Quoting in French and English: what Québec buyers expect
Québec buyers expect to be able to deal with you in French, and the Charter of the French language requires many commercial documents, such as catalogues, order forms, invoices and receipts, to be available in French, with other languages allowed alongside. Quotes are not named explicitly in the sources we reviewed, so the safe practice is to make French available by default and reply in the language the customer wrote in. This article is general information, not legal advice.
What does the Charter of the French language say about commercial documents?
The Charter, amended by Bill 96 (now Law 14, in force since June 1, 2022), sets out rules for the language of commerce and business. The summary below is drawn from Éducaloi, the OQLF's published Charter excerpts, and law-firm and CFIB summaries. Article numbers and wording should be confirmed against the current text of the Charter *.
| Document | General rule | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogues, brochures, commercial directories and similar publications | Must be in French; another language may be added if the French version is available on terms at least as favourable | Charter s. 52 |
| Invoices, receipts, acquittances and similar documents | Must be in French; another language may be added if the French version is available on terms at least as favourable | Charter s. 57 |
| Product inscriptions and accompanying documents (instructions, warranties) | Must be in French; translations may be added | Charter s. 51 |
| Contracts of adhesion and related documents | Must be given in French first; another language only if the parties expressly agree after receiving the French version | Charter s. 55, since June 1, 2023 |
| Negotiated contracts | Any language the parties agree on | Éducaloi |
| E-commerce purchase information | Order forms, invoices and receipts must be available in French | Éducaloi |
General information only, not legal advice. Confirm your obligations with the OQLF or a lawyer.
Does a quote have to be in French?
None of the sources we reviewed names quotes or estimates explicitly. But a quote often sits right next to documents that are covered: it may become an order, it usually leads to an invoice, and it often carries standard terms and conditions. Standard, non-negotiable terms can look a lot like a contract of adhesion, which must be presented in French first.
The practical answer for most distributors is simple: make every quote available in French, and send it in English when the customer wrote in English or asks for it. That approach respects the spirit of the Charter, matches what buyers expect, and avoids a debate you do not need to have. If your terms and conditions are attached to quotes, have a French version reviewed by a lawyer *.
What changed with Bill 96?
Bill 96 became law on June 1, 2022, and its changes rolled out in stages. According to CFIB's summary, all commercial documents, regardless of medium, already had to be available in French, and that includes websites. Rules for contracts of adhesion took effect on June 1, 2023. On June 1, 2025, new rules on trademarks and product inscriptions took effect, and the francization obligation was extended to businesses with 25 or more employees in Québec *.
CFIB also lists the penalties for companies that ignore an OQLF order: fines of $3,000 to $30,000 for a first offence, rising for repeat offences *. CFIB notes that the OQLF can first issue a formal notice and then an order to comply, so a clear French-first practice is cheap insurance.
- June 1, 2022: Law 14 (Bill 96) in force.
- June 1, 2023: contracts of adhesion must be presented in French first.
- June 1, 2025: trademark and product inscription rules; francization extended to businesses with 25 or more employees *.
What do Québec buyers expect in practice?
Beyond the law, buyers notice the details. A quote that reads like a machine translation, or switches to English halfway through, signals that French-speaking customers are an afterthought.
- A reply in the language they wrote in, from the first message to the follow-up.
- Québec terms: soumission for quote, demande de prix for RFQ, bon de commande, délai de livraison, fiche technique, FDS.
- French number formats: a space as the thousands separator, a comma for decimals, and the dollar sign after the amount.
- Part numbers exactly as in your catalog, with descriptions in French where you have them.
- Documents such as spec sheets and SDS in French when the customer asks.
Worked example: one quote, two languages
Here is an illustrative three-line quote, with prices invented for the example. The math is identical in both languages; only the format changes. The subtotal is $250.00 + $920.00 + $640.00 = $1,810.00, before taxes.
Notice what stays the same: part numbers, quantities and unit prices. What changes is the decimal separator, the thousands separator, the position of the dollar sign, and the words around them. A quoting tool should handle this formatting automatically, so reps never retype a quote to switch languages. For a ready-made layout, see our quote template.
| Line | Qty | English format | Format français |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hex bolt, 3/8 in. × 2 in., zinc | 200 × $1.25 | $250.00 | 250,00 $ |
| Hydraulic hose assembly, 1/2 in. | 50 × $18.40 | $920.00 | 920,00 $ |
| Ball valve, 1 in., stainless | 10 × $64.00 | $640.00 | 640,00 $ |
| Subtotal (before taxes) | $1,810.00 | 1 810,00 $ |
How does Merlin handle bilingual quoting?
Merlin's Quote Desk replies in the language the customer wrote in, English or French. Part numbers and descriptions come from your own price sheet, so if you want French descriptions on French quotes, include them in the sheet. Follow-ups, order status replies and document sends follow the same rule.
A rep approves every quote before it goes out, so a person who reads French always has the final say. Merlin is built in Québec for industrial distributors who serve customers in both languages. For a wider look at the market, read AI for distributors in Québec.
Frequently asked questions
Do quotes have to be in French in Québec?
Quotes are not named explicitly in the sources we reviewed, but related documents such as order forms, invoices and contracts of adhesion are covered. Making quotes available in French is the safe practice. This is not legal advice.
Can I send a quote in English to a Québec customer?
Generally, other languages may be used alongside French. If the customer wrote in English, replying in English is normal, as long as a French version is available on terms at least as favourable *.
Do my terms and conditions need to be in French?
If they are standard, non-negotiable terms, they may be treated as a contract of adhesion, which must be presented in French first since June 1, 2023 *. Have a lawyer review them.
Does Merlin translate my price sheet?
No. Part numbers and descriptions come from your price sheet as written. Merlin replies in the customer's language, so add French descriptions to your sheet if you want them on French quotes.
Where can I confirm my obligations?
The Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) and a Québec lawyer. Éducaloi also publishes plain-language summaries.
Sources
- Éducaloi: Language laws and doing business in Québec
- OQLF: Articles exécutoires de la Charte de la langue française (excerpt, art. 55)
- CFIB: Law 14 (Bill 96), An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec
- Mondaq: Language of commerce and business, your obligations following the adoption of Bill 96
- DLA Piper: Québec's language laws changed this week (June 2025)
