55+ Quotation & Invoice Templates for Free

While there are many differences between the two, quotations and invoices are recognized as close enough. Both are used for making sure a business or a company is paid. We, in the following post, will explore the difference between the two and the timing of each.

Quotation Vs invoice:

When there are business transactions and dealings being done between parties or between a customer and the company, quotations and invoices are used. The above statement makes them sound the same, right?! Both are documents that serve the purpose of keeping proof of when businesses are receiving money or experiencing any flow of money. The costs accumulated on dealings of the sort are detailed in these legal documents.




 What’s the difference, then? How would one be able to identify and distinguish between the two? Let us find answers to these by talking about each separately:

What is a quotation?

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A quotation is also referred to as a quote or price quote at various places. It is a document that is very close to an ‘estimate’ but different. It explains and provides detailed and accurate information on a project’s estimated cost even before it has taken place. The trusted representatives of a business are the ones responsible for making quotations. They are expected to meet the other party, keep regular contact, visit the proposed site, or listen to the needs of the customers.

The quotation is prepared in advance and helps businesses get a preliminary idea of the cost, the time schedule, and the level of the deal that is being undertaken. One thing to be noticed is that a quotation is a “critical” document and cannot be created just out of mere haphazard estimates. Rather, these require the responsible business representatives to very carefully and accurately provide the details needed.

General Quotation Template




Price Quotation Format




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Cleaning Quotation Template




What does a quotation document look like?

A quotation is not a document you would want to prepare while you’re in a rush. It takes time and cares to come up with one. We are putting down details of what should a carefully curated quote must look like:

  • Just like any other financial document related to a business, a price quotation must always look very formal. It’s always appropriate to introduce your company’s brand name, logo, tagline, letterhead, or other details before anything. This also includes the contact details of your business, such as the address, email, fax, phone number, etc.
  • The customers or parties are thanked for choosing this company and are greeted. The words might vary but the customer must be able to feel valued.
  • The most important section of this document would be to quote the exact names, quantity, and details of the products or services that will be provided. This section matters the most and would determine the deal in the future. The customers might also be informed of other related products or services that they can choose to avail themselves of.

A quotation must be provided very quickly after the customer asks for it and must have the signatures of all the parties. For a better customer experience, a disclaimer can be given too. a transparent, computer-generated, and exact quote will also bring more benefits.

What is an invoice?

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An invoice is a legally-stamped financial document that keeps a record of the business transaction. The terms and conditions for the deal and available methods of payment are provided too. In addition, the items or services offered are written to request the customer to pay for these. The date of payment decided is another important part of the invoice.

What does an invoice look like?

An invoice is sent after the job has been done and expects the customer to pay in time. However, this is not the case every time. The customers fail to make their due payment in the time that was originally decided. In order to deal with situations like these, the following are the things that an invoice must contain to keep its formal vitality:

  • Similar to the quotation, the company’s branding comes before anything followed by the contact information.
  • An invoice serial number is very crucial for customers and the company to recognize the transaction that is being referred to.
  • Besides the information about the company, customer information is also added.
  • The deal date, the date of when the payment is due, or credit dates are added for a clear context.
  • All items are recorded with the cost accrued for each.
  • For the customers to be very clear the terms and conditions, disclaimers, and taxes (if any) must be very clearly stated to avoid disputes or confusion.
  • Company payment policies, late payment rules, and credit rules are to be stated and are highly imperative.
  • Computer-generated or software-generated invoices are better as they are more organized and are more quickly recognized as compared to hand-written ones.
  • All legal backings must be cleared to avoid any detestable situation in the future. Be very professional and smart when a transaction through an invoice is taking place.

We have talked about the template and outlook of both quotation and invoice and how these are similar and different from each other. Even though both are very much alike these cannot be used interchangeably!

To sum up the debate in brief words it can be said that a quotation document is created BEFORE the business dealing, or work had begun. It contains details on the estimated cost of the project or job that is expected to take place.

An invoice, on the other hand, is specific to when the payment process between parties or between a client and a company has been COMPLETED. The cumulative costs accrued on the dealing and details of when it took place. In case of pending payment, the date and timing of it are provided to allow the parties to remember and keep track. Both of these are vital and are considered legally valued in order to make sure all financial processes related to businesses are documented carefully. One cannot depend on oral dealings anymore!

Video Tutorials

Watch the video tutorial below on how to create a Quotation or Invoice in MS Word

How to Design a Quotation/Estimate in MS Word

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How to Create Sales Invoice in MS Word

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Making a Professional Invoice Design in MS Word