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Estimate Disclaimers: Terms and Conditions Samples for Your Business

October 25, 2021 7 min. read
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As a small business owner, getting paid on time and in full is essential. After all, you have to keep the lights on for your business and make sure your employees get paid for their hard work.

In a perfect world, all your clients would pay you the moment you finish a job and for the full amount of the invoice. But that, unfortunately, doesn’t always happen. That’s where including terms and conditions in your estimates can help speed up and clear up the estimate and payment process for you.

Terms and conditions lay out the responsibilities of both you and the client, including the services you’ll provide and how much they’ll cost. This helps to avoid client disputes in the future and sets expectations from the very beginning of your relationship.

Watch the video below and read on to learn which terms and conditions to include in your field service estimates to keep your cash flow steady and client issues at a minimum.

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How changes to estimates make both you and your customers feel. Image by @the__impetus

General terms and conditions samples for every industry

There are some general estimate terms and conditions that virtually every service business can benefit from. For example, consider including the following examples in your estimates to strengthen them.

1. Payment terms

No matter which industry you’re in, any estimates you provide to clients should include payment terms and pricing information. Payment terms inform the customer of the amount due, when and how to make payments, as well as the consequences of paying late.

Here’s an example of payment terms you might see on an estimate:

READ MORE: Should businesses charge late fees on invoices?

2. Tax terms

Tax terms ensure that a customer knows they’re responsible for any taxes related to the services you provide. For example:

3. Service terms

Service terms refer to the scope of the project and the services you are providing to a client. They clarify that, if the customer agrees, your company will perform the services outlined in the estimate and that any additional services will come at an additional cost.

Here’s what service terms may look like on an estimate:

READ MORE: Is an estimate a contract?

4. Schedule terms

Scheduling terms refer to when the services will be performed. For example:

5. Changes terms

Changes terms apply to any changes a client requests to the estimate and how any additional expenses will be paid for. Here’s an example of change terms you might see in an estimate:

6. General disclaimer

Because an estimate can change based on factors like the price of parts, project requirements, or customer requests, a general disclaimer lets clients know that the final price is only an approximation.

Most general disclaimers will also include an expiry date for the estimate. This helps service providers to keep their estimates relevant and gives them an opportunity to make adjustments if a client waits too long to move forward.

Here’s what a general disclaimer might look like on a service provider’s estimate:

Industry-specific estimate disclaimer samples

Because each industry is different, you may need to include specific disclaimers in your estimates related to the services you provide.

Along with general terms and conditions, here are some examples of industry-specific terms and conditions you may want to include in your estimates.

1. Plumbing terms and conditions

Many plumbing estimates include the following disclaimers in their estimates:

  • We do not warranty clogged drains
  • We do not warranty frozen pipes
  • We do not warranty parts provided by clients

2. Handyman terms and conditions estimate disclaimer

Handymen often include the following disclaimers in their estimate:

  • Finishing materials should be provided by the client
  • Client must clear workspace of fragile and personal items
  • Service requests between the hours of 5:00pm and 10:00pm or on weekends and statutory holidays are subject to off hours pricing

3. Carpentry terms and conditions

Carpenters and woodworkers may include estimate disclaimers such as:

  • As a natural product, wood and timber is subject to variations in color and grain
  • We do not install, adjust, or fit any electric or gas appliances or equipment
  • The client is responsible for cleaning any dust or dirt accumulated during the work period

4. Electrical contractor invoice terms and conditions

Electricians sometimes include the following disclaimers in their terms and conditions:

  • The client must clearly mark and identify all services above and below the ground at the work site, including drains, pipes, and sewers
  • All electric installations will comply with building regulations in force at the time of the work
  • Cables will be concealed where possible but will be run on the surface when deemed necessary by [company name]

5. Construction quotation terms and conditions

In construction, some service providers use the following terms and conditions:

  • The contractor agrees to provide all materials, labor, supplies, equipment, supervision, and project management required to complete the project
  • The [owner or contractor] will be responsible for obtaining any permits relevant to the project and will keep them in good standing
  • The contractor will allow the owner to conduct a completion inspection within [X days] of the project being completed and to provide the contractor with a list of any items to be completed or corrected

READ MORELawn care contracts: 4 options for making a client agreement

Adding terms and conditions to contractor estimates

Terms and conditions protect both you and your clients, so it’s vital that you include them in your home service quotes. Any disclaimers you use should be consistent across customers—quoting software makes standardizing your terms and conditions straightforward, and fast. It also keeps client expectations in check so you can focus on the next job at hand.

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