Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Your First RFQ on CanDoBusiness

By Robert Marshall

August 5, 2025

How to Post a Request for Quote (RFQ) on CanDoBusiness

If you run a business in Canada, whether you’re a small shop or a growing enterprise, you know how valuable your time is. Chasing down suppliers, making endless phone calls, and waiting for email replies can waste days, sometimes weeks, before you even see a single quote.

This is where a Request for Quote (RFQ) changes the game. An RFQ is a simple post where you tell suppliers exactly what you need, and they come to you with offers. Instead of spending your day reaching out to vendors one by one, you create one RFQ and let the marketplace work for you.

Think about the possibilities:

• Need new office furniture? Post an RFQ and get multiple prices in hours.
• Looking for a local contractor or specialized service? Let qualified providers compete for your business.
• Expanding your operations? Source everything from IT hardware to custom signage with one simple post.

On CanDoBusiness, posting an RFQ is free, fast, and designed to get your business connected with trusted Canadian suppliers who are ready to help.

Let’s walk through exactly how to create your first RFQ.

Step 1: Start Your Request

When you begin creating a new RFQ, you’ll first select whether you are requesting Goods or Services. Next, you’ll add a Title and Description that clearly explain what you need. Here’s our first example:

Step 2: Set Your Deadlines and Details

Once your RFQ has a clear title and description, the next step is to define timelines and quantity details. This ensures suppliers know exactly how to respond and helps you receive precise, actionable quotes.

Deadline for Quotes – This is the last day suppliers can submit their offers. A shorter deadline creates urgency and often brings faster responses. (Free plan RFQs remain active for 15 days, but you can extend this by upgrading.)

Goods or Services Details – Here, you’ll specify:

• Quantity – How many units or service hours you need
• Unit Type – Choose from options like units, pieces, hours, or other relevant measures
• Delivery Deadline – Set the date you want everything delivered or work completed

In our example, we’re requesting 10 desktop computers for a clinic, with a quote deadline of August 20, 2025, and delivery by September 30, 2025

Step 3: Add Your Budget (Optional)

While not required, adding a budget range can significantly speed up the quoting process. Suppliers are more likely to respond quickly and accurately when they know the financial scope of your request.

• Minimum Budget – The lowest amount you expect to spend
• Maximum Budget – The upper limit for your project or purchase

Sharing a range helps filter out mismatched offers and encourages vendors to propose solutions that fit your expectations. Even if you are flexible, providing a rough range saves time and attracts the most relevant responses.

Step 4: Add Attachments (Optional)

Sometimes, a picture or a PDF is worth a thousand words. Providing supporting documents can make your RFQ crystal clear and help suppliers respond accurately without extra back-and-forth.

You can upload:

• Spec sheets for equipment or materials
• Floor plans or diagrams for installation projects
• Photos of existing setups for repair or replacement jobs
• PDFs or Docs with additional details

Files up to 5MB each are supported, and adding them now can save time later by reducing questions from suppliers.

Step 5: Review and Post Your RFQ

Before your RFQ goes live, you’ll see a complete review screen summarizing all the details you entered:

• Type – Goods or services
• Title – A clear headline for your request
• Description – Everything suppliers need to know
• Category and Location – To ensure the right businesses can respond

Take a moment to check everything. If you need to make a change, click Edit beside any field.

Once everything looks good, hit Create RFQ. Your request will go live instantly, and local suppliers can start reaching out with offers.

Managing Your RFQ and Viewing Responses

Once your RFQ is posted, it will appear on your RFQ Dashboard where you can:

• See your RFQ details at a glance – Type, location, quantity, and deadline for quotes
• Monitor responses – Suppliers who are interested will reply here with their offers
• Search and filter responses – Quickly sort by location, date, or switch between list and card view
• Manage your RFQ – If your need is filled or you want to pause responses, you can close the RFQ at any time

This dashboard becomes your central hub for all supplier interactions. No messy email chains or lost voicemails, everything stays in one place.

Why Every Canadian Business Needs RFQs

Whether you are sourcing new equipment, looking for a service provider, or planning a special project, posting an RFQ saves you time and money. Instead of cold-calling vendors, let suppliers compete for your business.

• Faster responses
• Clear, comparable quotes
• A simpler path to the best deal

If you’re ready to simplify procurement and strengthen your Canadian business network, log in and post your first RFQ today.