The contractors who discount under pressure train their customers to negotiate. The ones who hold their price and explain their value close more jobs at better margins.
Here are the prompts. Use free ChatGPT to generate a version customized to your specific situation.
Objection 1: "Your price is too high"
"A customer said my [TRADE] quote of $[AMOUNT] for [SCOPE] is too expensive. Write a confident response that holds the price, explains the value (quality materials, licensed/insured crew, warranty, reliability), and doesn't apologize for charging what I'm worth. Professional and direct. Under 150 words."
Objection 2: "I got a cheaper quote from another contractor"
"A customer is comparing my [TRADE] quote of $[AMOUNT] to a competitor's quote of $[LOWER AMOUNT] for [SCOPE]. Write a response that acknowledges the difference professionally, explains why our pricing reflects quality and accountability, doesn't badmouth the competitor, and doesn't lower my price. Under 150 words."
Objection 3: "Can you do it cheaper?"
"A customer asked if I can lower my price on [SCOPE] from $[AMOUNT]. Write a professional response that holds the price, pivots to value (what they get for that price), and offers a payment plan option if I have one. Under 100 words."
Objection 4: "I need to think about it"
"A customer said they need to think about our [TRADE] quote of $[AMOUNT]. Write a warm, low-pressure response that acknowledges their thoughtfulness, offers to answer any questions, and notes one time-sensitive element (schedule, seasonal timing, permit lead time). Under 100 words."
Objection 5: "Can I pay cash for a discount?"
"A customer offered to pay cash in exchange for a discount on a $[AMOUNT] [TRADE] job. Write a professional response that addresses this clearly. [If no discount: hold the price and explain why. If willing to offer small discount: state the policy clearly.] Under 100 words."
The Principle Behind All of These
Every response follows the same formula:
- Acknowledge — show you heard them
- Explain value — what they get for the price
- Hold the price — don't apologize for your rates
- Leave the door open — if they're not ready now, make it easy to come back
You'll lose some jobs. The ones you lose by holding your price are usually the ones that would have given you the most grief anyway.
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