Overview
Cabinet makers quote bespoke joinery by the piece, and the timber and the finish carry the price
Cabinet making is the bespoke joinery end of the trade. The customer wants a wardrobe that fits the awkward alcove, a kitchen that isn't off the shelf, a library wall, a media wall, a window seat with storage underneath. The work is one-off, often hand-finished, and the price varies wildly with the timber choice (MDF, plywood, oak, walnut, veneered board), the finish (paint, stain, lacquer, oil), and the hardware (soft-close hinges, push-to-open drawers, integrated lighting). A flat 'bespoke wardrobe, $4,800' quote without naming the materials and the finish gives the customer no way to compare against the joiner whose quote is half the price because they're using veneered chipboard with brushed paint.
QuoteGenio gives cabinet makers a quoting shape that fits the bespoke trade. Design and shop drawings as the first line, timber and board materials at supplier price with the spec named, joinery labour by piece, hardware (hinges, drawer runners, handles, integrated lighting) by piece, finishing (paint, stain, lacquer, oil) with the system named, on-site installation labour, and a snagging visit two weeks after handover. Send via WhatsApp or email to the customer with renders or a 3D model, take a deposit on the materials order, raise progress invoices through workshop and install, and the final invoice closes with photos of the finished piece for the customer's records.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for bespoke cabinet and joinery businesses of every size.
The problem
The quoting headaches every cabinet maker knows
Bespoke cabinet quotes mix material, hardware, finish, and install. One missed line and the whole job runs at a loss.
Hardware lookup eats hours
Pricing each hinge, runner, handle, and lock for every cabinet unit eats your evening every time you quote.
Bespoke scope is fuzzy
Without a clean unit-by-unit breakdown, homeowners argue about what was included. That delays sign-off and chips your margin.
Premium clients buy on PDF
High-end designers and homeowners pick from clean, structured quotes. A scrappy email loses every time to a polished competitor.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A clean workflow that lets you quote bespoke cabinets unit by unit with all hardware and finish itemised.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for cabinet makers
Line items for carcase, doors, hardware, finish, install, and snagging. Structured the way bespoke cabinets actually price.
Works from the workshop
Quote variations from the bench on your phone. No need to wait until you are in the office at the end of the day.
Quote in under 10 minutes
A structured workflow that turns a measure and a sketch into a sent quote before the next designer presents to the client.
Track deposits and balance
Issue 50/50 or milestone invoices off one quote. Know which deposits have landed and which finals are due.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how cabinet makers actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Cabinet Makers choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Cabinet Makers build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Cabinet Makers job pricing
A rough guide to what bespoke cabinet makers charge. Price varies with material, hardware grade, finish, and complexity. Solid timber, soft-close, and integrated lighting all push price up. Use these as a sanity check, not a fixed rate.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Built-in wardrobe (per linear metre, melamine) | R7,933 - R18,180 |
| Built-in wardrobe (per linear metre, premium) | R23,138 - R52,886 |
| Walk-in closet system (per square metre) | R15,701 - R46,276 |
| TV and media unit (per linear metre) | R9,586 - R29,749 |
| Bespoke vanity unit (per linear metre) | R11,238 - R36,359 |
| Library or study unit (per linear metre) | R11,899 - R39,665 |
| Site install team (per day, 2-person) | R14,048 - R23,138 |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
A measure and design call-out should cover travel, the on-site measure, and the drawing-up afterwards. Most cabinet makers charge R2,479 to R7,437 for a measure, often credited back if the job is awarded. List it as a paid line so the client sees the time you put in.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use per linear metre or per unit fixed pricing for the carcase and doors once the design is signed off. Use hourly (R1,240 to R2,149 per hour) for site install where wall variation can add time. State your assumption (square walls, level floor) on the quote.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's a clean, itemised quote for a typical bespoke walk-in closet. Carcase, hardware, accessories, lighting, and install are all separate lines. Designers and homeowners accept structured quotes faster because they can see exactly what they are paying for.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Bespoke walk-in closet, 4.5m run with island
Carcase and shelving (4.5m, melamine with veneer doors)
Soft-close hinges and runners (Blum)
Hanging rails, jewellery insert, shoe shelves
LED strip lighting (motion sensor)
Site install team (2 days, 2-person)
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carcase and shelving (4.5m, melamine with veneer doors) | 4.5 | R20,659 / m | R92,964 |
| Soft-close hinges and runners (Blum) | 28 | R297 | R8,330 |
| Hanging rails, jewellery insert, shoe shelves | 1 | R11,238 | R11,238 |
| LED strip lighting (motion sensor) | 1 | R6,941 | R6,941 |
| Site install team (2 days, 2-person) | 2 | R19,006 / day | R38,012 |
| Subtotal | R157,486 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R15,749 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R173,234 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
End panels and scribes for uneven walls, plinth and cornice, soft-close upgrades, integrated lighting wiring, the electrician's connection visit, silicone sealing, and the snag visit two weeks after handover. Add these as standard lines on your template.
Peer snapshot
How Cabinet Makers actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Cabinet Makers on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
30
Quotes sent per month
54%
Average quote acceptance
2 min
Median time to send quote
R173,234
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Cabinet Maker jobs like this, free
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Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of cabinet makers. The same scoping mistakes come up on every bespoke job. Fix these and you will stop absorbing scribes, hardware upgrades, and snag visits on every install.
