Quotation less than final Invoice

[TheFaQQer]

Recently completed a job and invoice total is more than the original quotation, additional 3/4 of which was requested by client, but 1/4 was my omission of a few items from the quotation. We always state on quotes that we estimate as accurately as we can, but cost may change due to nature of the work etc. However, this was my error in missing several items off the quote. Client can be quite difficult as already proved on another job we did for them and queried every item even though they requested by them.

How would you tackle this?

I would start by understanding the legal difference between providing an estimate and a quotation.

Anything additional that they asked for, you charge for; anything that you should have quoted for but didn't, you pay for and learn from your errors.

[jamesbrown]

Depends entirely on the contractual terms and the process for securing agreement. You should always secure a contract mod as it becomes necessary, rather than wait until the end. Obviously, Firm Fixed Price is precisely that, unless there's a hook for changes to price and spec. That being said, at this late stage, all you can do is to flag the items clearly, explain them fully, note why they were critical, and send the invoice. A discount could make them more palatable, but whether they accept will depend on your relationship with them and what the contract says about changes to price and spec.

[BlasterBates]

I would simply highlight the extra items, and just simply state the reasons they had to be done. Think of reasons of why it would be reasonable not to consider it if they query it. If the client didn't think about it either, it sounds like it wasn't obvious.

I would think about reducing the items to cost i.e. forgo your margin as a gesture of good will.

Always a difficult one with fixed price.

[EdwardJF]

Recently completed a job and invoice total is more than the original quotation, additional 3/4 of which was requested by client, but 1/4 was my omission of a few items from the quotation. We always state on quotes that we estimate as accurately as we can, but cost may change due to nature of the work etc. However, this was my error in missing several items off the quote. Client can be quite difficult as already proved on another job we did for them and queried every item even though they requested by them.

How would you tackle this?