Overview
Upholstery quotes are paid to bring a frame back to life, and the fabric is the line the customer chooses
Upholstery is the trade that re-covers, repairs, and restores furniture rather than making it new. The customer's grandmother's wing-back chair, the family sofa that has good bones but a tired finish, an Edwardian fauteuil that's been re-covered three times badly. The work is part frame repair, part new webbing or springs where the old ones have collapsed, part stuffing renewal, and part the visible re-cover in the customer's fabric. The fabric is usually the customer's choice and a separately ordered line. A flat 'sofa re-covered, $1,800' quote without naming the fabric metres, the spring renewal, and the frame work leaves the customer wondering what they're paying for, and the cheap quote often skips the frame work that's the actual long-term value.
QuoteGenio gives upholsterers a quoting shape that fits the restoration trade. Frame inspection as the first line, structural repair (re-glue, re-block, replace broken stretchers) by hour, webbing and spring renewal as named lines, stuffing and padding refresh, fabric by metre at supplier price plus the customer's chosen fabric if they're providing their own, finishing trims (piping, buttons, studs) by metre, and labour by piece. Send via WhatsApp from the workshop with photos of the frame condition, take a deposit on the fabric order, and the final invoice closes with the after photos and a care card for the customer.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for upholstery businesses of every size, from one-person studios to multi-bench workshops.
The problem
The quoting headaches every upholsterer knows
Upholstery quotes need to handle fabric grade, frame condition, foam, and labour. Get the fabric metreage wrong and the whole job loses money.
Fabric metreage takes guesswork
Calculating fabric metres for each piece, accounting for pattern repeat and grade, takes time and still drifts on the invoice.
Hidden frame damage shows late
Without a clear quote noting frame and webbing condition, clients dispute the variation when you uncover rot during stripping.
Designer-led work goes elsewhere
Interior designers compare quotes line for line. A handwritten estimate loses every time to a clean structured PDF.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A clean workflow that lets you quote upholstery per seat or per piece with fabric, foam, and frame all itemised.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for upholsterers
Line items for fabric, foam, webbing, frame repair, labour, collection, and delivery. Structured the way upholstery actually prices.
Works from the collection
Quote variations from the client's lounge on your phone at the collection visit. No need to wait until you are back at the workshop.
Quote in under 5 minutes
A structured workflow that turns a collection inspection into a sent quote before the designer presents to the homeowner.
Track jobs and deposits
Issue 50/50 or full-on-delivery invoices off one quote. Know which jobs are quoted, accepted, in the workshop, and ready for delivery.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how upholsterers 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 Upholsterers choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Upholsterers 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 Upholsterers job pricing
A rough guide to what upholsterers charge. Price varies with fabric grade, frame condition, foam density, and complexity (buttoning, piping, skirts). Use these as a sanity check on your own rate card, not as fixed numbers.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Two-seater sofa re-upholstery (per seat) | R6,280 - R14,048 |
| Three-seater sofa re-upholstery (per seat) | R6,280 - R14,048 |
| Single armchair re-upholstery | R7,933 - R19,832 |
| Dining chair re-upholstery (drop-in seat) | R1,240 - R2,975 |
| Fabric supply (per metre, mid-grade) | R744 - R1,983 |
| Foam replacement (per seat, high-density) | R1,570 - R4,628 |
| Collection and delivery (local, per visit) | R1,570 - R4,628 |
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, on-site assessment of frame and webbing, and the quote afterwards. Most upholsterers charge R1,240 to R2,975 for a collection, sometimes credited back if the work is awarded. List it as a separate line so the client sees your time on the road.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use per seat or per piece fixed pricing for standard re-upholstery once the fabric is selected. Use hourly (R1,240 to R1,818 per hour) for frame repair, restoration, and bespoke detail work where scope can shift. State your assumptions clearly on the quote.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's a clean, itemised quote for a typical sofa re-upholstery. Strip-down, labour, fabric, foam, and delivery are all separate lines. Designers and homeowners accept structured quotes faster because they can see exactly what is going into the work.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Three-seater sofa full re-upholstery, mid-grade fabric
Strip down, frame check, re-webbing
Re-upholstery labour (3 seats plus back and arms)
Mid-grade upholstery fabric (12m at $ 75)
High-density foam replacement (3 seats)
Collection and delivery (local)
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strip down, frame check, re-webbing | 1 | R6,280 | R6,280 |
| Re-upholstery labour (3 seats plus back and arms) | 3 | R9,586 / seat | R28,757 |
| Mid-grade upholstery fabric (12m at $ 75) | 12 | R1,240 / m | R14,874 |
| High-density foam replacement (3 seats) | 3 | R2,975 / seat | R8,925 |
| Collection and delivery (local) | 1 | R2,975 | R2,975 |
| Subtotal | R61,811 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R6,181 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R67,992 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Frame repair on hidden rot or broken springs, extra fabric for pattern matching, piping and skirts, button covering, scotchgard or fabric protection, and the collection or delivery for over-large pieces. Add these as standard lines on your template.
Peer snapshot
How Upholsterers actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Upholsterers on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
34
Quotes sent per month
52%
Average quote acceptance
4 min
Median time to send quote
R67,992
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Upholsterer jobs like this, free
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Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of upholsterers. The same scoping mistakes come up on every collection. Fix these and you will stop absorbing fabric shortfalls, frame repairs, and access surprises on every job.
