About this Event
Missed details, scope creep, unpaid extras, and client disputes often start with the same problem: there isn’t a clear process for moving a job from the first conversation to final payment.
This hands-on workshop will help you build a simple process for managing your work from start to finish—so you know what needs to happen, your clients know what to expect, and you can stay in control of the job.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have:
- A simple process you can use to take a job from first contact to final payment
- A clear approach to handling changes and extra work
- Practical ways to keep track of details and keep clients informed
- A better system for staying organized and reducing the stress that comes with running a job
What you’ll learn
We’ll walk through a typical trades-based job from start to finish:
Lead → Discovery → Estimate → Agreement → Job → Invoice → Follow-up
Along the way, you’ll learn:
- How to keep track of new leads and potential jobs
- How to ask the right questions before you start the work
- How to turn what you’ve discussed with a client into a clear estimate and agreement
- Why putting things in writing can protect both you and your client
- How to handle changes and extra work before they become a problem
- How good communication can prevent misunderstandings and rework
- Why following up after a job can lead to repeat work and referrals
The goal isn’t to tell you how to run your business. It’s to give you a simple process that helps you stay organized, protect your time, and keep your clients happy.
Who should attend
This workshop is for people in the skilled trades at any stage, including:
- Apprentices and journeypersons thinking about working for themselves
- Tradespeople preparing to take on independent jobs
- New contractors who want a better system for managing their work
- Experienced contractors dealing with scope creep, unpaid extras, or client confusion
- Anyone who wants to feel more organized and in control of their jobs
No business background required.
Part of Scaffold for Success
Business Process is part of Scaffold for Success, a six-part workshop series through Conestoga College’s Venture Lab for Skilled Trades.
The series covers practical business skills that can help you get more work, work with better clients, and build a stronger business. You don’t need a business background to take part.
Attend one workshop or take part in the full series. There’s no requirement to attend all six.
Event venue & nearby stays
Catalyst Commons, 137 Glasgow Street, Kitchener, Canada
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