The specific challenges of the trade in Quebec
Renovation is the trade of the unknown:
- Hidden conditions — rot, knob-and-tube, asbestos: discovered after the price was signed
- Scope creep — "while you're here" requests that never get billed
- Consumer protection — Quebec rules on deposits and contract content
- Client communication — homeowners want daily visibility
- Estimate vs actual — without live tracking, margin erodes silently
The winning pattern: a credible initial bid, then fast signed change orders for every surprise — SubmitX is built around exactly that loop.
What a professional bid must contain
Based on industry best practices and what Quebec clients and general contractors expect:
| Element | Residential | Commercial / Institutional |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed scope by room | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| RBQ licence number | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Deposit and payment terms | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Allowances clearly stated | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Exclusions list | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Change order process | Recommended | Mandatory |
How SubmitX works for your trade
AI evaluation from photos
Describe the project, add photos — the AI structures a credible scope and estimate fast.
Deposit collected at signature
Electronic signature and online deposit payment lock the contract in one sitting.
Surprises become signed extras
Each hidden condition becomes a photographed, priced, signed change order — billed, not absorbed.
Estimate vs actual, live
Room-by-room comparison shows margin drift while you can still act on it.
💡 Real case: renovation contractors report that simply signing every extra instead of absorbing "small ones" adds several points of net margin over a season.
SubmitX vs Excel vs generic software
| Criterion | Excel / paper | Generic software | SubmitX ERP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial estimate | Gut feel | Templates | AI + photos |
| Change orders | Verbal | Paper | Signed electronic |
| Deposit collection | Cheque later | Manual | Online at signature |
| Estimate vs actual | Year-end surprise | No | Live, per room |
| Client portal | No | No | Photos & progress |
| Payment reminders | Manual | No | Automatic |
Pricing and return on investment
SubmitX starts at $99/month CAD. Billing just one previously-absorbed extra per month — typically $500 to $2,000 — pays for the software many times over.
Deposits collected at signature also transform cash flow: no more financing the first weeks of every project yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What must a renovation bid include in Quebec?
Detailed scope, RBQ licence number, deposit and payment terms, allowances, exclusions and a change-order process. SubmitX generates all of it, ready to sign electronically.
How do I handle surprises behind walls?
Turn each one into a photographed, priced change order signed by the client before the work — SubmitX makes that a 5-minute loop.
Are deposits regulated in Quebec?
Consumer-protection rules apply to residential contracts; keep deposits reasonable and documented. SubmitX tracks deposit and balance milestones cleanly.
Try SubmitX free for 7 days
Create your first bid in under 20 minutes — no credit card required.
Start the free trial