CPQ software: 10 platforms to streamline quoting and close deals faster

The quote stage is where deals either accelerate or stall. CPQ configure price quote software turns that critical moment into a competitive advantage by giving sales teams one automated system to build accurate offers, apply approved pricing, and send quotes buyers can sign fast.

This guide covers what CPQ software does, how it connects with your CRM and ERP, and compares 10 platforms built for different sales motions. You’ll also see which features protect margins, how AI removes quoting busywork, and what separates platforms teams actually use from ones that sit on the shelf.

What is configure price quote (CPQ) software?

CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) software stops teams from losing deals to slow, error-filled quoting. Instead of spreadsheet gymnastics and approval chains buried in email, sales gets one automated system for building complex proposals. Fewer mistakes, faster turnaround, and quotes that actually move deals forward.

CPQ removes the friction that drags out your sales cycle:

1. Configure: Reps choose product options and bundles without creating invalid combinations.
2. Price: The system applies the right discounts, contract pricing, and margin rules automatically — no more hunting through files or chasing approvals.
3. Quote: Those details turn into a polished proposal buyers can sign in minutes, not days.

CRM vs. CPQ vs. ERP

So where does CPQ fit with your CRM and ERP? Your CRM tracks pipeline and relationships, your ERP handles finance and fulfillment, and CPQ sits between them and handles the actual quoting. Connect these systems, and the manual re-entry that slows you down disappears.

10 best configure price quote (CPQ) platforms

Some CPQ platforms are full-scale engineering projects that require long implementations and a heavy administrative lift. Others you can set up in an afternoon, so your team sells instead of maintaining software. The best fit depends on how your team actually sells, not just on a list of features.

Here’s a quick look followed by a deep dive:

*Pricing reflects annual billing, where applicable. Enterprise and custom-quote platforms require direct sales engagement.

1. monday CRM

monday CRM offers CPQ-style structure without the weight of a traditional CPQ deployment. It won’t replace a deeply specialized enterprise quoting engine, but it does help teams standardize pricing inputs, manage approvals, and keep quote documents tied to the deal context.

Use case: B2B and B2C revenue teams that want one place to run the customer journey, from lead capture to post-sale follow-through

Key features

• Standardize “configure” inputs on every deal: Create consistent fields for package, term length, discount, and approval status so reps don’t invent pricing logic on the fly.
• Keep quote documents and deal context together: Store quote or contract files on the deal record, then use Extract Info with AI to pull key details like invoice numbers or totals into columns for tracking and reporting.
• Make approvals part of the workflow, not a side quest: Combine status labels, ownership, and automations so reviews stay visible, traceable, and connected to the opportunity.

Pricing

• Basic: $12/seat/month (billed annually) — 20 quotes/invoices per month
• Standard: $20/seat/month (billed annually) — 50 quotes/invoices per month
• Pro: $33/seat/month (billed annually) — 250 quotes/invoices per month
• Ultimate: $60/seat/month (billed annually) — unlimited quotes/invoices, Q&I reporting, and QuickBooks integration

Why it stands out

• Built for fast change, not long projects: monday CRM is no-code, so RevOps and sales leaders can update pipelines, fields, and workflows without waiting on IT.
• One system for sales plus the work around sales: Teams use monday CRM to connect deals with onboarding, renewals, collections, and approvals, keeping revenue work centralized instead of scattered across disconnected platforms.
• Pricebook CPQ integration: An AI-powered quoting solution built on monday.com by thespelas.com, the Pricebook CPQ integration lets sales teams create accurate, branded quotes in seconds — directly from their CRM.

2. Salesforce CPQ

Salesforce CPQ (now part of Revenue Cloud) brings configuration, pricing, and quoting straight into the Salesforce ecosystem, so every quote stays tied to the right opportunity and customer record. It is designed for large enterprises managing complex catalogs and layered pricing structures, covering everything from guided selling to renewal automation in one platform. For organizations already operating on Salesforce, that native connection removes a substantial amount of reconciliation work.

