What exclusive pricing means
An exclusive price is your rate before tax. It is the standard for business-to-business work in India, because the buyer claims input tax credit on the GST and treats only the net amount as a real cost. When you write "₹25,000 + GST" on a proposal, you are quoting exclusive.
The formula
Invoice total = Exclusive price + GST amount
Worked example
₹25,000 + 18% GST
- Exclusive price
- ₹25,000.00
- GST at 18%
- ₹4,500.00
- CGST / SGST
- ₹2,250.00 each
- Customer pays
- ₹29,500.00
Write it clearly on the proposal
The most avoidable payment dispute in Indian small business is a client who read "₹25,000" and received a bill for ₹29,500. Two habits prevent it entirely:
- Write the phrase "plus applicable GST" in the proposal, not just in the fine print.
- Show the gross figure once, in brackets, so the client has seen the real number before they sign.
Frequently asked questions
Should I quote plus GST or inclusive?
Quote exclusive for registered business clients who claim input tax credit. Quote inclusive for consumers, who cannot claim it and only care about the final number.
What if my client is unregistered?
You still charge GST if you are registered. The client simply cannot claim credit for it, which makes the tax a genuine cost to them — worth mentioning up front.
Do I charge GST on reimbursed expenses?
Usually yes, unless you are acting as a pure agent and meet all the conditions for that treatment. Pure agent status is narrow — check before assuming it applies.