poquillo™

Tired of custom quotes, endless client calls, and feeling like your business runs you instead of the other way around? Let’s fix that, amiga. ✨

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I do NOT want to be quoting custom projects for the rest of my life”?

Girl, I feel you. When I first started working with clients, I was all over the place – different packages for different people, constantly juggling timelines, and honestly… exhausted by the unpredictability of it all.

Why This Matters (Like, Really Matters)

Here’s the thing about running a service business: without structure, you’re basically signing up for a never-ending hustle with no clear path to growth. That “feast or famine” cycle isn’t just stressful – it’s unsustainable.

The good news? You can transform your custom service into a streamlined, scalable system that:

• Gives you back your time
• Creates predictable income
• Makes clients happier (yes, really!)
• Lets you help more people without burning out

The Return Document (Start Here)

Before diving into productizing your services, you need to get crystal clear on what YOU want. I call this the “Return Document” – what return do you want after investing all this effort into your business?

Think about these three areas:

Time: How many hours do you actually want to work? What schedule would make you happy?

Energy: What role do you want in your business? Which tasks light you up vs. drain you?

Money: What’s your acceptable income floor? Be honest and realistic here.

For the money part, don’t just pick a random number. Look at your personal budget – what do you need for your regular expenses plus those vacations you deserve? That’s your starting point.

Quick action: Grab a notebook and write down your ideal numbers for all three areas. Be specific – “I want to work 25 hours per week with Fridays off and earn at least $7,000 monthly.”

The Productized Service Framework

Let me share a simple framework that revolutionized how I structure client work (and honestly saved my sanity). It breaks down into three key components:

1. The Foundation: Pre-Work & Training

Instead of jumping straight into calls with clients, create a preparation system:

• Client training videos: Record short, simple explanations of your process, terminology, and approach
• Assessment forms: Create questionnaires that gather all the info you need before you meet
• Expectation setting: Clearly outline what happens when and what results to expect

This preparation does two magical things: it gets clients thinking differently about their problems AND ensures everyone speaks the same language when you finally meet.

2. The Sprint: Focused Implementation Time

Rather than dragging projects out for weeks or months, consider a concentrated implementation approach:

• Set aside specific days for intensive client work (like a “2-day makeover” or “implementation day”)
• Have clients book these slots in advance – they must be available during this time
• Create clear boundaries around what happens during this sprint
• Deliver results in a compressed timeframe

For example, one web designer I know offers “website in a day” packages. Clients complete pre-work, then she focuses entirely on their project for one full day, with check-in calls at set times. By evening, their site is done!

3. The Support: Ongoing Implementation Cadence

After the initial sprint, transition clients to a structured support model:

• Regular check-in calls (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly)
• Set office hours for questions
• A dedicated channel for support (Slack, email, etc.)
• Clear cancellation policies and timeframes

This gives clients the ongoing support they need while protecting your time and energy.

Making It Work For You (Real Examples)

Let me share how you might adapt this for different service businesses:

For a business coach (like me!):

• Pre-work: Client completes assessment and watches strategy videos
• Sprint: Full-day intensive to create 90-day action plan
• Support: Bi-weekly coaching calls for 6 months to implement the plan

For a graphic designer:

• Pre-work: Client completes brand questionnaire and creates inspiration board
• Sprint: Logo and brand elements designed in one day
• Support: Monthly design hours for implementing across platforms

For a content writer:

• Pre-work: Client fills content strategy form and provides examples
• Sprint: Content calendar and first 4 pieces created in one day
• Support: Weekly content reviews and monthly strategy updates

Handling Scope Creep (Because It Will Happen)

When clients inevitably ask for things outside your scope (they always do!), try these strategies:

• Set monthly office hours where clients can ask ANY questions
• Create a community space where questions can be addressed efficiently
• Record video responses to common questions and share them with all clients

The beauty of this approach? Most questions can be answered once for everyone, saving you tons of time.

Scaling Your Productized Service

Once your core service is running smoothly, you can expand with:

1. Group Programs: Use your existing training materials and add group coaching
2. Membership Model: Offer access to resources and office hours for a monthly fee
3. Self-Paced Courses: Package your expertise into a learn-at-your-own-pace format

Remember what one of my mentors always says: “You don’t scale businesses; you scale product lines.” Get one offering stable before adding another.

Your Next Tiny Steps

Ready to productize your service? Here’s where to start:

1. Write your Return Document (time, energy, money goals)
2. List the questions you always ask clients and create an assessment form
3. Outline a simple pre-work training (what do clients need to know?)
4. Define your sprint format (one day? two days? what gets done?)
5. Decide on your ongoing support structure

No tiene que ser complicado, amiga! Small, consistent steps will get you there.

Have you tried productizing your services? I’d love to hear what’s working (or not) for you in the comments below!

Con cariño,
Gaby ✨

P.S. I learned this framework from Brad Martineau from Sixth Division. Check out his full explanation in this video if you want to dive deeper!