Guides
Writing chimney sweep quotes: a template plus priced examples
A chimney sweep quote template works when it names the flue, the appliance and the access, then prices each line so the customer can see what they are buying.
What to take away
- A chimney sweep quote template works when it names the flue, the appliance and the access, then prices each line so the customer sees what they are buying.
- A sweep quote is a scope document first and a price second; the flue count, appliance count and access method set the price, not the other way round.
- Price per flue and per appliance, then add named line items for creosote level, roof access and any repair the inspection found.
- Any defect you cannot describe in plain words goes to a WETT-certified technician, not into your quote as a guess.
- Keep the quote, the inspection record and the payment terms together; the IRS recordkeeping guide below explains why the paper trail matters at tax time.
- A quote that promises a fixed final price on unknown creosote is a callback you have already agreed to fund.
What a sweep quote has to contain
A chimney quote starts with the flue, not the customer's name. One flue in a single-family house is a different job from three flues behind one crown. The price has to say which flue you are quoting.
List the appliance too. A wood stove, a gas fireplace and an oil furnace each need different work. A quote that says "chimney cleaning" without naming the appliance invites a dispute at the door.
Access decides the labor. A ground-level cleanout, a rooftop chase and a steep pitch with a chimney at the ridge are three different afternoons. State how you will reach the flue.
Two credentials cover that scope. NFPA 211 sets the clearance and inspection framework for the work. In Canada, a WETT-certified technician signs off on venting and liner defects. In the US, a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep is the equivalent trade credential.
The filled template, field by field
Every field below carries a worked entry, so the customer reads the quote without asking what a flue count means.
| Field | What goes in it | Worked example (illustrative) |
|---|---|---|
| Customer and site | Name, address, and the person who authorizes the work, kept separate from the person who pays. | Homeowner authorizes the work; the landlord is invoiced. |
| Flue count | Every flue you can see, priced separately. | Two: one masonry fireplace flue, one wood stove flue. |
| Appliance list and fuel | Wood stove, gas fireplace, oil furnace, pellet appliance. | EPA-certified wood stove and an open masonry fireplace. |
| Access method and pitch | Ground cleanout, eave, ridge, ladder, lift. | Ground-level cleanout plus roof access at a 9/12 pitch. |
| Creosote level found | Stage 1, 2 or 3, from the inspection, with the camera record attached. | Stage 2, glazed and flaky, upper third of the flue. |
| Included work | Stated as an outcome: flue swept to the appliance connection, debris removed, firebox vacuumed. | Flue swept to the stove collar, debris bagged, firebox vacuumed. |
| Exclusions | Masonry repair, cap replacement, liner work, anything needing a WETT-certified technician. | Liner sizing, crown repair and any masonry rebuild. |
| Price per line | Unit rate, quantity and extended amount. | See the priced example below. |
| Subtotal, tax, deposit, balance due date | Show tax apart from the subtotal. | Subtotal $1,179, tax at the local rate, 25 percent deposit. |
| Quote expiry | A date, so a price held for months does not become a loss. | 30 days from issue. |
| Change clause | New creosote level or a found defect reopens the price. | Written approval before extra work starts. |
The authorizer is not always the payer. Name both, or the invoice goes to the wrong desk.
A worked example, priced
The figures below are illustrative only. Substitute your own hourly cost, disposal fee and travel charge. Nothing here is a market rate.
| Line | Basis | Illustrative amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sweep, one flue, ground access | Per flue | $185 |
| Sweep, second flue, same visit | Per flue | $95 |
| Wood stove, baffle and pipe | Per appliance | $120 |
| Creosote level 2 removal | Per flue, after inspection | $340 |
| Roof access surcharge, pitch over 8/12 | Per visit | $150 |
| Camera inspection, recorded | Per flue | $210 |
| Disposal and consumables | Per visit | $35 |
| Travel beyond 30 km | Per km, both ways | $1.10 |
| Subtotal, worked example | Two flues, $44 of charged travel | $1,179 |
Add the lines that apply, show the subtotal, then state tax separately. A customer who sees why the second flue costs less than the first will not argue about the first.
