Quotation vs Invoice: Which One Should You Send First?

If a client hasn't agreed to a price yet, sending an invoice is premature — and can come across as presumptuous. The correct sequence for any new piece of work is: quotation first, invoice second.

Quotation: the offer

A quotation is a proposed price for work not yet started. It typically includes a validity period ("valid for 15 days") since costs can change, and it's not yet a binding request for payment — it's an offer the client can accept, reject, or negotiate.

Invoice: the request for payment

Once the client accepts the quote (in writing, ideally) and the work is delivered or underway, that's when an invoice goes out. It converts the agreed price into an actual payment request with a due date.

What actually changes between the two documents

• A quotation usually says "Valid until [date]"; an invoice says "Due by [date]"
• A quotation has no payment terms; an invoice specifies how and when to pay
• A quotation can be revised freely before acceptance; an invoice, once issued, is a formal record

A common failure point

Sending a full invoice before the client has agreed to scope or price can stall a deal — it reads as assuming the sale is closed. If there's any chance the price or scope isn't locked in yet, send a quotation first.

Start with our Quotation Generator to get client sign-off, then once it's approved, use the matching Invoice Generator to bill for the agreed amount — no need to re-enter the line items from scratch.