Before you network: three questions to aim right
Networking takes time. Three questions keep you from spreading yourself thin.
- Who are you looking for? Clients, subcontractors, suppliers and project partners are not found in the same places.
- What area do you work in? A local crew and a crew that covers a large part of Quebec do not have the same needs.
- What do you have to offer? Reliable timelines, a rare trade, availability: a contact remembers one specific reason to call you back.
Eight practical ways to build your network
Referrals from your clients
After every completed project, ask a satisfied client whether they agree to be contacted by a future client. Action: add this question to your end-of-job checklist.
Industry associations
Construction associations offer training, events and member directories. The APCHQ, for example, states on its website that it has 13 regional associations. Action: attend an activity of the association in your region and introduce yourself to three people.
Trade shows and training
A trade show brings suppliers and peers together in a single day. Action: choose one event a year and prepare two questions to ask exhibitors. Organizers, for their part, plan their calendar around the construction holiday.
Your suppliers
A sales rep or a supply counter sees many job sites in the region. Action: tell your main supplier what kind of work you are looking for and ask who they could introduce you to.
Public calls for tenders
Notices from government departments, public bodies, health and education institutions and municipalities are published on SEAO (Quebec's electronic tendering system), where companies view the documents and bid online. Action: find the three most recent notices in your trade and note who publishes them (SEAO guide).
Online networks
Professional groups and business pages let you show completed jobs and answer questions. Action: post one completed job a month, in three lines: the problem, the solution, the result.
Structured word of mouth
Do not leave it to memory. Action: keep a list of the people who recommended you and send them a thank-you note at the end of the project.
Directories
A directory makes you findable by someone who does not know you yet. Official registries also help you check others: the RBQ Licence Holder Registry can be searched by name or licence number, and the Quebec Enterprise Register is free to consult. Action: make sure your contact details are up to date everywhere you appear (list of directories).
Which approach to choose for your situation
| Your situation | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You are starting out and have few contacts | Client referrals and associations | These are trust-based relationships that are simple to start. |
| You are short on subcontractors | Suppliers and directories | They know the crews working in your area. |
| You are targeting public contracts | SEAO | Notices can be viewed online and documents downloaded. |
| You have very little time | Follow-up after each job | A follow-up after each project takes only a few minutes. |
A simple follow-up so you never lose a contact
A contact without follow-up fades away. A very simple record is enough: name, company, where the contact came from, next action and date. An ERP like SubmitX then links the contact to the quote you sent and to the project, instead of keeping them in three separate files.
- Record the contact the same day.
- Send a short message that reminds them where you met.
- Suggest a specific action: a coffee, a site visit, a ten-minute call.
- Follow up on the planned date, even if you have not heard back.
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Check before you partner: three quick checks
A solid network relies on reliable partners. Before a first collaboration, three official checks are enough to avoid bad surprises.
- The RBQ licence. In the Licence Holder Registry (see our registry guide), search by name or by number. Check that the licence is valid and that it has no restriction preventing the company from bidding on or entering into a public contract.
- Registration. The Quebec Enterprise Register, which is free, shows the Quebec enterprise number, the registration status, the names used and the addresses.
- GCR accreditation for new residential construction. The GCR directory shows the accreditation status, the non-compliances found during inspections and the claims on the company's file.
Mistakes that cost you contacts
- Handing out business cards without ever following up.
- Talking only about yourself: ask questions about their projects.
- Relying on a single channel: if your only source of contacts dries up, your network dries up with it.
- Waiting for an urgent need to call someone you have not seen in a year.
💡 A reliable network rests on simple checks: a valid licence in the registry, a reference you reached and a promise kept are worth more than a large number of contacts.
Where SubmitX Network fits in your network
SubmitX Network is a construction network for Quebec: a directory of profiles searchable by region, trade and radius, with no SubmitX account needed. It is on a waiting list and will open region by region, once there are enough profiles for a first search to return results.
For a construction company, the profile helps it get found by contractors and homeowners. Signing up and the profile are free. While you wait, you can sign up and prepare your listing. Your RBQ licence number is compared with the public registry: if it exists, it is marked "found in the registry". The "verified" label only appears if the sign-up email is the company's email in the registry, or an address on its domain.
Referrals are also a networking tool: you get a link to share, which counts when the person you referred confirms their email. The details are in what SubmitX Network is.
Frequently asked questions
How do you network in construction when you have little time?
Start with what is short and repeatable: ask for a referral after every project and follow up with your contacts on a set date. Add one association activity or one trade show a year, chosen for the person you want to meet. A small regular habit beats a big one-off effort.
Are construction associations worth the membership fee?
It depends on what you are looking for. Associations offer training, events and member directories. Compare these services with your needs before joining, ask a member in your region what they actually use, and attend an open activity before committing.
How do I check a company before partnering with it?
Look up its licence in the RBQ Licence Holder Registry, by name or by number, and check that it is valid. The Quebec Enterprise Register, which is free, shows the registration status. For new residential construction, add the GCR directory. These checks do not replace client references. Confirm with the RBQ.
Does SubmitX Network replace in-person networking?
No. It adds to the other ways of getting known: it is a directory searchable by region, trade and radius, on a waiting list for now. No region is promised before there are enough profiles. Signing up is free and does not require a SubmitX account. Meetings, referrals and associations keep their full place.
Official sources
Consulted on October 21, 2026. Rules can change: confirm with the relevant body before acting.
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