Overview
Draughtsmen produce the drawings nobody else has time for, and the file standard is the line that matters to the next trade
Draughtsmen (or technical drafters) produce the technical drawings that other trades need to work from: as-built drawings of an existing property, planning drawings for an extension, building-regulations drawings for a refurbishment, shop drawings for a steel fabricator, and the increasingly common 3D CAD files for prefabrication. The customer is a homeowner who needs drawings for a planning application but doesn't want a full architect's fee, a builder who needs working drawings for a project, an architect who's outsourcing the technical work, or a manufacturer who needs shop drawings for production. A flat 'drawings, $480' quote without naming the file format, the drawing standard, and the as-built measurement requirement misses what the next trade actually needs to receive.
QuoteGenio gives draughtsmen a quoting shape that fits drawing-only work. Site measurement or existing-drawing import as the first line, drawing package by type (planning, building regulations, shop, fabrication, as-built) with the file format named (DWG, PDF, IFC for BIM), revision rounds, file delivery method, and any specialist deliverable (rendered 3D view, animation, virtual walkthrough). Send via WhatsApp or email to the customer or commissioning trade, take a deposit at booking, raise milestone invoices, and the same record holds the drawing files and the version history for the next time the customer needs an update.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for drafting studios and independent draughtsmen producing residential and commercial drawings, from solo CAD specialists to small drafting practices serving builders and architects.
The problem
Where drafting quotes leak margin
Drafting work is staged: site survey, concept, council submission, working drawings, as-built. Without each stage as a separate priced deliverable with revision rounds stated, the project that quoted at $ 4,500 ends up at $ 9,000 of unbilled work and the client is unhappy too.
Revisions creep without a cap
Concept round 3, then 4, then 'one more option'. Without revision rounds stated per stage, every concept becomes a free re-design and your hours disappear.
Site survey given away
A site visit, measure-up, and existing-condition drawings is half a day of skilled work. Bundle into 'concept design' and you've given away the most valuable starting deliverable.
Council resubmissions absorbed
Council comes back with comments. Resubmission is real time. Bundle into 'submission service' and every comment cycle eats your margin.
The fix
QuoteGenio handles drafting projects in stages
Quote each stage as its own fixed-fee deliverable with revision rounds stated. Take a deposit on signed scope, milestone invoice on each stage handover, change-orders for resubmissions and scope additions at posted hourly rate.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for staged drafting work
Line items for site survey, concept design, council submission package, working drawings, as-built drawings, and 3D renders.
Revision caps on every stage
'2 revision rounds per concept' or '1 council resubmission included' on every line. Hard cap, no negotiation, change-orders kick in beyond.
Branded proposal that signals senior
The drafting studio whose proposal looks like CAD output beats the one whose proposal looks like a Word doc with a header.
Milestone invoicing built in
Convert each accepted stage into its own invoice on handover. Track which milestones are paid, which are in review with council, which are sitting waiting for client sign-off.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how draughtsmen 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 Draughtsmen choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Draughtsmen 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 Draughtsmen job pricing
Drafting pricing tracks with project complexity (a single-storey alteration is very different from a multi-storey new build) and the studio's CAD seniority. Solo draughtsmen sit at the low end, established drafting practices serving builders and architects sit at the top.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Site survey and existing-condition drawings | $ 450 - $ 2,800 |
| Concept design (residential, single-storey) | $ 1,500 - $ 6,500 |
| Concept design (residential, multi-storey) | $ 3,500 - $ 12,000 |
| Council submission package | $ 2,800 - $ 9,500 |
| Working drawings (per drawing sheet) | $ 280 - $ 850 / sheet |
| 3D render (single view, photorealistic) | $ 350 - $ 1,500 / view |
| Hourly rate (out-of-scope amends) | $ 95 - $ 220 / hr |
Pricing shown in USD as a rough benchmark. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
Always quote site survey as its own paid first stage. Half a day of skilled measure-up and CAD work, valuable as the starting deliverable. Bundling it into 'concept' is how drafting studios bleed time on every project.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Fixed-fee per stage for everything in scope. Posted hourly rate for out-of-scope amends, council resubmissions beyond included, and ad-hoc consulting outside the project.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Single-storey residential alteration, drafting through council submission
Site survey and existing-condition drawings
Concept design (2 revision rounds included)
Working drawings (8 A1 sheets)
Council submission package (1 resubmission included)
3D render (street view, photorealistic)
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site survey and existing-condition drawings | 1 | $ 1,200 | $ 1,200 |
| Concept design (2 revision rounds included) | 1 | $ 3,800 | $ 3,800 |
| Working drawings (8 A1 sheets) | 8 | $ 480 | $ 3,840 |
| Council submission package (1 resubmission included) | 1 | $ 4,200 | $ 4,200 |
| 3D render (street view, photorealistic) | 1 | $ 850 | $ 850 |
| Subtotal | $ 13,890 | ||
| Tax (10%) | $ 1,389 | ||
| Total incl. tax | $ 15,279 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Peer snapshot
How Draughtsmen actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Draughtsmen on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
22
Quotes sent per month
62%
Average quote acceptance
2 min
Median time to send quote
$ 15,279
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Draughtsmen jobs like this, free
Build your first quote in under 2 minutes. No credit card, no setup fee, no contract.
Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
Drafting studios bleed margin in the same predictable spots: site survey absorbed, revisions uncapped, council resubmissions free. Fix these and your effective hourly rate climbs 30 to 40 percent without losing clients.
Mistake: Site survey bundled into concept
Better: Site survey as its own first-stage line. Half a day of measure-up and CAD, real value as the starting deliverable.
Mistake: Revision rounds not stated
Better: '2 revision rounds per concept' or '1 council resubmission included' on every line. Hard cap, change-orders beyond.
Mistake: Council resubmissions absorbed
Better: 1 resubmission included in submission package. Beyond that, posted hourly rate. Council comments cycles are real time.
Mistake: No deposit on signed scope
Better: 30 to 50 percent on signed scope. Drafting projects run weeks; cash flow during is what keeps the studio open.
Mistake: Working drawings priced lump-sum
Better: Per-sheet pricing for working drawings. Customer sees the deliverable count, you protect against scope changes mid-project.
Mistake: 3D renders treated as bonus
Better: Per-view render line at posted price. Real production work, often the deliverable that wins the council approval.
Mistake: No change-order process for scope amends
Better: Posted hourly rate on every proposal. When the client wants 'just a small change', send a one-line quote, get acceptance, then start.
Mistake: Council fees absorbed into submission package
Better: Council fees as a separate pass-through line at cost. Customer pays the council directly or via your invoice as a pass-through.
Step by step
How to quote drafting projects
Always quote site survey as the first paid stage, separate from concept design. A site visit, measure-up, and existing-condition CAD drawings is half a day of skilled work and the most valuable starting deliverable. Bundling it into 'concept' is how drafting studios systematically give away half a day of time on every project.
Quote each stage as its own fixed-fee deliverable with revision rounds stated. Site survey, concept, council submission, working drawings, as-built. Each stage has its own price, its own revision count, its own milestone invoice. A single all-in number invites endless revision and zero ability to pause the project gracefully.
State revision rounds and council resubmissions explicitly on every line. '2 revision rounds per concept', '1 council resubmission included'. Beyond cap, posted hourly rate kicks in. Without this on the proposal, every comment cycle becomes free work and the project that quoted at $ 12k delivers at $ 18k of effective effort.
Take a deposit on signed scope, milestone invoices on each stage handover. 30 percent on signed scope, 30 percent on concept sign-off, 25 percent on submission lodge, 15 percent on working-drawings completion is a clean structure. Cash flow during the project is what keeps the studio operationally healthy.
FAQ
Common questions from draughtsmen
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Site survey as its own first-stage paid line. Half a day of skilled work, real value as the starting deliverable.
'2 revision rounds per concept' on every line. Hard cap, posted hourly rate kicks in beyond.
1 resubmission included in submission package, beyond that at posted hourly rate. Comment cycles are real time.
Yes. Per-A1-sheet pricing for working drawings. Customer sees deliverable count, you protect against scope changes.
Yes. Premium includes recurring invoices, ideal for ongoing builder retainer engagements.
Yes. 30 to 50 percent on signed scope. Milestone invoicing on each stage handover after that.
Yes. The free plan covers 5 quotes and 2 invoices a month. Premium unlocks unlimited quotes plus recurring invoices.
Per-view at posted rate ($ 350 to $ 1,500). Real production work, often the deliverable that wins council approval.
Yes. Public acceptance link, one tap to accept, deposit invoice triggers automatically.
Posted hourly rate on every proposal. When client wants a change, send a one-line quote, get acceptance, then start.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
Explore more
Related trades in Architecture & Design
QuoteGenio is built for a whole family of trades. Explore other pages that might fit how you work.
Reviews
Trusted by tradespeople
Real feedback from people who quote for a living.
"Emergency call-outs at 2am are the worst time to write a quote. Being able to send something formal from my phone in a minute has saved me more than once."
David Romano
Locksmith · Toronto
"The WhatsApp sending is a game changer. Most of my clients do not check email, so being able to send quotes instantly helps me get quicker responses."
Kyle Adams
Electrician · Berlin
"Security quotes with six or seven cameras and zones used to be a nightmare. The line item structure handles it easily and clients understand exactly what they are getting."
Seán McKenna
CCTV Installer · Cork
Guides
Guides for Draughtsmen
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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