• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Forum
  • Design Studio
  • Upholstery Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsors

The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

The Importance of Pre-Build Contracts

August 11, 2012 By Nadeem Muaddi 5 Comments

Hotrod & Restoration Magazine recently published a great article about the importance of signing pre-build contracts – which stipulate the details, time frame and price of a job before any work takes place

To illustrate the benefits, the author asked shops across the U.S. what their experiences using these contracts have been like. While the piece focuses mainly on performance shops, it’s easy to see how auto upholstery shops can also benefit from implementing such measures.

Here’s a snippet from the article:

Having customers sign a contract prior to starting a job will establish a positive working relationship with both sides knowing exactly what to expect. Pre-build contracts describe the details of any build, define your customer’s vision, outline exactly what will be done, how much it will cost and when the finished product will be delivered. If you’re not already convinced that a pre-build contract is necessary for your hot rod, street rod, muscle car or restored classics business, all it will take is one customer who swears he told you he wanted this when you gave him that. […]

There will always be those customers who are never 100-percent happy, but pre-build contracts reduce the chances of a disappointed customer and are well worth the effort. [more]

Pre-build contracts don’t need to be complex. In our shop, the bill of sale doubles as a pre-build contract. In fact, we purposely left space on the bill of sale to detail and itemize work that needs to be done. Like any contract, we require a customer’s signature on the form before work begins.

We want to hear from you: Does your shop require customers to sign pre-build contracts? If so, how complex of a contract is it?  And is there ever a situation where you don’t require one at all?

Filed Under: Archive, Better Business Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Car Interior, Hotrod & Restoration Magazine

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 8-track says

    August 11, 2012 at 6:16 pm

    The customer should always sign a work order, weather a $50.00 or $10,000.00 job. It will come back to haunt you if you dont get a signature.

    Reply
  2. EDWARD MUNDAY says

    August 11, 2012 at 7:16 pm

    RETIRED… PERFORMANCE SHOP OR PA AND SON SHOP THE LARGE CONTRACTS WILL COME SOONE OR LATER. ONE ,OST DONT THINK OF IS WITH A LARGE TRUCKING COMPANY. SMALL SHOPS CAN MAKE THESE COVER AT A FRACTION OF THE COST MOST OF THE TIME ITS ONE PATTERN FOR THE SEATS AND MOST OF THE TIME THE TRUCKING COMPANY WILL INSTALL THEM THERESELF. JUST KEEP THE DEAL KOSHER.

    Reply
    • Nadeem Muaddi says

      August 11, 2012 at 7:42 pm

      Hi Edward. What are you referring to?

      Reply
  3. Naseem Muaddi says

    August 11, 2012 at 7:32 pm

    That’s a great tip, I highly recommend all shops use pre-build contracts. In fact most customers prefer to have them to avoid any confusion or problems when the job is done.

    Reply
  4. Eric Wolf says

    February 14, 2019 at 2:17 pm

    where do you find these contracts and dose it have be a looked over by lawyer

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

THR Sponsors

Haartz Right Rail Ad - 12
NC Sewing Machines
Miami Corporation
Top Down Group
Apex Leather
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • Keyston Bros
  • Hyde Leather
  • Albright's Supply
  • GAHH Automotive

THR Favorites

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Design Studio

Design Studio: Full Generic Interiors

Last month we launched The Hog Ring Design … [more] about Design Studio: Full Generic Interiors

Repair Dashboards with Vacuum Forming

Most auto upholstery shops repair vehicle … [more] about Repair Dashboards with Vacuum Forming

The Hog Ring - Proof that Bentley Uses Forks to Trim Steering Wheels

Proof that Bentley Uses Forks to Trim Steering Wheels

No one believed us when we said trimmers at … [more] about Proof that Bentley Uses Forks to Trim Steering Wheels

Does Your Trim Shop Have a Slogan?

Does your auto trim shop have a slogan? If … [more] about Does Your Trim Shop Have a Slogan?

The Hog Ring - How to Measure Rolls of Fabric Without Undoing the Roll

How to Measure a Roll of Vinyl Without Undoing the Roll

Tired of undoing rolls of vinyl and fabric to … [more] about How to Measure a Roll of Vinyl Without Undoing the Roll

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - French Seam

Should You Reinforce French Seams?

To back or not to back? That is the question. … [more] about Should You Reinforce French Seams?

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • Try Dinamica: A Quality Alternative to Alcantara
  • Texas Upholstery Shop Damaged in Fire
  • Miami Trimmer and Girlfriend Killed in Auto Accident
  • Profit Sharing Can Help Your Shop Attract Employees
  • Keyston Bros’ Annual Customer Appreciation Day is Almost Here!

Recent Comments

  • Core PG on Here’s Where You Can Still Buy Alcantara
  • Duncan sande on Bentley is Hiring Apprentices and Trainees
  • Adam on Every Trim Shop Should Download These Soft Top Care Guides
  • Shawn on Consoles by Modern Classic Interiors
  • Adam on Leather Supplier Pins Bankruptcy on Uber

Advertise With Us!

We're always looking for companies to collaborate with. Watch this short video about the benefits of sponsorship and then email us to say hi.
anal porno bangbros rus porno yaşlı porno konulu porno olgun porno porno izle sarışın porno bakire sex 69 porno

Copyright © 2022 · Magazine Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in