Use case: Large enterprises that need to manage intricate product configurations, approval chains, and subscription renewals without ever leaving their CRM

Key features

• Product rules engine: Constraint-based configuration logic blocks invalid product combinations and surfaces compatible add-ons based on what is already in the quote.
• Contract amendments and renewal automation: Manage mid-contract changes and automatically create renewal quotes from existing contract terms, with updated pricing applied.
• AI-assisted pricing guidance: CPQ+ uses CRM Analytics to recommend target, norm, and floor discount levels, giving sales leaders tighter control over margin across the team.

Pricing

• Revenue Cloud Growth: $150/user/month (billed annually)
• Revenue Cloud Advanced: $200/user/month (billed annually)
• Requires an existing Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, or CRM license — Revenue Lifecycle Management is not available as a standalone purchase
• Premier Success Plan typically adds 30% of net license fees
• Additional add-ons (e.g., Revenue Intelligence, PRM) are priced separately

Considerations

• Implementation typically requires certified Salesforce consultants and dedicated admins to configure product rules, pricing logic, and approval workflows. This makes it a significant lift for mid-market teams without those resources in place.
• No free trial is available for Revenue Lifecycle Management; evaluation requires direct sales engagement, which extends time-to-value for teams looking to move fast.

3. DealHub

DealHub combines CPQ, contract management, subscription billing, and buyer collaboration in a single revenue platform built for B2B SaaS teams handling recurring revenue and nuanced pricing tiers. Its no-code playbook builder and DealRoom digital workspace create a guided, buyer-friendly selling experience that cuts down on back-and-forth and helps deals keep moving. For SaaS businesses where quote accuracy and renewal automation directly affect revenue predictability, DealHub brings those motions together.

Use case: Mid-market and enterprise B2B SaaS teams that need guided quoting, subscription amendments, and buyer collaboration without stitching together multiple tools

Key features

• No-code playbook builder: Leads reps through qualifying questions and automatically recommends the right product configuration and pricing tier, all without developer support.
• DealRoom for buyer engagement: Gives buyers a branded digital workspace to review quotes, access supporting materials, and collaborate with internal stakeholders while sellers monitor engagement and document activity in real time.
• Subscription and billing management: Supports recurring billing, usage-based pricing, and subscription amendments in the same platform that generates the quote, keeping finance and sales aligned without manual handoffs.

Pricing

• CPQ+: Core CPQ and proposals (custom quote required)
• CPQ + CLM: Quotes and contracts together (custom quote required)
• Quote-to-Revenue: End-to-end from sales to finance (custom quote required)
• DealRoom and select integrations are available as add-ons; pricing for all tiers is available on request

Considerations

• Pricing is not publicly listed, which can slow procurement for teams that need quick cost benchmarking before engaging a vendor.
• DealHub works best with Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and HubSpot; teams using other CRMs may need additional integration effort via API.

4. Oracle CPQ

Oracle CPQ brings CRM and ERP together inside a governed quote-to-cash process built for organizations where one deal may cross divisions, currencies, and approval levels. The platform is aimed at large enterprises running complex global sales operations, and its AI-guided configuration helps reps navigate massive product catalogs with less guesswork.

Use case: Enterprise sales teams dealing with multi-entity pricing, cross-divisional product configurations, and layered approval workflows across global operations

Key features

• AI-guided configuration: Machine learning recommends product configurations based on similar won deals and customer characteristics, helping reps avoid errors in complex catalogs.
• Multi-entity pricing: Supports pricing across multiple business units, currencies, and regions with centralized governance and built-in local flexibility.
• ERP integration: Pulls real-time cost, inventory, and margin data directly into quotes through a native connection with Oracle Fusion ERP and offers out-of-the-box connectors for 20+ additional systems, including SAP, JD Edwards, and Microsoft.

Pricing

• Base subscription: Requires a minimum of 25 hosted named users; initial terms are typically 3 years.
• Add-ons: Channel user licenses, Salesforce connector, e-commerce interaction blocks, external API access blocks, and shared test environments are available at additional cost.

Considerations

• High implementation complexity: Oracle CPQ requires experienced administrators and significant configuration investment — it is not a self-serve platform, and total cost of ownership can grow quickly once add-ons and integration work are factored in.
• Two-way pricing sync requires extra setup: Base integration with Oracle Fusion Pricing runs one-way; achieving full bidirectional synchronization requires additional configuration effort beyond the standard implementation.

