Frequently Asked Questions - General
Common questions about Tillage and how it works.
About Tillage
What is Tillage?
Tillage is an AI-powered quote-to-cash platform for agencies, consultants, and freelancers. It handles the complete revenue lifecycle: creating quotes, generating contracts, sending invoices, and collecting payments—all in one integrated workflow.
Who is Tillage for?
Tillage is built for service-based businesses:
- Creative and digital agencies
- Marketing agencies
- Consultants
- Freelancers
- Web developers and designers
- Professional services firms
What does "quote-to-cash" mean?
Quote-to-cash (Q2C) describes the full revenue process:
- Quote - Create and send a proposal
- Contract - Formalize the agreement
- Invoice - Bill for the work
- Payment - Collect the money
Tillage automates this entire workflow.
Is Tillage really free?
Yes. The free tier includes:
- Unlimited quotes
- Unlimited invoices
- Unlimited clients
- Unlimited contracts
- Payment processing
You only pay a 1% platform fee when you process payments. No credit card required to sign up.
Features
What makes Tillage different from other invoicing tools?
Key differentiators:
- AI quote generation - Describe projects, get comprehensive quotes
- Variance buffers - Built-in protection against scope creep
- Integrated contracts - Generate contracts from quotes with digital signatures
- Agency-focused - Designed specifically for service businesses
How does AI quote generation work?
- Select a client and enter your project name
- Click "Generate with AI"
- Describe your project in plain English
- AI creates line items with descriptions, quantities, pricing, and variance buffers
- Review, customize, and send
Available on Premium plan with your own OpenAI or Claude API key.
What are variance buffers?
Variance buffers are a risk percentage added to each line item. They protect against scope creep, revision rounds, and estimation uncertainty. For example, a 20% variance on a $1,000 line item makes it $1,200, building in protection.
Can I accept payments through Tillage?
Yes. Tillage integrates with Stripe to accept:
- Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover)
- ACH bank transfers (lower fees)
Clients receive a one-click payment link—no login required.
Does Tillage have contracts?
Yes. Generate professional contracts from approved quotes:
- Multiple contract types (SOW, Service Agreement, etc.)
- Digital signatures (legally binding)
- Payment schedule configuration
- Automatic invoice generation from contract milestones
Can I set up recurring billing?
Yes. For retainer clients:
- Create a contract with Ongoing Services
- Set billing frequency (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually)
- Invoices generate automatically
- Optional auto-payment with client consent
Getting Started
How do I sign up?
- Visit https://app.tillage.ai/signup
- Create account with email or Google
- Set up your team profile
- Start creating quotes
No credit card required.
How long does setup take?
Most users complete setup in 10-15 minutes:
- Account creation: 1 minute
- Team profile: 5 minutes
- Stripe connection: 5 minutes
- First quote: 5 minutes
Do I need a Stripe account?
To accept payments, yes. On the free plan, Tillage creates a Stripe Express account for you. On Premium, you can connect your existing Stripe account.
Can I import my existing clients?
Yes. You can:
- Add clients manually
- Import from Harvest (one-click)
- CSV import (coming soon)
Pricing
What does the free plan include?
Everything you need to run your business:
- Unlimited quotes, invoices, clients, contracts
- Payment processing
- PDF exports
- Professional branding
- Harvest integration
- Email support
What's the 1% platform fee?
On the free plan, Tillage charges 1% of payments processed through the platform. This is in addition to Stripe's standard fees (2.9% + $0.30 for cards, 0.8% capped at $5 for ACH).
When should I upgrade to Premium?
Premium ($49/month) makes sense when:
- You process more than $4,900/month in payments (fee savings exceed $49)
- You want AI quote generation
- You need team collaboration
- You want 0% platform fees
Is there a free trial for Premium?
The free plan is fully functional with unlimited usage. You can use it indefinitely and upgrade to Premium anytime to access AI features and eliminate the platform fee.
Security & Privacy
Is my data secure?
Yes. Tillage uses:
- Encryption for all data in transit and at rest
- Secure payment processing through Stripe (PCI compliant)
- Regular security audits
- No storage of credit card numbers
Who can see my data?
Only authorized team members. Client data is private to your team. Tillage staff don't access customer data except for support when explicitly requested.
Can clients see my pricing details?
You control what clients see:
- Variance buffers can be hidden or blended
- Profit margins are internal only
- Clients see professional final pricing
Support
How do I get help?
- Email: support@tillage.ai
- Documentation: https://tillage.ai/docs
- In-app help: Help icon in the app
What's the response time?
- Free plan: Email support within 24-48 hours
- Premium plan: Priority support with faster response
Is there phone support?
Currently email only. Enterprise plans include dedicated support options.
Technical
What browsers are supported?
Tillage works in modern browsers:
- Chrome (recommended)
- Firefox
- Safari
- Edge
Is there a mobile app?
Tillage is mobile-responsive and works in mobile browsers. A dedicated mobile app is on the roadmap.
Can I use Tillage offline?
Tillage requires an internet connection. Data is stored securely in the cloud.
Does Tillage integrate with other tools?
Current integrations:
- Stripe (payments)
- Harvest (client import)
- OpenAI (AI quotes)
- Anthropic Claude (AI quotes)
Coming soon:
- QuickBooks
- Xero
- Zapier
More questions? Contact support@tillage.ai Related: Billing FAQ | Getting Started | Pricing