Invitation to Offer

In one sentence

A request or display that invites others to make an offer, not an offer itself.

Plain English

An invitation to offer is when someone signals they're open to receiving offers without making a binding offer themselves. It's a step before the actual offer. Store shelves with price tags, auction catalogs, and job postings are all invitations to offer. The person making the invitation to offer isn't committing to anything yet; they're just saying "we're interested in hearing what you propose." Once someone responds with an actual offer, then the original party can choose to accept or reject it.

Ad slot

Example

A company posts a job listing for a marketing manager position. This is an invitation to offer—the company is inviting applicants to submit their candidacy. When someone applies, they're making an offer of their services, which the company can accept by extending a job offer.

Used in a sentence

“The catalog was an invitation to offer, so the store could refuse to sell items at the listed prices.”

Related terms

Contract

A legally binding agreement between two or more parties to do or not do something.

Offeree

The person who receives an offer and has the power to accept or reject it.

Offer to Treat

A preliminary invitation to negotiate, not a binding offer to enter into a contract.

Acceptance Upon Performance

Accepting a contract by actually doing what was requested rather than saying yes.

Offer

A proposal to enter into a binding agreement on specific terms.

Acceptance

Agreeing to the exact terms of an offer, creating a binding contract.

Consideration

Something of value exchanged by each party to make a contract binding.

Offeror

The person who makes an offer to enter into a contract.

This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.