How to write a florist quote: full guide and example

Is a quote mandatory for a florist?

A quote is not mandatory for every flower sale. For a service with a price that cannot be determined in advance, concluded at the business premises, a sufficiently detailed quote must notably be supplied at the consumer’s request. Distance contracts have their own information requirements; consult the linked DGCCRF guidance.

Important: once dated, signed and accepted by the client, the quote has the value of a contract. Both parties are bound by the price and the work described. That is why it must be complete and precise.

Mandatory details on a florist quote

When issued to a consumer, a quote must include a baseline set of details. Here is the up-to-date list:

• The issue date and the validity period (e.g. "valid for 30 days").
• The seller's identity: name or company name, address, legal form, SIRET number, registration details applicable to your business status and, where applicable, the EU VAT number.
• For a sole trader: the "EI" / "Entrepreneur individuel" mention next to the name (mandatory in France since 2022).
• The client's identity and address, plus the place where the work is performed.
• An itemised breakdown of each arrangement and service: description, quantity and unit price.
• Labour costs and any extra fees (delivery, on-site setup, return of rented items).
• Totals excl. and incl. VAT, and the applicable VAT rate.
• Under the VAT exemption scheme, the exact wording: "TVA non applicable, art. 293 B du CGI".
• Payment terms (deposit, balance, schedule).

The client brief: questions to ask before pricing

A good quote starts with a good brief. Before pricing anything, clarify the need to avoid back-and-forth and bad surprises:

• The event type, date and venue (indoor, outdoor, access constraints).
• The desired style and colour palette, with a few inspiration images.
• The list and number of arrangements: bouquet, boutonnières, centerpieces, arch, ceremony decor…
• The client's indicative budget, to guide flower choices and volume.
• Logistics: delivery, on-site setup, takedown and collection of rented items.

How to price a floral arrangement

A fair price always starts from your real cost, to which you apply a margin, then VAT. Here is the logic most florists follow:

1. 1

   1. Material cost

   Add up the purchase price of every flower, foliage and supply (vase, foam, ribbon) actually used in the arrangement, accounting for breakage and waste.

2. 2

   2. The markup (margin)

   Choose a coefficient based on your costs and target margin. Decide what it already covers before adding labour, so that you do not count working time twice.

3. 3

   3. Labour and fees

   Add build time, delivery, on-site setup and, where relevant, collection of rented items (arches, vases, candle holders).

4. 4

   4. From excl. to incl. VAT

   You get a price excl. VAT. Apply the VAT rate (often 10% on fresh cut flowers, 20% on hardware and some services) to show the price incl. VAT the client pays.

Tip: think in terms of an all-in price per arrangement on the client side, and let the excl. VAT / VAT split compute automatically in the background. It's clearer for the client and faster for you.

How much does a florist quote cost? Price ranges

These figures are illustrative pricing assumptions, not observed French market averages. Replace them with your costs, working time and target margin. Season, varieties, volume and logistics can materially change the result:

• Bridal bouquet: €70 to €120
• Bridesmaid bouquet: €20 to €35
• Boutonnière: €6 to €12
• Centerpiece: €40 to €90
• Pew / ceremony decoration (per item): €15 to €40
• Floral arch: €300 to €1,500 depending on scale and structure
• Delivery and on-site setup: based on distance and time spent

Example of a florist quote for a wedding

Illustrative example for a French florist under the VAT exemption regime, with eight centrepieces. All figures are fictional and no VAT is charged. If VAT applies to your business, recalculate excluding VAT and use the rates applicable to the actual supplies.

Writing a florist quote, step by step

1. 1

   Scope the need

   Note the event type, date, venue, colours, style and the client's indicative budget.

2. 2

   List the arrangements

   Bridal bouquet, boutonnières, centerpieces, arch, ceremony decor… with quantities.

3. 3

   Price each line

   Material cost + margin + labour for each arrangement, then the unit price and total.

4. 4

   Add the legal details

   Identity, SIRET, VAT or the 293 B mention, validity period, payment terms and deposit.

5. 5

   Send and get acceptance

   Send the quote, collect agreement (signature) before any work, and keep the document.

What validity period should you set?

Flower prices vary sharply with the season and deliveries. A 15-to-30-day validity is common and protects you against price rises between sending the quote and the order. State it clearly: "Quote valid until …".

Common mistakes to avoid

• Forgetting the validity period: you stay bound to a price that is no longer profitable.
• Giving a single lump sum without an arrangement breakdown: unreadable and non-compliant.
• Omitting the SIRET, the legal form or the "EI" mention for a sole trader.
• Forgetting "TVA non applicable, art. 293 B du CGI" under the VAT exemption scheme.
• Not stating the deposit and payment terms, which is a frequent source of disputes.
• Underestimating labour, delivery and on-site setup.

How Flolya makes florist quotes effortless

Flolya is the management tool built for florists. You compose your recipes from your flower and hardware catalogues: costs, margins and prices update live. From there, the quote generates itself, with the line-by-line breakdown and the correct excl./incl. VAT totals.

• Business details pre-filled from your settings: identity, SIRET, legal form, "EI" mention, VAT or the 293 B mention.
• Validity period and arrangement breakdown frozen on the document sent to the client.
• A branded proposal (colours, logo, typography) that the client reviews and signs online.
• Automatic switch from the all-in price to the excl. VAT / VAT split, with no manual maths.

Understand VAT on florist quotes