Prices vary more by region than by house. As of 2026, a single-flue sweep with ground-level access typically runs $150 to $350 in most US markets. Steep roof access, a long flue run or stage 2 creosote pushes the same job past $600.
Example, one flue: a one-story ranch with one masonry flue and a ground cleanout. Sweep $185, disposal and consumables $35, subtotal $220 plus tax, with no creosote removal.
Example, two flues with creosote: the line items above total $1,179 before tax. That covers two flues, a wood stove, stage 2 creosote removal, roof access at a 9/12 pitch, a recorded camera inspection and 40 km of charged travel.
Example, cottage: three flues on one crown at a 10/12 pitch. First flue $185, the other two at $95 each, disposal $35, subtotal $410 plus tax before any creosote work.
What drives the range: flue count, appliance count, roof pitch, creosote stage and travel distance. Local labor rates move the total too. A quote that omits any of those is a guess with a signature line.
Pricing approaches, and what each hides
Where it fits
- Flat price per flue
- Repeat residential sweeps the customer can compare
- Time and materials with a floor
- Unknown creosote until you are on the roof
- Tiered packages
- A homeowner choosing between sweep only and sweep plus inspection
- Annual membership
- Cottages and rentals that need a known schedule
- Outcome-based pricing
- A customer buying a clean, documented flue rather than your hours
What it hides
- Flat price per flue
- The flue that runs long eats the margin
- Time and materials with a floor
- A fast crew earns less for the same result
- Tiered packages
- The middle tier carries the discount on the top tier
- Annual membership
- Unused visits feel like a bad deal to the buyer
- Outcome-based pricing
- It leans on a reputation you may not have yet
The fifth approach is the one most sweeps never try. You quote the result, a swept flue with a camera record and a written condition note, and you carry the risk that it takes longer than you thought. It works where your inspection is reliable. It fails where you are guessing.
Getting the margin right
Price per flue against your real cost, not against the shop down the road. Your cost is labor hours, disposal, consumables, vehicle and insurance. Add the share of unbilled callbacks.
Track callbacks separately. A sweep that returns to the same flue within thirty days is a pricing error, not bad luck. It belongs in the numbers before you set next season's rate. The method for building that rate is set out in how to price chimney sweep services for a fair margin.
Where the rules sit
Venting clearances, liner requirements and appliance installation rules vary by province, state and municipality. NFPA 211 sets the clearance and inspection framework. The National Fire Code of Canada and your local fire authority set what applies to your work. Confirm the current requirement with the authority that sets it.
Licensing, permits, insurance obligations and tax registration are set by your provincial or state regulator, the CRA or the IRS, and Revenu Québec where Bill 96 marketing rules apply. A qualified accountant or lawyer answers those questions, not a quote template.
Soot and silica exposure limits are set by your provincial OHS authority. OSHA's safety management guidance at Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Safety Management describes a program that finds and fixes hazards before an inspection does.
Two more checkable sources. The Internal Revenue Service: What kind of records should I keep? page explains the records that support income, expenses, payroll and assets.
The Federal Trade Commission: Advertising FAQs: A Guide for Small Business covers truthful claims and endorsement disclosure. That matters the moment you print "WETT-certified" on a quote.
Common questions
Should a sweep quote show a fixed final price?
Only where the scope is known before you arrive. Creosote level, flue condition and access are unknowns until inspection. Quote those as line items with unit rates, and let the customer approve changes in writing.
How many flues should one quote cover?
Every flue you can see, priced separately. A quote for one flue on a house with three leaves the other two to be argued about later, usually at the door with the customer watching.
Can I quote repair work myself?
Describe what you found and refer the repair to a WETT-certified technician. Clearances, liner sizing and venting defects are technical determinations, and your local fire authority and NFPA 211 govern them.
What if the customer wants the cheapest price only?
Give them the sweep-only line and state plainly what it excludes. A customer who understands the difference between a swept flue and a documented one is a customer who renews.
