Photo by Leonid Mamchenkov via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)In brief:
- Five software solutions structure the quote market in 2026: Axonaut and Sellsy for general small businesses and SMEs, Obat and Tolteck for construction contractors, Abby for sole traders.
- Prices range from free (Abby) to over 100 euros a month depending on the number of users and the modules added (CRM, accounting, job site planning).
- Construction-specific solutions like Obat and Tolteck include libraries of tens of thousands of work items and material prices to price a quote in minutes.
- A Banque de France study shows that payment delays increase a company’s probability of failure by 25 percent, which makes the speed of the quote-to-invoice cycle a strategic cash flow issue.
What is quote software and why equip your business with it
Quote software lets you create, send and track priced commercial proposals before they are converted into an invoice. It replaces spreadsheet or word-processor quote templates, which are prone to calculation errors, inconsistent numbering and poorly tracked follow-ups.
For a small business, an SME or a contractor, the quote is the first contractual document sent to a client. Its presentation quality, the speed it is issued and its compliance (legal notices, VAT, terms and conditions) directly affect the signature rate and the professional image of the business.
A contractual document that should not be neglected
An accepted quote legally commits both parties to the price, deadlines and scope of the service. A calculation error or a missing notice can lead to a dispute or a loss of margin. Quote software reduces this risk by automating VAT, discount and total calculations, and by keeping a dated history of every version sent to the client.
The criteria for choosing the right quote solution
The choice of this tool depends on the industry, the volume of quotes issued and the level of integration wanted with invoicing and accounting. A business that issues a few quotes a month does not have the same requirements as a construction company pricing several a week across different job sites.
The features that make the difference
- Automatic conversion of a quote into an invoice: an accepted quote should become an invoice without re-entering line items, quantities and prices.
- Electronic signature and online sending: these features shorten the delay between sending the quote and its acceptance by the client.
- A library of services or work items: essential in construction to price quickly from preconfigured catalogues.
- Customisable templates: logo, layout and legal notices matching the business’s image.
- Automatic follow-ups: tracking quotes awaiting a response, to limit proposals left without an answer.
Comparison of the five leading solutions in 2026
The table below compares five quote software solutions on the criteria that matter for a small business, an SME or a construction contractor. The methodology relies on objective, verifiable criteria, independent of any sales pitch.
| Criterion | Axonaut | Sellsy | Obat | Tolteck | Abby |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor / origin | France | France | France | France (Saint-Gobain subsidiary) | France |
| Main target | General small businesses and SMEs | General small businesses and SMEs | Construction contractors and companies | Construction contractors | Sole traders and freelancers |
| Technical model | All-in-one SaaS (CRM, quotes, invoicing, accounting) | SaaS (CRM, quotes, invoicing, cash flow) | Construction-specific SaaS | Construction-specific SaaS, works offline | SaaS |
| Entry price | From 34.99 euros excl. VAT/month | From 39 euros excl. VAT/month/user | From 25 euros excl. VAT/month | From 19 euros excl. VAT/month on annual commitment | Free (basic plan) |
| Quote specificity | One-click quote-to-invoice conversion, margin module | Quote integrated into the CRM sales pipeline | Library of 30,000 construction work items | Quote priced in under 5 minutes, Point.P and Cédéo supplier catalogues | Quotes and compliant e-invoicing included in the free plan |
| Verdict | The most complete for centralising quotes, invoicing and accounting | The best fit for linking quotes to a sales pipeline | The reference for large-scale construction pricing | The fastest for a job site quote on mobile | The most accessible solution to get started with no budget |
Focus on business profiles: general small business or construction contractor
A service-based small business (consulting, intellectual services, retail) does not have the same needs as a construction company. The former favours integrating quotes into a sales pipeline, an issue covered in our CRM software comparison, and into invoicing, which Axonaut and Sellsy offer. The latter needs fast pricing from catalogues of services and materials, a strength of Obat and Tolteck.
This speed of pricing and signing is not just a convenience. A Banque de France study published in 2022 showed that payment delays on invoices increase a company’s probability of failure:
“Payment delays increase a company’s probability of failure by 25 percent, and by 40 percent if the delays exceed one month.” — Banque de France, 2022
A quote signed quickly, converted into an invoice without delay, shortens the cycle between the client’s commitment and the cash actually being collected, a direct cash flow issue for small businesses and SMEs.
How to move efficiently from quote to invoice
- Choose a clear quote template: contact details, a detailed description of the service, prices excl. and incl. VAT, and validity terms.
- Send the quote online with electronic signature to reduce the acceptance delay, a feature available at Axonaut, Obat and Tolteck and detailed in our electronic signature software comparison.
- Convert the accepted quote into an invoice in one click, without re-entering line items, to eliminate copying errors.
- Schedule an automatic follow-up on quotes left without a response beyond a set delay.
- Check the compliance of the invoice issued with current e-invoicing obligations, a point to cross-reference with our e-invoicing software comparison.
- Archive each quote and its linked invoice to quickly retrieve a client’s history in case of a dispute or an audit, a feature natively offered by all five solutions compared here.
This sequence of steps reduces the number of manual tasks between sending the commercial proposal and collecting payment, which limits copying errors and missed follow-ups, two frequent causes of late payment for small businesses and SMEs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best quote software in 2026?
The best quote software depends on the business profile. Axonaut and Sellsy suit small businesses and SMEs that want to centralise quotes, invoices and CRM in one tool. Obat and Tolteck specialise in construction, with libraries of work items and materials that speed up pricing. Abby targets sole traders with a free plan that includes compliant e-invoicing.
What is the difference between general-purpose quote software and construction-specific quote software?
General-purpose quote software like Axonaut or Sellsy offers customisable quotes but no preconfigured trade catalogue. Construction-specific quote software like Obat or Tolteck includes a library of tens of thousands of work items and material prices, margin management by trade, and progress invoicing, which sharply cuts pricing time on a job site.
How much does quote software cost?
Prices range from free (Abby, basic plan) to around a hundred euros a month. Tolteck starts at 19 euros excl. VAT a month on an annual commitment, Obat from 25 euros excl. VAT a month, Axonaut from 34.99 euros a month, and Sellsy from 39 euros excl. VAT a month per user. Cost mainly depends on the number of users and the modules added (CRM, accounting, job site planning).
Is free quote software enough for a small business?
For a sole trader or micro-entrepreneur with a low volume of quotes, a free plan like Abby’s can be enough, provided it includes compliant e-invoicing. Once the business needs several users, a CRM, or a trade-specific catalogue of work items, a paid subscription becomes necessary to save time on pricing.
How does quote software speed up the move to invoicing?
Modern quote software converts an accepted quote into an invoice in one click, without re-entering line items, quantities or prices. Some, like Axonaut or Obat, add electronic signature and online sending, which shortens the delay between the client’s acceptance and the invoice being issued, a direct cash flow issue for the business.