A Fergus alternative
for fast Xero quoting
Fergus runs the whole job from quote to invoice. FlowSpec does one thing: turn a spoken description into a priced Xero quote in about 30 seconds. For tradies whose main bottleneck is getting quotes out the door, that focus makes all the difference.
How the quoting works
Four steps from spoken words to a priced Xero quote.
Speak the job
Describe the work in plain language. "Hot water system replacement, Rinnai Infinity 26, copper conversion, isolation valves, tempering valve, old unit removal."
FlowSpec matches your prices
The voice description is matched to your Xero items and their prices. Your existing Xero price list is the source of truth, so every quote is priced from numbers you already set.
Review the draft
A structured quote appears with line items, quantities, and totals. Adjust anything that needs it, or accept it as-is.
Send from Xero
The quote lands in Xero as a native Xero quote. Send it to the client, convert it to an invoice later, and keep your full audit trail in one place.
The Xero quote gap, explained
Fergus syncs invoices to Xero automatically once approved. Payments flow back from Xero into Fergus for reporting. That integration is solid for the invoice-to-reconciliation workflow.
Quotes are a different story. Fergus creates and manages quotes inside its own system, and they stay there. If you want your quotes in Xero (for a single source of truth, for your accountant, or because your workflow already lives in Xero), you would recreate them manually.
FlowSpec takes the opposite approach: every quote is created as a native Xero quote from the start. Your Xero account is the single source of truth for both quotes and invoices, with nothing to re-enter.
The honest split
Different tools for different jobs. Here is where each one fits.
Fergus fits when you need
- Full job management: quoting, scheduling, timesheets, invoicing in one platform
- Supplier price book integration with 100+ Australian suppliers and automatic markup
- Team coordination across multiple field workers, with job assignment and status tracking
- Purchase orders and tiered pricing (Professional plan)
- Health and safety compliance forms (Professional plan)
- A platform your accountant can use alongside you for reporting
FlowSpec fits when you need
- Quotes out the door fast: speak the job, and a priced quote lands in Xero in about 30 seconds
- Xero-native quotes: every quote is a real Xero quote, visible to your accountant and ready to convert to an invoice
- Instant setup: connect Xero and start quoting in your first session, using prices you already have
- One flat price: $50/mo first seat, $25/mo extra seats, every feature included
- A focused tool that pairs with your existing job management (Fergus, Tradify, a spreadsheet, or pen and paper)
- Voice input from the job site, while the details are fresh in your head
Worked example: plumber quoting a hot water replacement
A plumber finishes inspecting a failing hot water system. The homeowner wants a quote for a Rinnai Infinity 26 continuous flow replacement with copper conversion. Here is what each path looks like.
| Step | Fergus | FlowSpec |
|---|---|---|
| Create the quote | Open Fergus, create a new job, add line items from your price book or type them in, set markups, apply tiered pricing if needed | Tap record, say "Hot water replacement, Rinnai Infinity 26 continuous flow, copper conversion, isolation valves, tempering valve, remove old unit, half day labour" |
| Time to draft | 5-15 minutes depending on the job complexity and whether items are in your price book | About 30 seconds for the voice description, then a quick review of the matched line items |
| Where the quote lives | Inside Fergus. Invoice syncs to Xero later once the job is approved and invoiced | In Xero as a native Xero quote, ready to send to the client or convert to an invoice |
| Setup required | Connect Xero, import suppliers, configure price books, set up job templates (2-3 weeks typical) | Connect Xero, start quoting (your Xero items and prices are already there) |
Pricing at a glance
Both tools bill monthly per user. Here is the baseline for a solo tradie.
Fergus
- Essentials: $48/user/mo
- Professional: $72/user/mo
- Enterprise: custom (10+ staff)
- Timesheet users: from $22/mo each
- Contractor users: $4/user/day
- SMS alerts: $15 per 100
- Card payments: 1.95% + $0.30
- Full job management included
FlowSpec
- First seat: $50/month
- Extra seats: $25/month each
- 20% off annual billing
- First 100 customers lock the rate for life
- Unlimited quotes
- Every feature included
- Voice quoting into Xero
- Quoting focused, pairs with your existing tools
Fergus pricing from fergus.com/au/pricing as of June 2026 (AUD). FlowSpec pricing from flowspec.com.au/pricing. Both exclude GST.
Common questions
Yes. Fergus handles job management, scheduling, and invoicing. FlowSpec handles the quoting layer: speak the job and a priced quote lands in Xero ready to send. They share Xero as the source of truth for contacts and items, so your workflow stays clean.
Yes. FlowSpec creates quotes directly in Xero as native Xero quotes, priced from your own Xero items. You review, adjust if needed, and send from Xero. Fergus syncs invoices to Xero, though quotes stay inside Fergus.
Most tradies are quoting within their first session. Connect your Xero account, and FlowSpec reads your existing items and prices. There is nothing to configure, and your Xero price list is your price list. Fergus typically involves a 2-3 week setup to configure supplier connections, price books, and job templates.
FlowSpec focuses on one job: turning a spoken description into a priced Xero quote in about 30 seconds. For scheduling, timesheets, and job tracking, pair it with whichever job management tool fits your workflow. FlowSpec stays in the quoting lane so it stays fast.
FlowSpec is $50/month for the first quoting seat and $25/month for each extra seat, with every feature included. Fergus Essentials starts at $48/user/month and Professional at $72/user/month, plus additional costs for timesheet users, contractors, SMS, and payment processing. For a solo tradie focused on quoting, FlowSpec is a comparable monthly cost with a faster path to quoting.
FlowSpec reads your Xero items and contacts directly. Your Xero data stays in Xero and belongs to you. Quotes that FlowSpec creates are native Xero quotes, visible in your Xero account alongside everything else. There is no lock-in and no data migration needed.
Ready to try faster quoting?
Connect your Xero account and speak your first quote. Your prices, your items, your Xero — FlowSpec just makes the quoting part faster.
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