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    Quote · Mandatory mentions 2026

    Mandatory mentions on a tradesperson's quote in 2026: the complete list

    6 min read·By Alexandre Renda·April 30, 2026
    Legal

    A signed quote is a contract. If a mandatory mention is missing, your client can dispute it, refuse to pay, or even cancel it in case of a dispute. 70% of tradespeople's quotes contain at least one error. Here is the complete list of what must appear on every quote in 2026, with the penalties if you forget something.

    Why mandatory mentions are so important

    A quote is not just a price on a piece of paper. It is a legal document governed by the Consumer Code, the Commercial Code, and for construction, by the decree of January 24, 2017.

    Once signed by your client, it legally binds you to the prices, deadlines, and services described. It is your only protection in case of a dispute, unpaid invoice, or challenge.

    The 15 mandatory mentions on a tradesperson's quote

    1

    Your company information

    Your name or company name, professional address, legal form, and 14-digit SIRET number. Attention: it's the complete 14-digit SIRET, not the 9-digit SIREN.
    2

    The quote number

    Sequential numbering without gaps — DEV-2026-001, DEV-2026-002, etc. Without correct numbering, you expose yourself to a more severe tax audit.
    3

    The quote date

    The drafting date is mandatory. It serves as the starting point for the validity period.
    4

    The validity period

    Always indicate a duration — 30 to 90 days recommended. Without a duration, your quote is valid indefinitely.
    5

    Your client's information

    Full name, client's address, and intervention site address if different.
    6

    Detailed description of works

    Often forgotten
    Precise designation, quantity, unit, and unit price for each item. "Bathroom renovation: €8,000" is not legally valid.
    7

    The ex-tax price per item

    Each service line must have a clearly indicated price excluding taxes.
    8

    The applicable VAT rate

    Often forgotten
    • 5.5% → energy renovation works
    • 10% → renovation on housing older than 2 years
    • 20% → new constructions
    • VAT exemption → "VAT not applicable — art. 293 B of the CGI"
    9

    The total ex-tax and incl-tax amount

    Total ex-tax, calculated VAT amount, and total incl-tax must all three appear clearly.
    10

    The execution time

    Start date of works and estimated duration.
    11

    Payment terms

    Payment methods, possible deposit, payment schedule, late payment penalties (minimum 3 times the legal interest rate).
    12

    The flat-rate recovery indemnity

    Mandatory mention of the flat-rate indemnity of €40 for recovery costs in case of late payment by a professional client.
    13

    The ten-year warranty insurance

    Often forgotten
    Insurer's name, policy number, and covered geographical area. This ten-year warranty mention is the most forgotten and the riskiest.
    14

    The reception mention

    Client's handwritten mention: "Quote received before the execution of works, read and accepted, good for agreement" + date + signature.
    15

    The right of withdrawal (if door-to-door selling)

    14 days right of withdrawal. A form must be attached to the quote.

    Penalties if you forget mentions

    Commercial

    The client can dispute the quote and refuse to pay if the services were not clearly described.

    Administrative

    DGCCRF fine: up to €1,500 for an individual · up to €7,500 for a company.

    Legal

    In case of a dispute before the courts, an incomplete quote is much harder to enforce.

    The 5 most frequent errors

    • Incomplete SIRET — 9-digit SIREN instead of 14-digit SIRET
    • Too vague description — "various works" without detail per item
    • Wrong VAT rate — 20% instead of 10% on a renovation or vice versa
    • Missing ten-year warranty — systematic among tradespeople using Word
    • No validity period — forces you to honor a price set two years ago

    The solution to never forget a mention again

    Making your quotes on Word or Excel exposes you to these omissions every time. With Quickote, all mandatory legal mentions are automatically generated.

    You dictate your works, Quickote builds the complete and compliant quote. No omissions possible.

    Create your first compliant quote for free with Quickote

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Read also

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    LEGAL
    Mandatory legal mentions on a tradesperson's invoice
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    GUIDE
    How to make a professional quote as a tradesperson
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    Quickote automatically includes all 15 mandatory mentions on each of your quotes. SIRET, VAT, ten-year warranty: everything is there.

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