If you’ve ever lost a day because a client “thought paint was included,” or chased a balance for weeks, you know this: most job pain comes from fuzzy scope, missing approvals, and slow billing. Here’s a field-proven fix you can run from your phone — the One‑Page Job Plan. It’s simple, fast, and if you pair it with AI and a clean workflow, you’ll keep jobs on budget and money in the bank.

No fluff here. This is built for solo pros and small crews — plumbers, sparkies, tilers, painters, handymen — working in France with real VAT rules: 10% renovation, 5.5% energy upgrades, 20% new build.

Why jobs slip (and margins with them)

• Verbal changes become “free extras”
• Materials forgotten or ordered late
• Payment schedule unclear or not enforced
• Mixed VAT rates handled wrong on invoices
• Messages scattered across SMS, WhatsApp, email

The One‑Page Job Plan (what it covers)

One page everyone understands: you, the client, and if needed, a mate on site. It includes:

• Scope (what’s in, what’s out)
• Materials and lead times
• Milestones with target dates
• Payment schedule linked to milestones
• VAT per line (10%, 5.5%, 20%) if mixed
• Change log and approval method
• Site notes and photos link

Print it, or better, keep it digital so it updates with one tap.

20‑minute setup checklist

1. Scope in bullets

• Rooms, fixtures, finishes
• What’s excluded (e.g., patching beyond 2 m²)

2. Materials

• Who supplies what, brand/colour, delivery window

3. Milestones

• Start, rough‑in, pre‑paint, install, snag list, handover

4. Payments

• Deposit on acceptance, progress after milestone, balance at handover

5. VAT per line

• Labour and each material line at the correct rate

6. Changes

• How you’ll capture variations, price, and approval

7. Communication

• Where messages and photos live

A ready‑to‑use One‑Page Job Plan template

Copy/paste this and adapt per job.

Job: Bathroom refresh – Apt 3B
Client: M. Durand | Phone: 06 xx xx xx xx
Address: 12 Rue des Tilleuls, 44000
Start target: 16/09 | Handover: 30/09

Scope (IN):
- Replace vanity + mixer tap
- Retile shower (6 m²)
- Repaint ceiling (12 m²)

Scope (OUT):
- New lighting circuit
- Moving drain lines

Materials:
- Tiles 60x60 (Client supplies, delivery 12/09)
- Vanity 80 cm (Pro supplies, 3–5 days)

Milestones:
- M1: Demo + prep (16–17/09)
- M2: Tiling + grout (18–23/09)
- M3: Vanity install + silicone (24–25/09)
- M4: Paint + snag fixes (26–29/09)
- M5: Handover (30/09)

Payments (EUR):
- Deposit (on acceptance): 30% of labour+materials
- Progress (after M2): 50%
- Balance (handover): 20%

Pricing + VAT:
- Labour (renovation) – 1 400 € HT – VAT 10%
- Vanity (supplied by pro) – 350 € HT – VAT 10%
- Silicone & sundries – 50 € HT – VAT 10%
- Optional: Thermostatic valve (energy efficiency) – 180 € HT – VAT 5.5%
- New lighting (if added, new work) – 250 € HT – VAT 20%

Change process:
- Any extra = written note + price + client OK
- No work starts without approval

Comms:
- All messages + photos stored in job thread

Tip: Mixed VAT is normal. Keep each line with its correct rate so invoices are clean and compliant.

Field scripts you can use today

Client confirmation message (after site visit):

Thanks again for today. I’m sending a one‑page plan with scope, dates, and payments. Please check the “IN/OUT” and reply “APPROVED” to lock it. Any extras will be priced and confirmed before work.

Change order message (keep it friendly, but clear):

New item: extra coat for ceiling due to stains.
Price: 120 € HT (VAT 10%).
Impact: +0.5 day, fits this week.
Reply “OK” to add. I’ll update the plan and invoice.

Overdue reminder (polite, firm):

Hi, the progress invoice after milestone M2 is pending (Due: 22/09). Please pay today so we can keep the handover date. Link inside your invoice. Thanks!

Where AI makes this fly

• Voice to scope: Talk through rooms and tasks; AI turns it into bullets
• Auto‑summaries: AI formats client decisions after calls
• Smart follow‑ups: Reminders go out at the right time

At this point, you could stitch five apps… or keep it simple with one tool built for French trades.

Use Donizo to run the plan in practice

• Create quotes by voice with AI and turn them into a clean one‑page plan
• Send professional proposals with the correct VAT per line (10%, 5.5%, 20%)
• Capture client approvals and changes in the same thread
• Generate invoices and deposits in one tap, with due dates

Try it on your next job: build the plan, send, get “APPROVED,” and start.

30‑minute weekly review that keeps jobs on track

Do this every Friday afternoon. Phone in hand, plan open.

1. Dates

• Green = OK, Amber = risk, Red = late
• If Amber/Red, call the client and reset expectations today

2. Materials

• Anything not on site 48h before use? Order now

3. Money

• Deposit in? If not, don’t start
• Trigger progress invoice right after milestone, not “end of month”

4. Changes

• List all extras discussed; price them
• Send change notes; no work without a yes

5. Photos & notes

• Snap current state; add 3 bullets of what’s next

Quick math to protect cash

• If job is 2 000 € HT and you take 30% deposit, that’s 600 € HT upfront
• After milestone 2 at 50% total, you invoice 1 000 € HT (minus deposit accounted for)
• Balance 20% at handover = 400 € HT
• VAT example (mixed): keep each line at its rate; your software totals automatically

Real‑world examples

• Plumber: Missed a balance because the client “didn’t see” the final invoice. Now, progress bills are tied to milestones with dates. Cash gap closed.
• Painter: Kept doing “little extras.” Now, every extra is a priced note. Margin went from 22% to 30% on small jobs.
• Electrician: Mixed VAT mess. Now, each line has its rate, invoices are clean, and no more back‑and‑forth.

Add Donizo when you want zero admin headaches

• Quote by voice, auto‑format scope and VAT lines
• One tap to convert quote → proposal → invoice → payment tracking
• Centralize messages, notes, and client approvals per job

You work faster, clients get clarity, and you stop funding jobs with your own cash.

Put it all together in 3 steps

1. Build your first One‑Page Plan (use the template above)
2. Send it, get “APPROVED,” take a deposit
3. Review every Friday; invoice right after milestones

Ready to make this your new habit? It takes one job to feel the difference.

Start your next job in Donizo

Create the plan by voice, send a clean proposal with correct VAT, and get paid on time — without juggling five apps.