Send Quote Variations and Options to Customers
Giving customers a choice of pricing options can increase your conversion rate and average job value. Instead of sending a single price and hoping it fits the customer's budget, you can present two or three options — such as Standard and Premium — and let the customer pick what suits them directly from the portal.
Adding multiple options to a quote
Open a quote and click Add variation below the existing line items. This creates a second option alongside your original. You can add up to four options per quote. Give each option a clear name — “Standard”, “Premium”, “Budget”, or something more specific like “Combi replacement” vs “Full system upgrade”.
Each option has its own set of line items, totals, and an optional description. The description field is a good place to explain what is and isn't included, so the customer can make an informed choice without needing to call you.
Toggle Recommended on one of your options to add a “Most popular” badge on the portal. This anchors the customer's decision around your preferred option, which is typically your mid-tier or most profitable package.
How customers choose in the portal
When you send a quote with variations, the customer sees each option presented as a card on the portal page. Each card shows the option name, description, line item breakdown, and total price. They select their preferred option by clicking Choose this option and then confirm by digitally signing or clicking Accept quote.
The customer can only accept one option — accepting one automatically deselects the others. Once accepted, you receive a notification in Trade2Base and the job moves to the next stage in your pipeline automatically.
Yes. The portal has a message button so customers can ask questions before accepting. Their message comes through to your Trade2Base inbox where you can reply directly. If a customer wants something between your options, you can send a revised quote from the same job.
How accepted options become the invoice scope
When the customer accepts a variation, Trade2Base locks in that option's line items as the confirmed scope of work. When you later convert the quote to an invoice (via Quote → Create invoice), only the accepted option's line items are carried across. The other options are archived and remain visible in the quote history for your records.
If you need to add or remove items after acceptance — for example, if additional work is discovered on site — you can edit the invoice line items before sending. The original accepted quote remains unchanged as a reference point.
Trade2Base records the timestamp and the customer's acceptance action, which is useful if there's ever a dispute about what was agreed. You can download a signed acceptance summary from the quote record at any time.
Good use cases for variations
Quote variations work best when there's a genuine choice for the customer rather than an artificial upsell. Here are situations where variations consistently perform well:
Bathroom tiles, kitchen worktops, flooring, roofing materials — let customers choose between a budget option and a premium one without separate quotes.
Repair vs full replacement, partial rewire vs full rewire, spot-fix vs long-term solution. Presenting both options makes the trade-off explicit and helps customers decide with confidence.
Standard lead time vs priority/express booking for an additional charge. Useful for urgent jobs where some customers will pay a premium to be seen sooner.
Base installation vs installation plus a 12-month service contract. An easy upsell that adds recurring revenue without a separate sales conversation.
Tips for writing effective variation descriptions
The option name and description are what the customer uses to make their decision. Vague names like “Option A” and “Option B” do not help. Be specific about what is different between the options.
- Name the difference: “Standard ceramic tiles” vs “Premium porcelain tiles” is immediately clear.
- State what's included: List key inclusions for each option so the customer isn't guessing what they get.
- Acknowledge the trade-off: “Longer lasting but higher upfront cost” helps the customer feel informed rather than pressured.
- Use your recommendation: If you genuinely believe one option is better for this customer's situation, say so in the description.
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