Quoting software for South African trades and small business
Zuvo is quoting software for South African trades and small businesses. Describe the job the way you would say it, with your prices, and Zuvo drafts a clear quote with VAT in rand. You check it, send it by WhatsApp or email, and the client can accept it online. Start free, with no card.
On this page: what a good quote includes · how Zuvo works · by trade · compared · after the quote is accepted · questions
What a good quote includes
Clients accept quotes that are easy to read and leave no surprises. A good quote has:
- Materials and labour on separate lines, so the client sees what they pay for.
- The exact product or fitting, not just "replace geyser".
- A call-out or assessment fee, and whether it comes off the total.
- What is not included, such as making good tiles or electrical work.
- A valid-until date, because prices move.
- Payment terms: a deposit for larger jobs, and when the balance is due.
- VAT shown clearly if you are registered.
Our guide on how to write a quote that gets accepted goes through each, and the free quote template gives you a layout to copy.
How Zuvo works
- Describe the job. Type it or say it into your phone, including your prices. For example: "Replace a 150 litre geyser in Randburg. Geyser R4,800, 3 hours labour at R450 an hour, new valve R350."
- Check the draft. Zuvo splits it into line items, adds VAT and your business details, and you correct anything before it is saved.
- Send it. Email the PDF, or share the link on WhatsApp.
- The client accepts online. They type their name on the quote page. You are told straight away.
- Turn it into a deposit and an invoice. One click raises a deposit invoice, and later the final invoice with the deposit taken off.
Behind it: your price list and client list, quote templates by trade, follow-up messages for quotes that go quiet, and recurring work for regular clients.
Quoting software by trade
- Plumbers: geysers, leaks, bathrooms, call-out fees.
- Electricians: DB boards, rewires, the certificate of compliance fee.
- Builders: deposits, stage payments, variations.
- Painters: rooms, day rates, materials.
- Roofers: sheeting, timber, staged payments.
Free templates for each: plumber, electrician, builder, painter, roofer.
Compared with the alternatives
| What you need | Zuvo | Word or Excel | A dedicated trades quoting app |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quote written from your description | Yes | No, you type each line | Usually from a list or template |
| VAT and your own prices | Yes | If you build the formulas | Yes |
| Client accepts online | Yes, no login | No | Varies by product |
| Deposit and final invoice | Yes | No | Varies by product |
| Reminders for late payers | Yes, opt-in | No | Varies by product |
| Bank feeds, payroll, stock | Not yet | No | Varies by product |
See our comparisons with TradiQuote and RapidFlow.
After the quote is accepted
A quote is only the start. Zuvo keeps going: it shows the client how to pay, tracks deposits and part-payments, and reminds them politely if an invoice runs late. If a job grows, our guide on charging more than your quote covers what to agree first. For the invoicing side, see invoicing software for South Africa.
Plans start free (3 quotes or invoices a month), then R149 a month for Starter. See the pricing page. The 7-day trial needs no card.
Try it on a real job
Describe the job, check the draft, and send it. Free plan, or a 7-day trial of everything with no card.
Start free, no cardGeneral information, not legal or tax advice. Comparisons describe categories of tools, not specific products.
Questions people ask
What is the best quoting software for a small business in South Africa?
It depends on how you work. Look for itemised materials and labour, VAT in rand, a way for the client to accept online, and a simple route from an accepted quote to a deposit and an invoice. Zuvo does all of that, starting at a free plan, and writes the quote from a plain-English description.
Can clients accept a quote online?
Yes. Each quote has a private link. The client reads it and accepts by typing their name, with no app or login, and you are told straight away. Zuvo records the name and the time.
Can I ask for a deposit on an accepted quote?
Yes. Raise a deposit invoice for a percentage of the quote. When the job is done, the final invoice bills the whole job and takes the deposit off, so nothing is billed twice.
Does it use my own prices?
Yes. Save your call-out fee, hourly rate or day rate in your price list. When a job mentions them, Zuvo uses your numbers, and a price you state always wins.
Is there a free quote template or generator?
Yes. We have a free quote generator and quote templates for plumbers, electricians, builders, painters and roofers. They make a single quote and do not track acceptance or payment.
Can I send quotes on WhatsApp?
Yes. Share the quote link on WhatsApp, or email the PDF. The client opens the same page either way.