Templates & resources · 2 min
The quote follow-up sequence that stops money leaking.
You did the work: visited, measured, priced, sent. Then silence — and most businesses send nothing after the silence, because chasing feels like begging. Here's the sequence that isn't begging, ready to steal.
Templates & resources · Updated 24 September 2026
Why quotes actually die
The truth is both uncomfortable and freeing: most quotes aren't ignored; they're just lost. Customers often plan to reply but get busy, misplace the email, and keep meaning to get back to it. Silence might seem like a 'no' to you, but to them, it's a task they haven't tackled yet. A gentle reminder isn't annoying; it's a helpful way to make it easy for them to act on their intention. The following sequence respects this, so it works without you having to apologise.
The sequence
Day 2–3, the check-in
'Hi [name], just checking the quote for [job] landed alright — happy to talk anything through or adjust if the spec's moved. No rush from our end.' (Answers the commonest real blocker: they had a question and didn't ask it.)
Day 7, the practical nudge
'Hi [name] — following up on the [job] quote. If you're still keen, I've got [realistic slot] coming up; after that it's looking like [later]. Want me to pencil you in?' (Honest scarcity only — a real diary fact, never a fake countdown.)
Day 14, the door held open
'Hi [name], last nudge from me on the [job] quote, promise. If it's a no or the plans changed, that's completely fine — a one-word reply closes the file. If the timing's just off, tell me when to check back.' (Explicit permission to say no converts limbo into either work or a clean end. Both beat silence.)
Day 30+, the graceful close
'Hi [name] — I'll assume [job] isn't going ahead for now, no problem at all. The quote stands for [period] if things change. Thanks for considering us.' (Plants the seed for the surprising number who resurface months later.)
Making it automatic — the whole point
Written templates often get forgotten because you have to remember to send them. The solution is automation. A quote can go out automatically, and replies can stop the process instantly. You'll see a simple list of what's still active. This isn't AI, just a basic fix. Sometimes it's a feature in your invoicing tool, or a small add-on. Adjust the timing to fit your trade—a kitchen refit takes longer than a boiler swap. Keep your voice in the words and let the system handle the remembering. The templates are yours; you're just ensuring you don't forget them.
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Tell Katalis how your quotes go out and she'll say what wiring this sequence to send automatically would honestly involve — often less than you'd think.
Make it send itself →Prefer to just ask? Chat with Katalis · More from the blog