If you’re tired of sending the same static pricing tables and want your quotes to actually match what your customers need—without a dozen emails back and forth—this guide is for you. We’ll walk through how to set up custom pricing tables in Proposable so your quotes are dynamic, easy to update, and don’t make you look like you’re stuck in 2009.
This isn’t about bells and whistles. It’s about making your quoting process work for you (and your customers), not the other way around.
Why Custom Pricing Tables Matter
Let’s be real: most built-in pricing tables are too rigid. Either you’re stuck with three columns and a grand total, or you’re wrestling with a spreadsheet that looks ugly when pasted into a proposal.
Custom pricing tables in Proposable let you:
- Adjust line items, quantities, and discounts on the fly
- Show or hide optional items so customers can pick what they want
- Automatically calculate totals so you don’t have to double-check the math
- Pull in variables (like customer name or project type) to make each quote feel tailored, not copy-pasted
But don’t expect magic. You’ll still need to think through how your pricing is structured, and you’ll probably run into a few quirks (more on that later). Let’s get started.
Step 1: Map Out Your Pricing Structure First
Before you even log in, sketch out what you actually want to show your customers:
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Are your products/services fixed or customizable?
If you always sell the same packages, you can keep things simple. If you do a lot of custom work, plan for more flexibility. -
Do you want customers to pick options themselves?
Proposable supports optional line items, but only if you set them up right. -
Do you need to show subtotals, taxes, discounts, or fees?
Make a list. If you skip this step, you’ll be tweaking your tables later and cursing your past self.
Pro tip:
Sketch your ideal pricing table on paper or in a doc. Columns, rows, what’s optional, what’s required. This makes setup way faster.
Step 2: Set Up a Pricing Table Block in Proposable
Now let’s build it:
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Create or edit a proposal.
Inside Proposable, open a proposal (or start a new one). Navigate to the section where you want your pricing table. -
Add a Pricing Table block.
Look for the “Add Block” or “+” button, then select “Pricing Table.” This drops in the basic table layout. -
Customize columns and labels.
By default, you’ll get something like Item | Description | Qty | Rate | Total. Click the column headers to rename them if your lingo is different (e.g., “Seats” instead of “Qty”). -
Add line items.
Fill in your products or services, descriptions, and pricing. You can add as many rows as you need. -
Make items optional if needed.
There’s usually a checkbox or toggle to mark a line as “optional.” This lets your customer check or uncheck it in the final proposal. -
Set up quantities and allow editing (if you want).
Want your customer to pick how many units they want? Enable “editable quantity” for that row. -
Add subtotal, discounts, taxes, and fees.
Scroll to the bottom of the table block. You can usually add a discount line, tax rate, or additional fees. If your pricing gets complicated, don’t be afraid to add a note explaining how it works.
What works:
The drag-and-drop and click-to-edit interface is pretty straightforward. You’ll see changes update instantly.
What doesn’t:
Complex pricing logic (like volume discounts or conditional fees) is clunky. If you need if/then logic, you’ll probably have to spell it out in the proposal text or use a workaround.
Step 3: Use Variables for Dynamic Content
You don’t want to type the same customer name or project details over and over. Proposable lets you insert variables into your pricing table (and elsewhere).
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Insert variables:
In any cell, click the “{ }” or “Insert Variable” button. Pick from contact info, company name, or custom fields you’ve set up. -
Why bother?
This makes your pricing table feel personalized, and it cuts down on mistakes. If you duplicate a proposal, the variables update automatically.
What works:
Variables are great for little details—names, dates, project IDs.
What doesn’t:
You can’t use variables for calculations inside the table (like “10% of previous line”). If you need that, you’ll have to do the math yourself and enter the result.
Step 4: Test the Table With Real Data
Don’t skip this. What looks good in the builder can fall apart when you send it to a customer.
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Preview the proposal.
Click “Preview” to see exactly what your customer will see. -
Try different quantities and options.
If you enabled editable quantities or optional items, test them. Make sure totals update as expected. -
Check for weird formatting.
Long descriptions can make the table look messy. Adjust column widths or break up info as needed. -
Send a test proposal to yourself.
Email it to yourself (or a coworker). Click around, check for broken links, and try to break it. Better you than your customer.
What works:
The live preview is accurate, and emails usually look just like the preview.
What doesn’t:
Printing the proposal or saving as PDF sometimes messes with table formatting. If your customer insists on a PDF, do a test export and tweak as needed.
Step 5: Duplicate and Tweak for Future Quotes
Once you’ve built a pricing table you like, don’t reinvent the wheel every time.
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Save your proposal as a template.
Proposable lets you turn any proposal into a template. Use this for new quotes so you’re not rebuilding tables every week. -
Duplicate and customize.
For each new customer, duplicate the template, update the details, and adjust pricing as needed. -
Keep your templates tidy.
If you make changes, update the main template so you’re not stuck with old pricing or outdated descriptions.
Pro tip:
Set a recurring calendar reminder to review your templates every few months. Prices change. So should your quotes.
What to Ignore (and What to Watch Out For)
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Ignore “advanced” features you don’t need.
If you’re just quoting standard products or services, don’t get bogged down in custom scripts or integrations. -
Watch for hidden math errors.
If you’re manually entering discounts or odd fees, double-check them. Proposable won’t catch logic mistakes for you. -
Don’t obsess over design.
Your customers care about clarity and accuracy, not whether the table header is the perfect shade of blue.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate as You Go
Custom pricing tables in Proposable are powerful, but only if you keep them simple and focused on what your customers actually need. Start with a basic table, test it with real quotes, and improve it over time. Don’t try to anticipate every possible scenario right away—iterate as you learn what works (and what just looks fancy but never gets used).
You don’t need to be a spreadsheet wizard or a software engineer to make dynamic quotes work. Just build a solid template, test it in the real world, and update it when your process changes. That’s how you actually save time—and maybe even close deals faster.