Overview
Shutter quotes are sold for security, style, or shade, and the customer rarely wants all three from the same product
Shutter installation splits into three sub-trades that the customer doesn't always distinguish. Security shutters (roller shutters for shopfronts and industrial units, manual or electric) are bought for protection and insurance compliance. Plantation shutters (interior, painted timber or vinyl) are bought for the look and the privacy. Exterior solar shutters (slatted, often aluminium) are bought for heat control. A flat 'shutters fitted, $1,400' quote without naming which product is which leaves the customer comparing apples to gantries. The right quote names the system, the operation type (manual, geared, motorised, remote), and the finish so the customer knows exactly what they're buying.
QuoteGenio gives shutter installers a quoting shape that fits each sub-trade. Survey and measure as the first line, shutter type and system by brand and model (security roller, plantation, exterior solar) with the operation (manual or motorised), finish and colour, motorisation kit and remote controllers where applicable, install labour, and any electrical connection. Send via WhatsApp or email from the survey, take a deposit on the order, and the final invoice closes with the warranty and the operating instructions. The customer who paid for plantation shutters in their living room doesn't get rolled out of bed by a roller shutter motor in error.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for every type of interior and exterior shutter business.
The problem
The quoting headaches every shutter installer knows
Shutters price by the aperture, the material, the blade size and the configuration. Pricing seven windows of different sizes on a notepad takes hours and still misses lines.
Per-aperture maths takes time
Calculating m squared per aperture, blade size surcharges and config options for a whole house wipes out an evening.
Spec confusion costs jobs
'Wooden shutters' versus '63mm basswood plantation in pure white with hidden tilt' wins or loses the job at the comparison stage.
Slow quotes lose homeowners
Plantation shutter buyers shop three quotes in a week. If yours arrives late they have already chosen the installer who measured Tuesday.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A workflow built for shutter pricing: per-aperture lines, full spec on every line, sent from your phone before you drive away.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for shutter pricing
Add a line per aperture with width, height, material and blade size. Mix interior and exterior on the same quote without confusion.
Works from your phone
Walk the house, measure each opening, quote, send. No trip back to the office, no spreadsheet, no late nights.
Quote in under 2 minutes
Templates for plantation, aluminium and security shutters get you from measure to sent quote before the homeowner finishes the coffee.
Professional every time
Branded PDFs with your logo, full spec per aperture, clear totals. Looks like a serious specialist, not a man-in-a-bakkie quote.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how shutter installers 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 Shutter Installers choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Shutter Installers 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 Shutter Installers job pricing
A rough guide to what shutter installers charge for common jobs. Pricing varies by material, blade size, configuration and aperture size. Use these as a reference when you build your own rate card, not as fixed prices.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Site measure (full house) | R1,570 - R3,636 |
| Plantation shutters, basswood (per m squared, supply & fit) | R6,280 - R11,238 |
| Plantation shutters, ABS / PVC (per m squared) | R4,628 - R7,933 |
| Aluminium security shutters (per m squared) | R7,933 - R14,048 |
| Roller shutter, manual (per m squared) | R5,289 - R9,586 |
| Roller shutter, motorised (per m squared) | R9,586 - R19,832 |
| Bi-fold shutter track and configuration surcharge | R1,240 - R3,636 per panel |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
Shutter installers typically charge R1,570 to R3,636 for a full-house measure and credit it back when the order is placed. For commercial or multi-storey work, charge by the hour. List the measure as its own line on the quote so the homeowner sees it as a real piece of work, not free admin.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use per m squared pricing for shutters because that is how your supplier prices the panels. Add fixed surcharges per configuration (bi-fold, track, hidden tilt). Use hourly only for site remedial work or repairs to existing shutters where scope is unknown.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here is what a clean, itemised plantation shutter quote looks like. Each room is priced per m squared with the spec, plus configuration surcharges and labour. Homeowners accept clear quotes faster because every cost is visible before they ask.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Plantation shutters, three-bedroom house
Site measure and quote
Basswood plantation shutters 89mm blade, pure white (lounge bay 4.2 m squared)
Basswood plantation shutters 89mm blade, pure white (bedrooms, 6.8 m squared total)
ABS plantation shutters 63mm blade (bathrooms, 2.4 m squared)
Bi-fold track surcharge (lounge configuration)
Labour (install, level, snag)
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site measure and quote | 1 | R2,479 | R2,479 |
| Basswood plantation shutters 89mm blade, pure white (lounge bay 4.2 m squared) | 4.2 | R9,586 / m squared | R40,260 |
| Basswood plantation shutters 89mm blade, pure white (bedrooms, 6.8 m squared total) | 6.8 | R8,594 / m squared | R58,439 |
| ABS plantation shutters 63mm blade (bathrooms, 2.4 m squared) | 2.4 | R6,280 / m squared | R15,073 |
| Bi-fold track surcharge (lounge configuration) | 4 | R1,570 | R6,280 |
| Labour (install, level, snag) | 8 | R1,405 / hr | R11,238 |
| Subtotal | R133,770 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R13,377 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R147,146 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Bi-fold track surcharge, hidden-tilt rod surcharge, mid-rail surcharge on tall apertures, ABS upgrade for wet areas, the second trip for snagging once stained finishes settle, and the cost of templating odd-shaped apertures. Add them to your template once and stop absorbing them.
Peer snapshot
How Shutter Installers actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Shutter Installers on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
31
Quotes sent per month
53%
Average quote acceptance
5 min
Median time to send quote
R147,146
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Shutter Installer jobs like this, free
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Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of shutter installers. The same spec and pricing traps come up again and again. Fix these and you will protect your margin and close shutter jobs faster.