5. Conga CPQ

Conga CPQ unites configuration, pricing, and contract management in one platform, reducing the legal-and-sales back-and-forth that slows deals down. It serves enterprise teams in technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and services that manage complex quoting, subscription models, and large line-item volumes. With 2 separate CPQ tracks — one native to Salesforce and one CRM-agnostic — it can adapt to the systems your team already uses.

Use case: Enterprise sales teams that need to move from configuration and pricing to contract negotiation and signature without hopping between platforms

Key features

• Guided configuration and solution selling: Conga supports bundling of hardware, software, services, and subscriptions with dynamic questionnaires and product comparison to reduce configuration errors.
• Contract lifecycle management: The system handles contract negotiation, redlining, approvals, and e-signature in the same platform that creates the quote, keeping legal and sales aligned throughout the deal.
• Dual CPQ tracks: Advantage CPQ runs natively in Salesforce for subscription and asset-based models. Smart CPQ is the CRM-agnostic option, offering native integrations for Salesforce and Dynamics 365, plus API connections to SAP, Oracle, and more. It’s the preferred route for manufacturers and distributors managing high-volume quotes.

Pricing

• Pricing is not publicly listed; Conga uses a quote-only model
• Smart CPQ is available in Essentials and Advantage editions with defined capability tiers
• Add-ons include additional named users, API visits, and extra sandbox environments

Considerations

• Teams not running Salesforce will find Advantage CPQ offers limited value, since its architecture is tightly coupled to the Salesforce data model.
• Pricing is only available through sales, which can extend procurement timelines and make budget benchmarking harder upfront.

6. SAP CPQ

SAP CPQ links front-end quoting directly to back-end ERP data, giving manufacturing and distribution teams quotes that reflect real inventory, costs, and lead times. Its variant configuration engine supports complex product structures with hundreds of configurable options, which makes it a natural fit for companies selling highly customizable physical products. If your organization already runs SAP ERP or S/4HANA, this is the CPQ solution built around that environment.

Use case: Enterprise manufacturing and distribution teams that need quoting tightly aligned with ERP data to ensure reps only promise delivery dates and product availability that the back office can fulfill

Key features

• ERP-connected pricing: SAP CPQ pulls real-time cost, inventory, and lead time data from SAP ERP to ensure every quote reflects actual fulfillment capacity.
• Variant configuration: The system handles complex product structures with hundreds of configurable options that affect both pricing and manufacturing bill of materials.
• Guided selling: Question-based workflows help reps configure complex products accurately, without needing to know every technical specification.

Pricing

• Standard edition: pricing is published per user/month with a 50-user minimum (regional currency rates apply — for example, EUR 85/user/month in the Netherlands, CAD 136/user/month in Canada)
• Add-ons: extra storage (e.g., USD 1.97/GB/month), additional test tenant (e.g., USD 3,243/month), external subscription for non-employee users (e.g., USD 25/user/month)
• Commerce access add-on: orders-based pricing (e.g., USD 11,805/month per 50,000 orders); requires SAP Commerce Cloud
• Contract durations range from 1–5 years; volume discounts are handled via direct quote

Considerations

• The 50-user minimum for the standard edition makes SAP CPQ a poor fit for smaller sales teams or organizations that don’t need enterprise-scale licensing.
• Organizations not running SAP ERP or S/4HANA will find limited value in the platform’s core integration layer, which is where most of its differentiation lives.

7. Infor CPQ

Infor CPQ turns complex product configuration into a visual, low-error sales process designed specifically for manufacturers. It targets engineer-to-order, make-to-order, and assemble-to-order businesses that need more than standard quoting software — they need a direct link between the sales quote and the shop floor.

Use case: Manufacturers and distributors selling configurable products that want to automate the path from visual sales configuration to production-ready BOMs, routings, and order data

Key features

• 3D visual configuration: Sales reps and customers get a real-time visual of the configured product as options are chosen, reducing errors and helping buyers decide faster.
• Manufacturing BOM generation: Configurations automatically create bills of materials, routings, and SKUs — pushing quote data straight into manufacturing without manual re-entry.
• Core system integrations: Prebuilt connectors to SolidWorks, Autodesk, Creo, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle, and Infor’s own ERP suite reduce integration complexity across the sales-to-production workflow.

Pricing

• Quote-only: Infor doesn’t publish pricing.
• Additional commercial arrangements apply for professional services, managed services (Infor CareFor), support plans, and training through Infor U.