Mistake: Quoting fabric metreage too tight
Better: Patterned fabric needs 15 to 30 percent extra for matching repeats. Always quote with pattern allowance and state the assumption (plain or patterned) on the line. Stops you running short mid-job.
Mistake: No frame inspection note
Better: Note frame condition (good, repair needed, hidden risk) on the quote and state that hidden damage is repriced as a variation. Stops disputes when you uncover rot or broken springs during stripping.
Mistake: Same rate for all fabric grades
Better: Cotton, linen, leather, and velvet all take different time and skill to upholster. Have at least three labour rate tiers and state which the quote assumes. Premium fabrics also need premium handling.
Mistake: Forgetting foam upgrades
Better: Standard foam is fine for some seats. High-resilience or memory foam costs 2x to 4x and lasts longer. Quote standard as default with the upgrade as a separate line so the client chooses.
Mistake: Buttoning and piping as freebies
Better: Deep buttoning, decorative piping, skirts, and pleats all add hours. Quote each as a separate line so the client sees the craft, not just the seat.
Mistake: No allowance for collection access
Better: If the sofa cannot fit out the door, you need to dismantle on-site or hoist. Note access risk at collection and price for it. A truck-and-team for a stuck sofa is a real cost.
Mistake: Open-ended quote validity
Better: Imported fabric and foam prices move with the rand. Set a 30 day expiry on quotes and reprice if the work is delayed. State this in the quote terms upfront.
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 upholstery jobs
Do the collection visit properly before you quote a cent. Count the seats (two-seater, three-seater, armchair, dining chair), check the frame for cracks, loose joints, broken springs, and rotten timber, look at the webbing and foam condition, and note any buttoning, piping, skirts, or pleats on the existing piece. Ask the client whether the fabric is plain or patterned, because pattern match changes metreage by 15 to 30 percent. Check access: will the three-seater come out of the lounge without dismantling, or does it need hoisting over a balcony. A proper frame and access inspection turns a collection into a quote that holds at invoice.
Itemise strip-down, labour, fabric, foam, and collection as separate lines. Quote strip-down, frame check, and re-webbing as a fixed line at $ 380 or so. Show re-upholstery labour per seat with the fabric type on the line (mid-grade fabric one rate, leather and velvet at 1.5x to 2x because they cut and handle differently). List fabric supply per metre with the supplier, product code, and pattern allowance noted. Split high-density foam replacement per seat, deep buttoning, piping, skirts, and scotchgard fabric protection each as their own lines. Add collection and delivery keyed to distance, and state clearly that frame repair visible at collection is quoted but hidden damage uncovered during strip is a variation.
Set a 30 day quote validity with a reprice clause if the work is delayed. Imported fabric and foam prices move with the rand. Take a 50 percent deposit on collection (covering the fabric and foam order, which you commit to the supplier immediately) and 50 percent on delivery, or 30/40/30 for premium pieces (collection, work complete, delivery). Note the fabric lead time on the quote (standard fabrics 1 to 2 weeks, premium imports 4 to 8 weeks) so the client plans around it. State your workshop warranty on the upholstery labour (typically 6 to 12 months) and that fabric fade and wear is covered by the fabric manufacturer's spec, not by you.
Send the quote by the end of the collection day, not the week after. Interior designers and homeowners with one couch out of the house want certainty fast, and the upholsterer who sends a structured PDF the same day earns the order. Build the quote on your phone in the client's lounge after the inspection, share the QuoteGenio link via WhatsApp, and email the designer the same document. Follow up after two or three days if you have not heard back. When you strip the sofa and find a cracked frame rail or rotten corner, photograph it, issue a variation through QuoteGenio, and get acceptance online before you repair it.
FAQ
Common questions from upholsterers
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Set the line item unit to seats and your rate per seat. QuoteGenio multiplies it out and shows the calculation clearly on the PDF for the client and designer.
Yes. Every quote becomes a branded PDF and a public link. Email the designer, WhatsApp the client, or both. Everyone gets the same clean structured document with no app required.
Add fabric as its own line item with metres and rate per metre. You can show the fabric supplier and product code in the description so the client knows exactly what they are getting.
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 schedule the collection.
Yes. Duplicate the quote into a deposit invoice (typically 50 percent on collection) and a balance invoice (on delivery). 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.
Patterned fabric needs 15 to 30 percent more metreage to match repeats across panels, plus extra labour to align the pattern. Quote fabric metreage with a pattern allowance and add a labour line for matching. State on the quote whether the price assumes plain or patterned fabric so the client sees the difference.
Note frame condition at collection (good, minor repair, hidden risk). Quote visible repairs as their own line. State clearly that hidden damage uncovered during strip-down is repriced as a variation. Issue any VO through QuoteGenio and get it accepted before continuing the work.
Premium fabrics cost more per metre, take more skill, and often have specific cutting and matching rules. Charge a higher labour rate per seat for leather, velvet, and silk (typically 1.5x to 2x mid-grade fabric). State the fabric type on the quote line so the rate makes sense to the client.
If you are VAT registered, yes. Fabric, foam, 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 to the client.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
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Guides
Guides for Upholsterers
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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