Fees and timing
How long a proposal stays valid
Put an expiry date on every quote. Prices, calendar, and scope drift. A clear window protects both sides.
More guides sit on the guides index.
Short answer
How long should a freelance proposal stay valid?
Pick a clear window and write it on the proposal. For example, fourteen or thirty days. After that date the price and start date need a fresh confirm. If they come back later, send an updated quote before you kick off.
Why expiry matters
Your calendar fills. Supplier costs move. Scope details get fuzzy.
An open-ended quote becomes an unpaid hold on your time.
Example windows
Fourteen days for small fixed projects.
Thirty days for larger proposals with more review.
Shorter when the start date is soon. Say it plainly: “This quote is good until 30 April.”
What happens after expiry
The old price is not automatic. Send a short update or a new proposal.
If scope changed, rewrite the change as a new quote or a change order.
Related pages
If you want tools later
You do not need these to use the guide. One-time files.
Also: change-order email page · blank change-order template · Payhip store
FAQ
Can I honour an expired quote anyway?
Yes, as a choice. It is not required.
Should expiry sit in the email and the PDF?
Yes. Put it in both places.
Not legal advice. Match your contract and local rules. This is a process aid, not a lawyer.