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How to follow up on a quote without being pushy

Most quotes that go quiet aren't a "no". The customer got busy, forgot, or is waiting on someone else. A polite, well-timed follow-up gives them an easy way to get back to you.

Scaglione Solutions · 9 October 2026 · About 6 minutes to read, templates included

Why following up matters

When someone asks for a quote, they've already shown real interest. Yet many small businesses send the quote and never mention it again, often because chasing feels awkward or there simply isn't time. A short reminder isn't pushy: it's good service. It shows you're organised and that you actually want the job.

When to follow up

A simple schedule that works for most trades and service businesses:

1. 2 to 3 working days after sending: a quick check that they received it and whether they have questions.
2. About a week later: a helpful nudge, ideally with something useful such as availability or an answer to a common question.
3. About two weeks later: a friendly final message that makes it easy to say yes, no or "not yet".

Adjust for the size of the job. A small repair might need a decision within days; a kitchen refit might take weeks of thinking.

How many follow-ups is too many?

Three is a sensible limit. After that, extra reminders are more likely to annoy than help. And the moment a customer replies, whatever they say, stop the automatic reminders and talk to them properly.

What makes a good follow-up

• Mention the job. "Your quote for the garden wall" beats "the quote I sent".
• Keep it short. Three or four sentences is plenty.
• Offer help, not pressure. Invite questions rather than demanding a decision.
• Make "no" easy. People reply more readily when they don't feel cornered, and a "no" is still useful information.
• Never invent urgency. Only mention a deadline or price change if it's true.

Three templates you can copy

1. The check-in (2 to 3 days after)

2. The helpful nudge (about a week after)

3. The friendly close (about two weeks after)

Keep it on the right side of the rules

A follow-up about a quote the customer asked for is part of providing the service they requested. Keep these emails about that quote. Don't add people to a marketing newsletter or send them unrelated offers unless they've agreed to it, and stop when they ask you to.

Keep track, or it won't happen

The hard part of following up isn't writing the email. It's remembering who to chase and when. At minimum, keep a simple list of every quote with the date sent, the follow-ups sent and the outcome. A spreadsheet works, as long as you check it every day.