Considerations

• Unlocking the full power of Infor CPQ, especially for deep integration with other Infor products, often means provisioning it within a common Infor OS tenant. This can add platform dependency and onboarding complexity for organizations not already in the Infor ecosystem.
• Building and maintaining configuration rules, pricing models, and product structures demands specialized admin knowledge, which typically translates into ongoing services investment.

8. QuoteWerks

For more than 30 years, QuoteWerks has focused on one job: getting accurate quotes out the door faster. It is built for IT resellers, MSPs, and VARs, with direct connections to distributor pricing feeds from vendors like Ingram Micro and Tech Data so reps can pull real-time pricing without leaving the platform. Add 115+ integrations and a concurrent-user licensing model, and it slips into existing stacks without demanding a full workflow reset.

Use case: IT resellers and MSPs that need real-time distributor pricing, integrated procurement, and quote delivery in one workflow — without taking on enterprise-level complexity

Key features

• Real-time distributor pricing: Pull live pricing and availability from IT distributors directly into quotes, cutting manual lookups and reducing pricing mistakes.
• Quote delivery and e-signature via QuoteValet: Send interactive quotes, track when buyers view them, collect e-signatures, and accept payments through 80+ gateways — all inside the platform.
• Approval workflows: Create rule-based approvals triggered by margin thresholds, discount levels, or deal size, with multi-level escalation to keep deals moving while limiting revenue leakage.

Pricing

• Essential: $50/month per concurrent user — includes core quoting, configurator, CRM/PSA integrations, approvals, and AI-assisted scripting.
• Balanced: $78/month per concurrent user — adds QuoteValet for online acceptance, e-signature, credit card/ACH payments, and SMS notifications.
• Pinnacle: $102/month per concurrent user — adds automated U.S. sales tax, IT/MSP distributor content, Amazon Business integration, and procurement tracking.
• Annual billing includes one month free.
• Optional add-ons include QuickBooks Online integration ($20/month per site) and VendorRFQ ($20/month per user).

Considerations

• Advanced procurement features and IT distributor content are only available on the Pinnacle tier, so teams that need those capabilities will pay more than the entry price suggests.
• Full online ordering and order tracking for some distributors (such as Ingram Micro) are primarily available in the U.S. and Canada, which limits utility for teams operating in other regions.

9. Cincom CPQ

Cincom CPQ is made for manufacturers dealing with deeply complex engineer-to-order and configure-to-order products. It ties sales configuration directly to manufacturing execution, making sure what gets quoted is something the business can actually build.

Use case: Manufacturers selling highly complex, variant-heavy products — including industrial equipment, specialty vehicles, and medical devices — where a single quote may involve hundreds of interdependent configuration rules

Key features

• Constraint-based configuration engine: Applies thousands of product rules and dependencies in real time, stopping invalid configurations before they ever reach manufacturing.
• Automatic BOM and routing generation: Converts sales configurations straight into manufacturing bills of materials and routing instructions, narrowing the gap between what sales quotes and what production delivers.
• ERP and CRM integration: Connects to systems like SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Salesforce to pull live cost data and push order details for fulfillment.

Pricing

• All plans: Quote-based only
• Pricing is scoped through a demo and discovery process with the Cincom team

Considerations

• Cincom requires significant implementation investment and dedicated CPQ administrators — teams without internal technical resources should factor in services costs and onboarding timelines.
• The platform’s depth is purpose-built for complex manufacturing; organizations with simpler, non-manufacturing product catalogs may find the feature set exceeds what they actually need.

10. PandaDoc

PandaDoc turns quote-to-signature into a single document-first workflow. Designed for SMBs and growth-stage teams, it combines guided CPQ, e-signature, and payment collection in one platform, with deep 2-way CRM integrations that keep data accurate without manual re-entry. If your sales motion revolves more around sending polished proposals than configuring highly complex products, PandaDoc deserves a close look.

