Creating your first checklist template

Templates are reusable checklists you apply when starting a new project. The setup investment pays back the first time you use one — and compounds every time after.

What makes a good template

• Mirrors how you actually work. Don't over-engineer it. Start with the steps you find yourself describing to clients over and over.
• Granular enough that progress is visible. If a checklist item takes 3 weeks to complete, break it down. Clients should see something move every few days.
• Has clear visibility settings. Internal-process tasks ("follow up with reviewer") should be hidden by default. Milestones the client cares about should be visible.

Steps

1. Go to Templates in the sidebar, click New Template.
2. Name it after the type of work, not a specific client ("Residential Permit" not "Smith House").
3. Optionally add a description — visible only to your team.
4. Click Add Item for each step. Set a title, a default due offset (days from project start), and visibility.
5. Drag items to reorder.
6. Save.

Section headers

You can group items into sections (e.g., "Pre-Submission", "Review", "Approval"). Add a section header by toggling the "Section header" option on any item — it becomes a visual divider on the project page rather than a checkable task.

Editing later

Templates can be edited at any time. Changes don't retroactively affect projects already created from the template — they only apply to new projects going forward. This is intentional: it lets you evolve your process without disrupting active work.