Is a quote mandatory for a French freelancer?

No, except for home repair, maintenance, or troubleshooting work, where a written quote has been mandatory from the first euro since 2017 (the old €150 threshold was removed). But as soon as a client asks for one, you must provide it, and it's worth making a habit of it for anything above a few tens of euros.

What do you write instead of a VAT rate on an exempt quote?

The exact wording is "TVA non applicable, art. 293 B du CGI". That's the only phrasing that offers legal protection, an empty box or a plain "0%" isn't enough.

Does a signed quote carry as much weight as a contract?

Yes. Once the client accepts it in writing (signature, "approved", or an explicit email), the quote has the same legal value as a sales contract.

Can a quote be changed after it's signed?

No, not the original document. If a correction is needed, you must issue a new, dated version, while keeping a record of the old one.

Do you need to invoice the quote itself?

No, a quote is free by default. Only the invoice, issued once the work is done (or for a deposit), triggers a payment.

Freelancer Quotes in France: The Mandatory Details and

Key Takeaway: A compliant micro-entrepreneur quote in France must state your name followed by "Entrepreneur individuel" (or EI), your SIRET number, address, the VAT exemption mention ("TVA non applicable, art. 293 B du CGI" if below thresholds), a validity period (30 days recommended), an itemised breakdown, and the client's signature.

A poorly drafted quote isn't just a cosmetic problem. In France, once a client signs a quote, it carries the same weight as a contract: miss a mandatory detail, or get the VAT wording wrong, and you're exposed to a dispute, or worse, a tax audit.

The good news is the checklist fits on one page. The bad news is that 90% of hand-made Word quotes are missing at least two items from it.

For the step-by-step (when a quote is required, how to structure it, send it and get it signed), see How to write a quote in France. The auto-entrepreneur mentions list stays below.

1. What must a French freelancer's quote legally include?

Your own details

Full name (or trade name if you've registered one)
Business address
SIRET number (the 14-digit number that identifies your business in France, mandatory on your first invoice, but worth having on the quote too)
Legal status: "Entrepreneur individuel" or "EI" is enough, no need for more
Contact details (email, phone)

The client's details

Name / company name, full address
Intra-EU VAT number, if the client is a VAT-registered business (not needed for a private individual)

The offer itself

The word "Devis" clearly displayed, dated on the day of issue
A validity period (30 days is standard, though nothing stops you from setting 15 if your material costs move often)
An itemised breakdown: description, quantity, unit price

2. The VAT wording: where almost everyone gets it wrong

This is the point that trips up new freelancers the most. There are two cases:

You're under the VAT exemption scheme (the case for most micro-entrepreneurs below the thresholds): you must state, in plain text, "TVA non applicable, art. 293 B du CGI". Never leave a blank VAT column with no explanation, an informed client (or their accountant) will notice, and rightly so.
You've crossed the threshold and charge VAT: state the applicable rate (usually 20%, sometimes 10% or 5.5% depending on the activity) and clearly show the Total excl. VAT, the VAT amount, and the Total incl. VAT.

Take a concrete example. You're a freelance graphic designer, under the exemption scheme, and you're invoicing a brand identity project at €850. Your quote simply shows: Total excl. VAT €850, VAT not applicable art. 293 B CGI, Total due €850. No zero-VAT line inviting confusion, just the legal wording.

3. Should you ask for a deposit, and how do you word it on the quote?

Nothing legally requires it, but in practice, asking for nothing means funding the start of the project out of your own pocket if the client backs out. For a typical service (freelance work, trade, consulting), 30% on signature is the most common norm. On the quote, one sentence is enough: "A 30% deposit is required upon signing this quote, i.e. €255 for a total of €850."

We cover the usual percentages by industry, and the two collection methods (card or bank transfer), in more detail in our guide on deposits at signature.

4. The mistakes that cost the most

Forgetting the VAT exemption wording: this is the most common mistake, and the one that worries professional clients most, since they're used to seeing that line.
Not dating the quote's validity: without a limit, you stay bound to a price months later, even if your costs have gone up since.
Describing the service in one vague line ("Consulting services"): if there's a dispute over the scope of the work, a vague quote won't protect you.
Confusing a quote with an invoice: the quote is a commitment, the invoice requests payment. They're two different documents with different rules, details here.

5. Free templates to download

If you prefer starting from a ready-to-use template, check our compliant templates for French freelancers:

Download the free Word quote template, France Download the Excel quote template with auto-calculation, France

The full detail is in our guide on the free PDF quote.

FAQ

How HeyDevis Simplifies Freelancer Quotes

Drafting quotes in Word leads to copy-paste mistakes (outdated VAT mentions, duplicate numbers, or forgotten deposit deductions).

With HeyDevis, your freelancer quotes are automated and compliant:

Automatic EI and VAT exemption mentions: your SIRET, "EI" status, and the mandatory "TVA non applicable art. 293 B du CGI" line are populated automatically.
Guaranteed continuous numbering: every quote receives a unique sequential identifier with no gaps or duplicates.
Integrated electronic signature: send a secure direct link for clients to review and sign instantly on desktop or mobile.

Freelancer Quotes in France: The Mandatory Details and the Mistakes That Cost You Clients