it, and give a range. The quote vs estimate guide covers the wording.
What to put on an Australian quote
Consumer Affairs Victoria advises tradespeople to be clear about what a quote covers and to say whether it includes the following. It is good practice in every state.
- Transport to and from the job, and time to collect materials
- The cost of materials
- Labour and apprentice costs, and how they are calculated
- Call out fees, and any weekend or public holiday rates
- A careful estimate of how long the work will take
Before you start, agree how you will handle changes to the quote or timeframe, delays, late payments and late fees, and concerns about quality. Write these into the terms and keep a record of the conversations.
For residential building work in NSW, a written contract is needed when the price is over $5,000 including GST. Work between $5,000 and $20,000 needs a small jobs contract, and work over $20,000 needs a full home building contract. A quote can lead into these, but it does not replace them.
GST on quotes
You must register for GST when your GST turnover reaches $75,000, or $150,000 for a non profit organisation. Taxi and ride sourcing drivers register regardless of turnover. Once registered, show your ABN, state whether prices include GST, and show the GST amount. Customers compare quotes on the final price, so a quote that adds GST at the end can look cheaper than it is.
The quote maker handles this for Australia: GST at 10%, prices added or included, and the GST shown on its own line.
Deposit caps for building work, by state
Several states cap the deposit on domestic building work, and asking for more is unlawful. These are the caps on the official pages we checked.
| State | Contract price | Max deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Under $20,000 | 10% |
| Victoria | $20,000 or more | 5% |
| New South Wales | Any home building contract | 10% |
| Queensland | $3,300 or less | 20% |
| Queensland | $3,300 to $19,999 | 10% |
| Queensland | $20,000 or more | 5% |
Queensland describes its 10% and 5% caps as general rules. For other states and for work that is not domestic building, check your state regulator.
Cooling off periods
Whether a cooling off period applies depends on how the sale happened and the type of work. Unsolicited sales carry a national cooling off period under the Australian Consumer Law, and home building contracts carry their own periods set by each state, so check both before you take a deposit.
- Door to door and phone sales. If you approach the customer uninvited and the total is over $100, the customer has 10 business days to cancel. You must not supply the services or take payment in that time. Visits are allowed 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays, unless the customer made an appointment.
- NSW large jobs contracts. Residential building contracts over $20,000 must state a cooling off period of five clear business days.
- Victorian building contracts. Your client has five business days after receiving a signed copy of the contract to change their mind.
If the customer asked you to visit and quote, the door to door rules usually do not apply, which is one more reason to note on the quote who asked for it.
Consumer guarantees on services
Under the Australian Consumer Law, services you supply to consumers must be carried out with due care and skill, be fit for the purpose stated, and be supplied in a reasonable time when no timeframe was agreed. These guarantees cover services costing less than $100,000, and more expensive services normally bought for personal, domestic or household use. Wording on a quote cannot remove them.
Sources
General information, not legal advice.
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: Giving quotes, tradespeople and small works
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: Deposits and payments for building work
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: Cooling off on a building contract
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: Door to door sales
- NSW Government: Contracts for residential building work
- QBCC: Seeking and comparing quotes
- business.gov.au: Australian Consumer Law and your business
- business.gov.au: Register for goods and services tax (GST)
Australian quote questions
Short answers, with the official sources listed above. General information, not legal advice.
Is a quote legally binding in Australia?
A quote is an offer. Once the customer accepts it, you generally have a contract for that work at that price, and Consumer Affairs Victoria notes a contract exists whether the agreement was verbal or in writing. That is why the scope, exclusions and valid until date on your quote matter. For large or unusual jobs, get legal advice.
How much deposit can a builder ask for in Australia?
It depends on the state and the contract price. In Victoria the cap is 10% under $20,000 and 5% from $20,000. In NSW it is 10%. In Queensland it is generally 20% up to $3,300, 10% from $3,300 to $19,999 and 5% from $20,000. Check your own state regulator for other work and states.
Do I have to show GST on a quote?
If you are registered for GST, make it clear whether your prices include GST, and show the GST amount so the customer can compare quotes fairly. You must register once your GST turnover reaches $75,000, or $150,000 for a non profit.
Is there a cooling off period after a quote is accepted?
Not for every job. Unsolicited sales such as door to door or phone sales over $100 carry a 10 business day cooling off period. Home building contracts have their own: five clear business days on NSW large jobs contracts and five business days in Victoria after the client receives the signed contract.
How long should a quote be valid in Australia?
There is no single legal period. Fourteen or thirty days is common for trades, and shorter when material prices move. Put the valid until date on the quote so there is no argument later.