Mistake: Quoting 'shutters' without specifying material
Better: Always state the material: basswood, ABS, PVC, aluminium. Materials vary 2x in cost and the wrong description loses you the job either way when the client compares to a clearer quote.
Mistake: Forgetting the bi-fold or track surcharge
Better: Bi-fold and tracked configurations carry a hardware surcharge of R1,240 to R3,636 per panel. Add a clear surcharge line so it never gets absorbed when the client picks bi-fold over fixed.
Mistake: Skipping the mid-rail on tall apertures
Better: Apertures over 1.8m typically need a mid-rail for blade stability. Add a mid-rail line where required so this is not an awkward conversation at fitting stage.
Mistake: Pricing wet-area shutters in basswood
Better: Bathrooms, kitchens and laundries need ABS or PVC. Quoting basswood there leads to warping and a callback. Always check the room and spec the right material on the quote.
Mistake: No deposit on custom orders
Better: Plantation shutters are made to size and non-returnable. Take 50 to 70 percent deposit before placing the factory order and state it on the quote so the client agrees when they accept.
Mistake: Quoting before windows are finished
Better: If the windows are still being installed, the aperture sizes are not final. Quote 'subject to final on-site measure once windows are complete' and re-issue once you can take true sizes.
Mistake: Open-ended quote validity
Better: Basswood and aluminium pricing moves. Set a 14 or 30 day validity so a quote on a 12-aperture house does not expose you if the client takes two months to decide.
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 shutter installation jobs
Walk every aperture and measure width and height at three points, because shutters need tight tolerances and an out-of-square aperture throws the whole panel. Check each room with the client: basswood 63 mm or 89 mm blade for lounges and bedrooms, ABS or PVC for bathrooms, kitchens and laundries (basswood warps in wet areas within a year), aluminium security shutters for exteriors, motorised roller shutters for garages and patios. Note the configuration: fixed, bi-fold with track, hinged, tracked. Check aperture height since anything over 1.8 m needs a mid-rail for blade stability. Photograph apertures and note whether windows are installed or still pending, because shutter sizes only lock once the windows are final.
Quote per aperture with material and configuration visible. Line items for site measure, each aperture with size and full spec (Basswood 89 mm plantation, pure white, lounge bay 4.2 m squared), wet-area apertures in ABS or PVC on their own lines, bi-fold track surcharge per panel at $ 75 to $ 220, hidden-tilt rod surcharge where requested, mid-rail line on apertures over 1.8 m tall, motor and remote on roller shutters, and labour hours with hourly rate. State the blade size, colour, and configuration on every line so the client cannot later claim they expected something different. Listing each aperture separately lets clients see room-by-room cost and defer bedrooms until bonus season.
Set 14 to 30 day validity because basswood, aluminium, and motor pricing moves with import shipments and the rand. Take 50 to 70 percent deposit before placing the factory order since plantation shutters are made to size and non-returnable, with the balance on completion. State deposit terms in writing on the quote. Note the factory lead time (commonly 4 to 8 weeks for basswood, longer for hand-stained) so the client plans around it. Write 'subject to final on-site measure once windows are complete' when the windows are still being installed, and re-issue once aperture sizes are final so the factory cut sheet is accurate.
Send the quote via WhatsApp from the kerb before the homeowner meets the next installer. Plantation shutter buyers shop three quotes in a week and the first professional per-aperture document with material and configuration visible usually wins even at a higher price. Build on your phone while walking the house, share the branded PDF link from the driveway, and follow up after 3 days with a short message referencing the specific rooms and blade choices. When a client upgrades to hand-stained basswood or adds motorised bi-fold to the patio, send a variation quote covering just the changed apertures so the main factory order can proceed.
FAQ
Common questions from shutter installers
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Add a line per aperture with size, material and configuration. The PDF shows each opening clearly so the client can compare and decide.
Yes. Once your quote is ready, share it as a link via WhatsApp. Your client gets a professional branded document instantly.
Each line item has its own description and price. Quote the base material per m squared on one line and add the configuration surcharge (bi-fold, hidden tilt, mid-rail) as separate lines so nothing is hidden.
Yes. Every quote has a unique public link. Your client can open it on their phone and accept it online. No signup required.
Yes. Convert any accepted quote into an invoice with one click. All line items carry over, so there is no double entry.
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.
ABS or PVC every time for wet areas. Basswood absorbs moisture and warps within a year in a steamy bathroom or laundry, leading to a callback you cannot win. Always inspect the room at site measure and spec the right material on the quote. State 'ABS recommended for wet areas' in the line description so the client understands the choice.
50 to 70 percent before placing the factory order, with the balance on completion. Plantation shutters are made to size from the factory and are non-returnable. State the deposit clearly on the quote and on your terms so the client agrees when they accept it. QuoteGenio lets you add a deposit line directly into the quote.
Yes, on apertures over 1.8m tall. A mid-rail stiffens the panel and stops blade sag over time. Discuss it at site measure, agree the position with the client (typically aligning with a window mullion or sash bar), and quote it as its own line so it is documented.
Quote the base panel per m squared at the standard rate, then add a 'bi-fold track and hardware' surcharge per panel (R1,240 to R3,636). Bi-folds need a top track, hinges between panels and bullet catches, all of which add real hardware cost. Show the surcharge clearly so the client sees the cost of the configuration choice.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
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Guides
Guides for Shutter Installers
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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