In Sage 50, you’d use a quote instead of a sales order when you’re still in the early stages of a sale—essentially when you’re offering pricing and terms to a customer but haven’t secured the order yet.
Here’s how they differ and why a quote might be the better choice:
Use a Quote When:
- You’re bidding on a job or project and want to present pricing without committing inventory.
- The customer hasn’t agreed to purchase yet—you’re just providing an estimate.
- You want to track potential sales and follow up later.
- You need a professional-looking document to send or email that doesn’t affect inventory or accounting until it’s accepted.
Use a Sales Order When:
- The customer has confirmed the order, and you’re preparing to ship or fulfill it.
- You want to reserve inventory or track backorders.
- You’re ready to convert the order into an invoice once fulfilled.
Bonus: Convertability
Quotes in Sage 50 can be easily converted into sales orders or invoices once the customer gives the green light. This saves time and ensures consistency across your documents.
So, think of a quote as a non-binding offer, and a sales order as a commitment to deliver.