Free Software Developer Quote Template
Software developers quote by phase or by estimated hours because requirements change as stakeholders see working prototypes. A quote should break the project into milestones so cost overruns at one phase do not silently inflate the total.
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What should a software developer put on a quote?
A software development quote sets out the planned build and the price before coding starts, such as development, QA, and a handover. List each phase, the included testing, and assumptions, and note that new features add to the figure. The price is an estimate until the client approves the scope and accepts it.
Typical line items
- Software development
- Code review, QA, and testing
- Technical documentation and handover
- Requirements and architecture planning
- UI and integration work
- Estimated development hours per phase
- Third-party services and licences
- Contingency for scope changes
How the work is charged
Software developers usually quote a fixed price for a defined scope, broken into phases, and an hourly or day-rate estimate where the requirements are still forming. Third-party services are passed through and itemised.
Payment terms and deposits
A quote often proposes a deposit before work starts and milestone payments tied to each phase. The figure holds for a stated period and remains an estimate until accepted, so note what a feature change would alter.
Tax and compliance
If you are registered for sales tax or VAT, show it as a separate line with your registration number. Digital service tax rules vary by jurisdiction, so confirm what applies to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a freelance software developer charge?
Senior freelance software developers in Europe charge €80 to €150 per hour. A typical 3-month product development project with one developer costs €20,000 to €45,000. More complex systems requiring a dev team cost proportionally more. Always quote in phases: discovery, MVP build, testing, launch.
How should a software development quote handle changing requirements?
Include a change request clause. Any new feature or significant change to the spec generates a change request form with a new quote. Without this, clients often add features mid-project under the assumption they're included. Small changes may be absorbed; major ones must be quoted separately.
What happens if a software project goes over the quoted hours?
Agree on a process upfront. Some developers quote a fixed total with no overrun; others quote a ceiling with an hourly overflow rate for anything beyond scope. The second approach is more transparent. State in the quote that work exceeding the quoted hours will be flagged before proceeding.
Related quote templates
Read the complete quoting guide to see how to price a job and turn an accepted quote into an invoice.
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