InvoiceCraftPlumbing Proposal Template
A plumbing proposal is a priced scope of work with a signature line. Start from this template, or let the AI draft one from a plain-English description of the job, mark the add-ons optional, and send a link the customer accepts on their phone. The invoice, and the deposit invoice if you set one, are created the moment they accept.
What belongs in a plumbing proposal
Plumbing proposals cover the jobs that are too big for a service call quote: repipes, water heater replacements, bathroom rough-ins, main line work. The scope needs the fixture count, pipe material, access assumptions (open walls or not), and what happens to the old material. Water heaters are the classic optional-item case: tankless upgrade, expansion tank, recirculation pump. Put permit and inspection on their own line so the customer sees the city fee is not your margin.
Sample line items
Realistic 2026 US pricing for a typical job. Every number is editable; optional items are the ones the customer decides on.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace 50-gallon gas water heater, code-compliant install with new venting | 1 | $2,350.00 | $2,350.00 |
| Thermal expansion tank and seismic strapping | 1 | $210.00 | $210.00 |
| Haul away old unit | 1 | $75.00 | $75.00 |
| Plumbing permit and inspection | 1 | $140.00 | $140.00 |
| Upgrade to tankless water heater (difference in price) optional | 1 | $2,100.00 | $2,100.00 |
| Hot water recirculation pump with timer optional | 1 | $680.00 | $680.00 |
Required items: $2,775.00. Optional items if all are chosen: $2,780.00. Rate ranges for this trade are in what to charge for plumbing work.
Terms that belong in a plumbing proposal
Promise extended coverage on the bid: a longer warranty on labor is often what wins plumbing work against a cheaper number, and it costs nothing on the day you offer it. Set the terms on the proposal and they print with the scope the customer accepts, carry through to the invoice, and start counting down when that invoice is paid. From there warranty tracking keeps the coverage dates, an estimate of the labor and parts you could still owe, and any callback filed against the job.
Need something lighter? Use the plumbing estimate template for a quick number, or the plumbing invoice template when the work is done.
Jobs change once the work starts. When plumbing work grows or shrinks after the customer has signed, send a change order: they approve the added or credited work and the new total on their phone, and the unpaid balance invoice updates itself.
How the proposal gets accepted
Send the link. The customer sees the scope, ticks the optional items they want and watches the total update, types their name, agrees to the terms, and accepts. The acceptance is recorded with the timestamp, IP address, browser, and a hash of the content. The invoice is generated from exactly what they selected, with the deposit invoiced first when you set one.
Frequently asked questions
What should a plumbing proposal say about hidden problems?
That anything found behind the wall is quoted before work continues. Repipes and water heater swaps regularly uncover corroded valves or out-of-code venting; a change-order sentence in the terms keeps that from becoming a dispute.
Do plumbers need a deposit on proposals?
For jobs under a thousand dollars most do not. For repipes, tankless conversions, and anything with ordered equipment, a deposit that covers the parts order is standard and customers expect it.
Can customers accept this proposal online?
Yes. Send the link, and the customer ticks the optional items they want, types their name, and accepts on any device. The acceptance is recorded with the time, IP address, and a hash of the content, and a signed PDF is produced. See how e-signature works on InvoiceCraft.
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