{"id":1234,"slug":"commitment-spectrum-calculator-types","title":"Customer-facing tools span a commitment spectrum: directional estimator → instant quote → configurator → eligibility checker","kind":"reference","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["customer-facing-tools"],"reference_body":"**Claim:** Customer-facing web tools group into four commitment levels: (1) a **directional / ballpark estimator** returns an approximate range with disclaimers; (2) an **instant quote** returns a specific price that can, depending on wording, constitute a binding offer on acceptance; (3) a **product/service configurator** lets the user assemble options (features, dimensions, quantities) and prices the result; (4) a **sizing or eligibility checker** returns a non-price result (recommended quantity, fit, qualification).\n\n**Source:** Builder/vendor taxonomies — Elfsight https://elfsight.com/calculator-form-widget/templates/cost-calculators/ ; Stylish Cost Calculator https://wordpress.org/plugins/stylish-cost-calculator/ ; ConvertCalculator https://www.convertcalculator.com/use-cases/price-quote-calculator/\n\n**Confidence:** Industry-consensus.\n\n**Caveat:** Source incentive — these vendors sell the builders. The taxonomy itself is uncontroversial and predates them.\n\n**Why this matters for Candid:** The first question to ask a client is *which level are you actually committing to?* — the legal exposure and the upkeep burden scale with commitment. See [[estimate-vs-quote-legal-distinction]] and [[rule-default-to-directional-range-ungated]].","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-customer-facing-calculators-smb-june-2026","title":"Research brief: customer-facing calculators & tools for SMBs — the honest case (June 2026)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-20T16:50:09.544Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T16:50:09.544Z"}