Winning jobs · September 15, 2026
Instant quotes: should you put prices on your website?
Every contractor worries that showing prices will scare people off. Showing a fair range often does the opposite. Here's how to think about it.
"Every job is different, so we can't give prices online." It's true, and it's also the reason many customers leave your site without calling. There's a middle ground that protects you and answers the question they came with.
The question every customer has
Before anyone books an estimate, they want to know if you're in their ballpark. If your site won't tell them, they have to call to find out, and plenty of people won't. They'll pick the company that gave them some idea, even if your price would have been better.
A range, not a bid
An instant estimate doesn't replace your real quote. It asks a few simple questions, like size and material, and shows a price range you've set for those answers. The customer gets a fair idea in a minute. You still do the site visit and give the real number.
- You choose the questions and the options
- You set the ranges, as wide as you like
- The final price still comes from you, after you've seen the job
It brings in better leads
A customer who books an estimate after seeing your range already knows roughly what the job costs with you. That means fewer drives across town to people who were never going to say yes, and more visits with people who are ready to hire.
When it doesn't fit
Some work is too custom for any range, like large commercial bids or full custom builds. For those, the same idea becomes a detailed bid request: the customer answers your questions up front, and you get everything you need to price it without a round of phone tag.
Start simple
Pick the job you quote most often and the two questions that change the price the most. Set a fair range for each answer. You can always add more questions later, once you see what customers pick.
Your next customer issearching right now.
Let's make sure they find you, and that you never miss them.