Use case: SMB and mid-market sales teams that need fast, polished proposals with built-in approvals, e-signature, and payment collection — all connected directly to their CRM

Key features

• Embedded CPQ with guided selling: A rules-based engine in both visual and code modes lets teams configure pricing logic, approval routing, and discount thresholds without heavy technical setup.
• Document analytics: See when buyers open proposals, how long they spend on each section, and whether they have shared the document, so reps can follow up at the right moment.
• Unified quote-to-payment workflow: Buyers can review, sign, and pay within a single document, with Stripe, PayPal, and ACH support and amounts auto-filled from the pricing table.

Pricing

• Free: $0/month
• Starter: $19/user/month (annual billing)
• Business: $49/user/month (annual billing)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing (contact sales)
• Annual billing saves up to 46% compared to monthly plans.
• CPQ is an optional paid add-on available on Enterprise plans; pricing is quote-only.
• Some CRM integrations, API access, and automation tiers are also available as optional add-ons.

Considerations

• Full CPQ functionality requires an Enterprise plan plus a paid add-on, which means smaller teams on Starter or Business plans won’t have access to advanced configuration features.
• PandaDoc’s own documentation notes it is “not a CPQ company in the full sense of the word” — teams with complex, engineering-grade product configurations may find the rules engine too limited for their needs.

How CPQ software works from configure to close

For many teams, quoting still feels like a messy relay race made up of spreadsheets, handoffs, and approval chases. CPQ software replaces that scramble with a connected sequence, so reps can move from request to signed quote without all the manual effort in between.

Everything happens in one system, from the first product selection to the final signature. Here’s what that looks like:

1. Configure the deal: Reps choose products while the system blocks invalid combinations automatically and recommends relevant upsells. Guesswork disappears, and version-control problems go with it.
2. Set the price: Pre-set rules apply the correct pricing and discounts instantly. If a discount requires approval, the request is routed to the right person automatically.
3. Send the quote: A professional proposal is generated and sent for e-signature. Once it is signed, the deal updates automatically and the information flows to finance and fulfillment.

This is not just a speed play. It is a way to make every quote more accurate, with far less back-and-forth. Many revenue teams use monday CRM to connect sales, legal, and finance on one platform, giving everyone a single source of truth. The outcome is a clean, consistent record for every deal — and a much stronger foundation for forecasting.

7 features to look for in CPQ platforms

Pick the wrong CPQ, and you end up with shelfware fast. Either you overpay for complexity your team never uses, or you run into limitations the moment your deals become even slightly nuanced. These are the features that separate a platform people rely on from one they quietly avoid.

1. Product configuration and guided selling

This is the foundation. Quotes either stay accurate here, or they break here. A strong configuration engine steers reps toward the right solution and prevents invalid combinations before they happen. The best systems guide reps through the right choices and stop errors in real time — invalid quotes should never reach the buyer in the first place. Test it against your most complicated bundles before you commit.

2.Pricing and discount controls

Margins leak away through one unchecked discount after another. Pricing rules bake your strategy directly into the platform, applying the right tiers automatically and protecting your margins. Discount governance determines who can approve what — cross a threshold, and the quote routes to the right approver without manual intervention. The platform should enforce limits by rep, trigger approvals automatically, and give reps real-time margin visibility so they make better discounting decisions.

3. Quote and proposal generation

A quote is often the final thing a buyer sees before deciding. Strong quote generation produces polished, branded documents that reflect the quality of your business. The ability to present tiered pricing options in one document helps buyers choose faster, and native e-signature keeps momentum intact by removing the download-sign-upload detour. Your team should be able to update quote layouts without depending on IT.

4. Approval workflows

Not every deal follows the standard path. Strong approval workflows automatically route pricing exceptions, custom terms, and high-risk discounts to the right stakeholders without slowing down the sales process.

Look for platforms that can:

• Route approvals based on discount thresholds
• Support multi-level approval chains
• Maintain a complete audit trail
• Escalate stalled approvals automatically

The approval process should reflect your organization’s structure and business rules, not force teams into rigid workflows.

5. CRM and ERP integrations

A CPQ delivers its full value when it communicates seamlessly with your other systems. Without deep integration, the manual work it was supposed to eliminate simply returns in another form. Quote data should update the opportunity automatically, keeping forecast and deal values accurate without extra work.

When a deal closes, order details should flow straight to your ERP for fulfillment and billing — no re-entry, no version mismatches. The tighter the connection between CPQ, CRM, and ERP, the less friction your team faces and the faster revenue moves through your business.

