Renovation contractors: quotes, crews and jobs

In short

Pending quotes sit in their own room with their age: the ones going stale stand out.
Crews, the dumpster and the scaffolding are booked as resources, never twice.
Your RBQ subclasses and warranties appear on your hosted website.
Specialized subs (electrical, plumbing) show up in the same calendar.

Why are quotes the bottleneck in a renovation business?

The Office de la protection du consommateur advises homeowners to hand their plan to 3 different contractors and ask each for a written estimate ^[1]. Every project you price is competing with at least two others, and the first clear, detailed quote has the edge.

Yet a kitchen or basement quote needs a site visit, measurements, supplier prices and often a sub's input. From January to April, when everyone plans summer work, visits pile up and quotes fall behind. In July, it's the job sites that overflow and new requests that wait.

What licence do you need to do renovations in Quebec?

An RBQ contractor's licence, in the subclasses that match the work you actually perform.

The OPC tells consumers to check the contractor holds an RBQ licence, which shows the RBQ has verified professional qualifications and solvency and, in some cases, that a security deposit was provided ^[1]. The RBQ publishes the list of specialized contractor subclasses ^[2], and its FAQ (in French) confirms that a contractor doing only renovation still needs a licence; for interior or exterior painting, for instance, subclass 9, finishing work, is required ^[3].

RBQ subclasses often involved in a residential renovation [2]
Subclass	Title	Example in a project
4.2	Non-structural masonry, marble and ceramics	Bathroom tile
6.2	Wood and plastic work	Interior carpentry
7.0	Insulation, waterproofing, roofing and siding	Insulation, exterior siding
8.0	Doors and windows	Window replacement
9.0	Interior finishing	Drywall, paint, flooring
12.0	Manufactured cabinets and counter tops	New kitchen cabinets

Plumbing (15.5) and electrical (16.0) are done by subs who are CMMTQ or CMEQ members. The full list and exact definitions are published by the RBQ.

What do customers expect from you on paper?

The OPC tells customers to insist on an estimate showing the total price with a breakdown of each item, and to check the contractor's civil liability insurance ^[1]. It also notes that a contractor who solicits customers away from their place of business can be considered an itinerant merchant, who must hold an OPC permit and provide a written contract ^[1].

Those expectations become fixed headings in the drafts Pilotiko's quotes agent prepares: itemized work, materials, labour, subcontracting, schedule and payment steps. You keep control of the price and the tone.

How does Pilotiko coordinate crews, subs and equipment?

The virtual office brings together Dispatch, Quotes, Workshop, Warehouse and Vans. An accepted quote becomes scheduled work; a two-week-old quote with no answer stands out in its room.

Shared resources such as the dumpster, scaffolding or trailer are booked with the job. If the scaffolding is up in Boucherville until Friday, it won't be promised in Brossard on Wednesday. Scheduling prevents conflicts for people and equipment alike.

Assignment suggests the carpenter or drywaller by skills, free hours and workload after the task. When an electrical or plumbing sub comes in, the visit shows in the same calendar.

Example: how many projects can a crew of 4 run at once?

Which objections slow down the signature?

"Your price is higher." A line-by-line quote lets the customer compare like with like, as the OPC recommends ^[1].
"When can you start?" With weekly workload visible, you give a realistic date instead of "soon".
"What if you close before the end?" Your RBQ licence and any security deposit are concrete answers ^[1].

What's planned but not delivered yet?

Which trades do you meet on your sites?

Depending on the project, see painting and roofing. Your hosted website can showcase finished projects, your RBQ subclasses and a quote request form.

To compare tools, read how to choose management software and what makes a well-built quote.

Frequently asked questions

Does a contractor who only does renovations need an RBQ licence?

Yes. The RBQ's FAQ states that renovation work requires a licence in the subclass that matches the work. For interior or exterior painting, for example, that's subclass 9.

How many quotes should a homeowner ask for?

The OPC suggests giving the project plan to 3 contractors. For you, that means speed and clarity of the quote matter as much as price.

Can Pilotiko book a dumpster or scaffolding?

Yes, as a resource attached to a job. A resource booked for a period isn't offered elsewhere during that time.

Do my subcontractors need a Pilotiko account?

Not necessarily. You can enter their visits in the project calendar. If they work with you often, inviting them gives them their own timeline.

Does Pilotiko follow up on unanswered quotes automatically?

Not yet: automatic email sending is planned for later. Today, pending quotes stand out in the virtual office so your team can follow up.

Sources

Office de la protection du consommateur, Before hiring a renovation contractor (accessed on October 15, 2026).
Régie du bâtiment du Québec, Specialized contractor's licence subclasses (accessed on October 15, 2026).
Régie du bâtiment du Québec, Foire aux questions : licence (accessed on October 15, 2026).

Pilotiko for renovation contractors