A quotation is a seller’s formal statement of the price and terms for a specific set of items a buyer has requested. It is another word for a quote, and it typically lists line items, quantities, unit prices, applicable taxes or discounts, and any delivery or payment conditions. For the length of its validity period, a quotation is generally treated as a binding offer: if the buyer accepts within that window, the seller is expected to honor the stated numbers.
What goes into a quotation
A complete quotation usually covers the items and quantities, agreed unit pricing (which for B2B may differ from public catalog prices), taxes, shipping, an expiry or “valid until” date, and terms such as payment window or minimum order quantity. The validity period matters because costs change. Once it lapses, the seller is free to requote.
Why it matters in B2B
Business buyers rarely pay list price. They ask for a quotation so they have a documented, approvable number to take to procurement or finance. Because the figure is treated as a firm offer during its validity window, both sides can plan around it. A clear expiry date protects the seller from being held to old pricing while giving the buyer a real deadline to decide.
Quotations on Shopify
Standard Shopify checkout assumes fixed catalog pricing, so quotations do not fit the default flow. Merchants handle this by converting a quote request into a draft order with custom pricing, then sending the buyer a link to review and pay. Tools like ShopQuotes turn a request into a branded, checkout-ready quote page that expires on a set date, so acceptance flows straight into native Shopify checkout. See the full B2B quoting glossary for related terms like quote request, draft order, and validity period.
Example
A distributor asks for 500 units. You send a quotation at 12.50 per unit, valid for 14 days. If they accept on day 10, that price stands. On day 20, you can requote.