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Why Tillage Exists

Tillage was built to solve a real problem: the fragmented, manual, and time-consuming process of getting from an accepted quote to collected payment.

The Problem: Tool Fragmentation

Before Tillage, running an agency or consultancy meant juggling multiple disconnected tools for every project:

The Old Workflow

Step 1: Create a Quote
  • Open your quoting tool (or worse, a spreadsheet)
  • Build out line items manually
  • Send to client
  • Wait for approval
Step 2: Generate a Contract
  • Client approves the quote
  • Open a separate document editor (Word, Google Docs)
  • Manually copy quote details into a contract template
  • Add payment terms, scope, legal language
  • Export as PDF
Step 3: Collect Signatures
  • Upload contract to e-signature software (DocuSign, HelloSign)
  • Configure signature fields
  • Send to client
  • Wait for signature
  • Download executed contract
Step 4: Create Invoices
  • Open your invoicing tool
  • Manually re-enter line items from the quote
  • Create first invoice (deposit)
  • Duplicate invoice for each milestone
  • Adjust amounts for payment schedule
  • Send deposit invoice
Step 5: Track Payments
  • Monitor for payment
  • Send reminders manually
  • Record payments
  • Send next milestone invoice
  • Repeat until project complete

The Pain Points

This process is:

Time-Consuming
  • 2-4 hours per project just for admin
  • Manual data entry at every step
  • Constant context switching between tools
Error-Prone
  • Copying errors between tools
  • Mismatched amounts between quote and invoice
  • Forgotten payment milestones
  • Inconsistent contract terms
Expensive
  • DocuSign: $25-50/month
  • Invoicing tool: $15-50/month
  • Quote software: $20-40/month
  • Payment processor: separate integration
  • Total: $100-200+/month before you've billed a dollar
Disconnected
  • No single source of truth
  • Can't trace invoice back to contract
  • No visibility into the full pipeline
  • Reporting requires manual compilation

The Tipping Point

The founder built Tillage after one too many experiences of:

  • Sending a contract with the wrong project name (copied from a previous contract)
  • Creating invoices that didn't match the approved quote
  • Forgetting which milestone payment was next
  • Spending Sunday afternoons on admin instead of actual work
  • Paying for 4-5 tools that didn't talk to each other

The realization: Why am I re-entering the same information in five different places?

The Tillage Solution

Tillage automates the entire quote-to-cash workflow in one integrated platform.

One Platform, One Workflow

Quote → Contract → Invoice → Payment
  ↓         ↓          ↓          ↓
 AI      Wizard     Auto-Gen   One-Click

Everything flows forward automatically:
  1. Create a quote (with AI assistance)
  2. Client approves → Contract Wizard launches
  3. Build contract from quote data (no re-entry)
  4. Client signs → Invoices generate automatically
  5. Payment link → Client pays in one click

What Changes

Before TillageWith Tillage
5 separate tools1 platform
2-4 hours per project30 minutes
Manual data entryAutomatic flow
Copy/paste errorsData integrity
$100-200/monthFree tier available
Disconnected dataFull audit trail

The Key Insight

The quote contains everything needed for the contract. The contract defines the payment schedule. The payment schedule generates the invoices. So why enter it all multiple times?

Tillage's architecture is built around this insight:

  • Quote data flows into contracts
  • Contract terms flow into invoices
  • Payment schedules execute automatically
  • One source of truth throughout

Real-World Impact

Time Savings

Old process: 2-4 hours per project
  • Quote creation: 30-60 minutes
  • Contract creation: 30-45 minutes
  • E-signature setup: 15-20 minutes
  • Invoice creation: 20-30 minutes per invoice
  • Payment tracking: ongoing
With Tillage: 30 minutes total
  • Quote creation: 10-15 minutes (with AI: 3-5 minutes)
  • Contract wizard: 10-15 minutes
  • Invoice & payment: automatic
Savings: 90 minutes to 3+ hours per project

Cost Savings

Old stack (monthly):
  • DocuSign or HelloSign: $25-50
  • FreshBooks or QuickBooks: $25-50
  • Proposify or PandaDoc: $20-40
  • Stripe integration setup: time cost
  • Total: $70-140/month minimum
With Tillage:
  • Free tier: $0/month (1% on payments)
  • Premium: $49/month (0% platform fee)
  • Savings: $70-90+/month

Error Reduction

  • Zero re-entry errors - Data flows automatically
  • Consistent pricing - Quote prices lock through invoicing
  • Nothing forgotten - Payment schedules execute on time
  • Full traceability - See the complete history

Built for Agency Workflows

Tillage isn't a generic invoicing tool with contracts bolted on. It's purpose-built for how agencies actually work:

Project-Based Billing

  • Milestone payments tied to deliverables
  • Deposit collection on signing
  • Balance due on completion

Retainer Management

  • Recurring billing from contracts
  • Automatic invoice generation
  • Auto-payment collection

Profitability Protection

  • Variance buffers for scope creep
  • Profit margins built in
  • Pricing that protects your business

Professional Presentation

  • Branded quotes and contracts
  • Digital signatures
  • One-click payment links

The Bottom Line

Tillage exists because agency owners and consultants shouldn't spend hours on administrative busywork. The quote-to-cash workflow should be:

  • Automated - Data flows forward without re-entry
  • Integrated - One platform, one source of truth
  • Fast - Minutes, not hours
  • Affordable - Not $150/month in tool subscriptions

Create a quote. Send a contract. Collect payment. That's it.

Try Tillage free at https://app.tillage.ai/signup Related: Quote-to-Cash Workflow | Contract Wizard | Getting Started
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