# What is Enquiry form?

> An enquiry form is a short form on a website where potential customers enter their details and what they need, sending you a message without phoning.

- Source: https://nerdsharks.com/glossary/enquiry-form
- Publisher: Nerdsharks (Exeter, Devon, UK)
- Updated: 2026-09-26

Also called: contact form, quote form, web form, lead form.

An enquiry form, contact form or quote form collects a customer's name, contact details and a description of the job, and sends it to your email or phone.

Shorter is usually better. Every extra field is a reason to give up. Ask only what you need to reply sensibly; you can get the rest on the phone. Letting people attach a photo of the problem can be very useful for repair, building and cleaning work.

Behind the scenes it needs spam protection, a confirmation message so the customer knows it worked, and a reliable way of reaching you. Forms that silently fail are more common than you would think.

## Why it matters for a small business

Plenty of customers would rather not ring, particularly in the evening or when they are at work. A good form catches those enquiries while you are on a job. A broken one loses them without you ever knowing, so it is worth sending yourself a test every so often.

**Example:** A carpet fitter's form asks for name, phone, postcode, rooms and an optional photo, then texts him the details and shows the customer ‘Thanks, we'll call you back today’.