Overview
Furniture restoration is sold by the condition report, and the customer pays for the heritage value, not the chair
Furniture restoration is the trade that takes an antique or a treasured piece and brings it back to a useable, presentable state. The customer often paid more for the piece at auction than the restoration is going to cost, and they're not interested in cheap shortcuts. Veneer lifts, joints that have come loose, woodworm holes that need treating before they're filled, a French polish that hasn't been touched up in fifty years, a brass fitting that's been over-polished and needs re-patinating. A flat 'furniture restoration, $480' quote that doesn't show the condition report and the recommended treatments doesn't communicate the conservation ethic the customer is paying for.
QuoteGenio gives furniture restorers a quoting shape that fits conservation work. Condition report and recommended treatments as the first deliverable, structural repair (joint re-glue, missing parts re-made) by hour, woodworm or pest treatment where applicable, veneer repair by area, finishing (French polish, wax, oil) by surface area with the system named, hardware restoration (handles, hinges, escutcheons) by piece, and provenance documentation for valuable pieces. Send via WhatsApp or email to the customer with before photos and the condition report, take a deposit at booking, and the final invoice attaches the after photos and a written history of what was done so the value sticks to the piece.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for restoration studios of every size, from one-bench specialists to multi-craftsperson workshops.
The problem
The quoting headaches every restorer knows
Restoration quotes always face hidden damage. Without a clear way to handle variations, you absorb every surprise during stripping.
Inspection takes real time
Properly assessing a piece before quoting takes hours. Without that time priced in, you do free consulting on every enquiry.
Hidden damage causes disputes
Without a clear variation clause, clients argue when you uncover woodworm, broken joints, or veneer lifts during the strip-down.
Antique dealers buy on PDF
Trade clients (dealers, auction houses) compare quotes line for line. A handwritten estimate goes in the bin every time.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A clean workflow that lets you quote restoration with visible scope and a clear variation process for hidden damage.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for restorers
Line items for inspection, strip-down, repair, finish, and delivery. Variations for hidden damage handled in clicks. Built for the way restoration actually works.
Works from the workshop
Quote variations from the bench on your phone the moment you uncover hidden damage. No need to wait until evening admin.
Quote in under 5 minutes
A structured workflow that turns a piece inspection into a sent quote before the dealer takes it elsewhere.
Track jobs and deposits
Issue 50/50 or milestone invoices off one quote. Know which pieces are quoted, in restoration, and ready for collection.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how furniture restoration 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 Furniture Restoration choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Furniture Restoration 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 Furniture Restoration job pricing
A rough guide to what restoration studios charge. Price varies with piece complexity, finish, hidden damage, and whether it is trade or private. Use these as a sanity check, not a fixed rate. Always inspect before quoting.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Inspection and condition report (per piece) | R1,570 - R4,628 |
| Dining chair restoration (frame plus French polish) | R4,628 - R12,395 |
| Side table or occasional table refinish | R6,280 - R23,138 |
| Antique chest of drawers full restoration | R23,138 - R79,330 |
| Veneer repair (per square decimetre) | R1,240 - R3,636 |
| French polish (per square metre, hand-applied) | R4,628 - R11,238 |
| Collection and delivery (local, per visit) | R1,570 - R5,289 |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
A collection and inspection call-out covers travel, the on-site or workshop assessment, and the quote afterwards. Most restorers charge R1,570 to R4,628 for an inspection, often credited back if the work is awarded. Always charge for it. Free assessments invite tyre-kickers.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use fixed pricing per piece once you have inspected and scoped the visible work. Use hourly (R1,405 to R2,479 per hour) for hidden damage variations and bespoke detail work like marquetry, gilding, or fine veneer matching. State your variation process clearly upfront.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's a clean, itemised quote for a typical antique chest restoration. Inspection, strip, veneer, French polish, and brass work are all separate lines. Trade clients accept structured quotes faster because they can see exactly what each step costs.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Antique mahogany chest of drawers, full restoration
Inspection and condition report
Strip down, drawer runners, frame repair
Veneer repair (lifted top, missing edge banding)
French polish (full piece, hand-applied)
Brass handle restoration and re-fit
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspection and condition report | 1 | R2,975 | R2,975 |
| Strip down, drawer runners, frame repair | 12 | R1,570 / hr | R18,841 |
| Veneer repair (lifted top, missing edge banding) | 1 | R7,933 | R7,933 |
| French polish (full piece, hand-applied) | 1 | R19,832 | R19,832 |
| Brass handle restoration and re-fit | 1 | R5,289 | R5,289 |
| Subtotal | R54,870 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R5,487 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R60,357 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Inspection time, hidden woodworm or rot uncovered during strip, veneer match (often hard to source), French polish samples and recoats, brass cleaning and re-lacquering, blanket-wrapped collection and delivery, and the climate-controlled storage if the piece waits in the workshop. Add these as standard lines.
Peer snapshot
How Furniture Restoration actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Furniture Restoration on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
27
Quotes sent per month
53%
Average quote acceptance
5 min
Median time to send quote
R60,357
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Furniture Restoration 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
We talk to a lot of restorers. The same scoping mistakes come up on every piece. Fix these and you will stop bleeding margin to free inspections, hidden damage, and finish redo on every job.
Mistake: Free inspections
Better: Inspecting a piece properly takes 30 to 90 minutes. Charge R1,570 to R4,628 for an inspection and condition report, credited back if the work is awarded. Stops tyre-kickers and pays for your time.