6. AI-powered recommendations and automation

Traditional CPQ platforms rely on static rules. Modern platforms use AI to help reps build better quotes faster by recommending products, bundles, and pricing based on historical deal data.

Look for platforms that can suggest upsell and cross-sell opportunities, recommend optimal pricing or discount ranges, surface similar closed-won deals, and identify quote risks before they slow down approvals. The goal isn’t to replace sales judgment — it’s to help reps make better decisions without digging through past opportunities.

7.Reporting and revenue analytics

Every quote contains valuable sales data. The right CPQ platform helps you understand not only what sold, but why deals moved forward, stalled, or were lost. A strong reporting engine should help you answer questions such as:

Many modern CPQ platforms now use AI to identify these patterns automatically, helping teams uncover trends that would be difficult to spot manually.

6 benefits of CPQ solutions for revenue teams

CPQ does more than speed up quoting. It removes the uncertainty that drags down deals and erodes margins. When your team knows exactly what to offer and at what price, every time, revenue becomes far more predictable.

1. Achieve faster quote turnaround

In many deals, the first quote to arrive has the advantage. Speed tells buyers you are organized and responsive; delays suggest the opposite.

• Manual delays: Reps dig through spreadsheets for pricing, chase approvals in email, and wrestle with formatting.
• Automated speed: CPQ compresses that multi-day process into minutes by automating the workflow end to end.

2. Improve quote accuracy and reduce rework

A pricing mistake costs more than revenue. It damages buyer trust and creates downstream cleanup work for finance. The usual causes are familiar: expired promotions, incorrect bundles, or discounts that never should have gone through.

• Built-in guardrails: A CPQ rules engine serves as a built-in pricing safeguard, automatically applying correct pricing, blocking incompatible products, and flagging discounts that need approval.
• Focus on growth: That frees finance from playing quote police and lets the team spend more time on work that actually drives the business forward.

3. Enforce stronger margin protection

Leaving margin protection to individual rep judgment rarely ends well. Some reps discount to move faster, others hold firm, and buyers quickly figure out where the best concessions come from. Over time, that inconsistency chips away at profitability.

• Automated governance: CPQ removes the ambiguity. You define the discount rules and margin floors, and the system enforces them.
• Controlled approvals: If someone goes beyond the limit, approval workflows kick in automatically, giving leadership clear control over pricing strategy.

4. Close larger and more predictable deals

Expecting reps to memorize every upsell and cross-sell opportunity is unrealistic. Guided selling inside a CPQ surfaces those opportunities at the right moment, based on what similar customers have already bought.

• Smart recommendations: The platform handles the pattern recognition, allowing reps to focus on value instead of remembering product combinations.
• Consistent revenue: Bigger deals become easier to achieve, and because every quote follows the same logic, revenue becomes more predictable as well.

5. Drive cross-functional alignment

After the deal closes, confusion sets in fast if teams are working from emails and scattered PDFs. What exactly was promised? What are the final terms? Tracking down those answers wastes time and creates friction across departments.

• Single source of truth: CPQ becomes the shared record for each deal, so sales, finance, legal, and ops all see the same information.
• Seamless handoffs: Many teams use monday CRM to keep everyone aligned on one deal record, complete with a timeline of every interaction in one place.

6. Deliver a more confident buyer experience

Your sales process tells buyers what working with you will feel like. A slow, messy quote introduces doubt. A polished, fast one does the opposite.

• Smooth delivery: CPQ helps teams deliver that experience by sending accurate quotes quickly, presenting them cleanly, and enabling electronic signature.
• Competitive edge: When products and prices are similar, a superior buying experience often decides the winner.

Ultimately, these benefits turn quoting from an administrative chore into a meaningful competitive advantage.

Turn your quoting process into a competitive advantage

Slow, error-prone quotes drain momentum and put deals at risk. A structured CPQ process removes the manual guesswork, allowing your sales team to deliver accurate, polished proposals in minutes while protecting margins and shortening sales cycles. The right platform closes the gap between your CRM and finance systems, creating one reliable source of truth for every transaction.

Many revenue teams use monday CRM to manage that full lifecycle, keeping sales, legal, and finance aligned around the same record. Review where your quoting process slows down, define the features you cannot compromise on, and give your team the infrastructure it needs to close with confidence.