Quoting commissions & advance payments

A well-priced quote balances two things: covering your time and materials, and being competitive enough to win the brief. On SA Fashion Mall, you can also request a materials advance — released to you immediately on customer acceptance — to fund fabric and thread before you cut.

Building the quote

• Materials — fabric + lining + notions + trims. Add 10–15% over cost to cover offcuts and last-minute sourcing.
• Labour — your hourly rate × realistic hours. Bespoke suiting: 20–40 hours. Traditional two-piece: 12–25 hours. Wedding gown: 40–80+ hours.
• Overheads — studio rent, machine depreciation, software (5–10% of labour).
• Platform commission — remember 15% comes off the top on release. Quote gross, receive net.

The materials advance (0–40%)

• 0% — you have fabric on hand and don't need money upfront.
• 20–30% — typical for a mid-price commission where fabric is standard but you'd prefer not to float the cost.
• 40% — max allowed; used for premium fabrics, imports, or pieces with heavy embellishment.
• The customer sees the split disclosed on the quote before they accept — no surprises.
• Released to you at payment confirmation (T + 0). The remaining 60–100% releases on customer delivery confirmation.

Quote hygiene

• Include the lead time in business days.
• Mention the fabric composition + weight if you're sourcing.
• Note any assumptions (e.g., 'includes one round of alterations post-fit').
• If the customer's brief is unclear, ask questions in the order chat BEFORE quoting — a rushed quote leads to disputes.