Mistake: No variation clause for hidden damage
Better: State on every quote that hidden damage uncovered during strip is repriced as a variation, with the client to approve before work continues. Issue VOs through QuoteGenio and get acceptance in writing.
Mistake: Same rate for all finishes
Better: Wax, oil, lacquer, and French polish all take very different time. Hand-applied French polish takes 5 to 15 hours per piece. Have rate tiers and name the finish on the line so clients see the craft.
Mistake: Veneer match as a freebie
Better: Sourcing matching veneer for an antique often takes hours of research and a special order. Quote 'veneer match: provisional sum' and reprice once you have sourced it. Never absorb the search.
Mistake: No allowance for failed finish
Better: French polish or lacquer occasionally fails and needs stripping back. Build a small contingency (5 to 8 percent) into finish lines or note that finish redo is hourly. Stops you eating it.
Mistake: Verbal quotes for trade dealers
Better: Even repeat dealers need a written quote per piece. Issue a quick QuoteGenio link from the workshop after inspection so there is a paper trail for both sides.
Mistake: Open-ended quote validity
Better: Veneer, polish, and brass prices move with imports. Set a 30 day expiry on quotes and reprice if the piece is not committed. 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 furniture restoration jobs
Charge for the inspection first. A proper condition report on an antique piece takes 30 to 90 minutes and represents real expertise, free inspections invite tyre-kickers and waste your afternoon. Examine the timber for woodworm, rot, and broken joints, check veneer for lifts and missing edge banding, look at finish condition under good light, count drawers and test their runners, and photograph brass fittings for cleaning and re-lacquering scope. For antique mahogany, walnut, or oak, note the period and whether matching veneer will need sourcing. The inspection line ($ 95 to $ 280) pays for your time and filters serious clients from window shoppers.
Itemise inspection, strip-down, repair, finish, and delivery as separate lines. Quote strip-down, drawer runner work, and frame repair hourly at $ 95 per hour because scope varies piece to piece. Show veneer repair per square decimetre or as a provisional sum when matching is uncertain (source the veneer, reprice, then proceed). Split finish by type with the method named (French polish hand-applied at $ 280 to $ 680 per square metre, hand-rubbed wax, hand-applied oil) because French polish alone takes 5 to 15 hours per piece. Add brass handle cleaning and re-lacquering, blanket-wrapped insured collection and delivery, and state that hidden damage is priced as a variation with written approval.
Set a 30 day quote validity. Veneer, polish, brass, and import-sensitive consumables move with the rand. Take a 50 percent deposit on collection (covering commitment and material search) and 50 percent on completion, or 30/40/30 for full restorations (collection, strip complete, final finish sign-off). State the variation process clearly on the PDF: hidden woodworm, rot, broken joints, or lifted veneer are priced and accepted before any extra work continues. Build a 5 to 8 percent contingency into finish lines for occasional finish failure or strip-back. For pieces over $ 1,500 value, quote insured transit and note that studio insurance covers the piece while in workshop.
Send the structured PDF to antique dealers and private clients before the piece leaves your workshop. Trade clients (dealers, auction houses) shortlist on clarity and speed because they have a client waiting too, and a clean itemised PDF wins over a handwritten estimate every time. Build the quote from the bench on your phone straight after inspection, share the QuoteGenio link via WhatsApp, and email dealers the same document. Follow up after two or three days. When you strip a chest and find woodworm in the carcase or a broken drawer bottom, issue a variation through QuoteGenio and get online acceptance before you reach for the insecticide or the new timber.
FAQ
Common questions from furniture restorers
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Add each piece as its own line item or section with a clear scope. QuoteGenio shows everything cleanly on the PDF for the dealer or private client to review and accept.
Yes. Every quote becomes a branded PDF and a public link. Email it to the dealer, share via WhatsApp, or both. Trade clients get a clean structured document they can compare against other restorers.
State your variation process on the original quote. When you uncover hidden damage, duplicate the quote in QuoteGenio, add the new line items, and send it as a variation order. Get acceptance online before continuing.
Yes. Every quote and variation has a unique public link. Dealers and clients open it on any device and accept with one tap. You get notified instantly so you know when to continue work.
Yes. Duplicate the quote into a deposit invoice (typically 50 percent on collection) and a balance invoice (on completion). 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.
State on the original quote that hidden damage (woodworm, rot, broken joints, lifted veneer) is repriced as a variation, with client approval before work continues. When found, duplicate the original quote in QuoteGenio, add the new line items, and send as a VO. Continue only after written acceptance.
Yes. Properly inspecting an antique piece takes 30 to 90 minutes and represents real expertise. Charge R1,570 to R4,628 for inspection and condition report, often credited back against the restoration if awarded. Free inspections invite tyre-kickers and do not value your time.
French polish is hand-applied, multiple coats, hand-rubbed, and takes 5 to 15 hours per piece depending on size and intricacy. Charge a clearly higher rate per square metre or as a fixed line per piece. Wax and oil finishes are quicker and cost less. Always name the finish on the quote so the client understands what they are paying for.
If you are VAT registered, yes. Labour, finish materials, veneer, and brass 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 to the client.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
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Real feedback from people who quote for a living.
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Roofer · Cape Town
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Interior Designer · Birmingham
"Quoting per square metre used to take me forever. I have templates set up now that cover lawn, pavers, and planting separately. Cuts my admin in half."
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Landscaper · Melbourne
Guides
Guides for Furniture Restoration
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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