Most residential concrete customers don’t want a proposal document. They want a number, broken down enough to feel fair, in the channel they already use. Here’s a template that does that, and the reasoning behind each line.
The template
ABC CONCRETE
ESTIMATE: Driveway
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480 sq ft, broom finish
Broom finish: $4,320.00
Tear out existing: +$1,920.00
Rebar / mesh: +$720.00
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ESTIMATED TOTAL: $6,960.00
*Estimate only. Final price may
vary based on site conditions.
Call or text to schedule.Swap the rates for yours. The structure is the point.
Why each piece is there
- Your business name on top. They got three quotes this week. Make yours identifiable in a scroll.
- The job in one line. Footage plus finish confirms you both mean the same project.
- Itemized lines. An unexplained total invites haggling; an itemized one invites a yes. The tear-out line also protects you when the neighbor’s quote “was cheaper” because it ignored demo.
- The disclaimer. One sentence. You haven’t X-rayed their subgrade. Site conditions clause keeps the estimate honest without three paragraphs of legal.
- A next step. Tell them what to do: call or text to schedule.
What to leave out
Long terms, deposit schedules, and warranty language belong in the contract at signing, not the first text. The quote’s job is to win the conversation, not close the deal in one message. When you do write the fuller document, how to write a contractor estimate lists everything it should carry.
Skip the typing entirely
This format is exactly what PriceDesk generates: punch in the dimensions, tap copy, and the itemized quote above is on your clipboard with your rates and your business name, ready to paste into Messages. Ten seconds, every time, no legal pad.