Mistake: Pricing carcase only
Better: Doors, hardware, finish, and install all add real cost. Always show them as separate lines so the client sees the full scope and you do not absorb invisible items.
Mistake: Forgetting end panels and scribes
Better: Scribe panels to uneven walls, end panels on exposed sides, plinth, and cornice cost real money. Build them as standard lines on every cabinet template.
Mistake: Same per-metre rate for all finishes
Better: Melamine, veneer, solid timber, and lacquered MDF all cost differently. Have at least three rate tiers per linear metre and name the finish clearly on each line.
Mistake: Soft-close as a freebie
Better: Soft-close hinges and runners cost 2x to 3x standard. Quote them as their own line with the brand named (Blum, Hettich) so the client sees the upgrade.
Mistake: No allowance for site variation
Better: Walls are never square, floors never level. Build a 'site allowance' line (typically 5 to 10 percent of carcase) for scribes and packers, or quote it as a separate hourly install line.
Mistake: Forgetting the snag visit
Better: Doors settle, drawers misalign, hinges loosen. Quote a fixed snag visit (half a day, 2 to 4 weeks after handover) as a paid line so it is not a freebie.
Mistake: Open-ended quote validity
Better: Melamine, veneer, and imported hardware prices move with the rand. Set a 30 day expiry with a reprice clause if the install date moves more than 60 days. Standard, not surprise.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote bespoke cabinet jobs
Measure the room honestly before you commit to a bespoke price. Take linear metres of wardrobe, study, or vanity run, count doors and drawers, note ceiling heights for tall units, and check wall square and floor level (they never are). Sketch the internal fit-out: hanging rails, jewellery inserts, shoe shelves, pull-outs, integrated LED lighting, concealed drawers. Ask whether the client wants soft-close throughout or only on drawers, and get finish preferences in writing (melamine, veneer, solid timber, lacquered MDF). A proper measure and a signed sketch prevents the 'I thought that was included' conversation on install day.
Itemise carcase, doors, hardware, accessories, and install as separate scopes. Split the carcase per linear metre at the finish rate named (melamine $ 480 to $ 1,100, premium solid timber $ 1,400 to $ 3,200). Show soft-close hinges and runners with the brand on the line (Blum, Hettich) so the client sees the upgrade. List hanging rails, jewellery inserts, shoe shelves, and LED strip lighting each as their own lines. Add end panels and scribes (site allowance of 5 to 10 percent of carcase value), plinth, cornice, site install team day rate, and a fixed snag visit (half a day, 2 to 4 weeks post handover). Include one set of finish samples, additional rounds at a fixed fee.
Set a 30 day quote validity with a reprice clause if the install date moves more than 60 days. Melamine, veneer, and imported Blum or Hettich hardware prices move with the rand. Take a 50 percent deposit on order (covering sheet goods and hardware) and 50 percent on install sign-off, or 30/40/30 for larger bespoke commissions (order, doors complete, install sign-off). State that two design revisions are included, then $ 75 per hour for further changes. Note the warranty on carcases and doors (typically 12 months) and hardware (manufacturer, often 5 to 10 years on Blum) so the client sees what the price actually buys.
Send the structured PDF to the designer or homeowner before the next cabinet maker presents. High-end clients and interior designers shortlist on clarity, not just price, and a quote that shows every hinge, every insert, and every LED strip separately beats a competitor lump sum. Build the quote on your phone from the workshop, share the QuoteGenio link via WhatsApp, and email the designer the same document. Follow up politely after two or three days. When the client decides mid-build to upgrade to brass handles or add a motion-sensor LED, issue a variation through QuoteGenio and get acceptance online before you order the extra hardware.
FAQ
Common questions from cabinet makers
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Add each unit as its own line item with quantity, rate, and a clear description. QuoteGenio totals it out and shows everything cleanly on the PDF for the client.
Yes. Every quote becomes a branded PDF and a public link. Email it to the designer, WhatsApp the homeowner, or both. Everyone gets the same clean structured document.
Use line items for the base unit, then separate lines for upgrades like soft-close, lighting, or premium handles. The client sees what is included and what each upgrade costs, making decisions easier.
Yes. Every quote has a unique public link. Homeowners and designers open it on any device and accept with one tap. You get notified instantly so you can book the workshop slot.
Yes. Duplicate the quote into a deposit invoice (typically 50 percent on order) and a balance invoice (on install). All line items carry over so you only adjust the percentages.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card required. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes, invoices, statements, and reports.
Quote standard hinges and runners as the default in your per-metre rate, then offer soft-close as a separate upgrade line per door or drawer. Brand-name (Blum, Hettich) hardware costs 2x to 3x generic and should be clearly named so the client knows exactly what they are paying for.
Yes. Walls are never square, floors never level. Build a site allowance line of 5 to 10 percent of carcase value for scribe panels, packers, and adjustment time. State the assumption (square walls, level floor) so you have something to point at when reality differs.
Include one set of finish samples in the quote as standard. Charge for additional sample rounds at a fixed fee. Allow two design revisions in the quote terms, then R1,240 per hour for further changes. State this upfront so the client signs up to it on acceptance.
If you are VAT registered, yes. Material, hardware, finish, and labour all attract VAT. Show it as its own line on the quote. If you are under the VAT threshold, state on the quote that prices are VAT exempt so it is clear.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
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Plumber · Johannesburg
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Electrician · New Delhi
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Solar Installer · Manchester
Guides
Guides for Cabinet Makers
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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