Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions,
direct answers.

Everything you need to know before purchasing — formats, compatibility, compliance, and how to get started.

Getting Started
Do I need any technical skills to use these documents?+

No. Excel spreadsheets use blue input fields — you type directly into them. Black and green fields calculate automatically from your entries. Word documents open and fill out like any normal Word file. If your team can use a work order or a service ticket, they can use these documents. No formulas to write, no setup required.

Where do I start? There are a lot of documents.+

Start with whatever problem is costing you the most right now:

  • Had an incident with no records? Start with the Incident & Risk System (System 02)
  • Facing a license renewal or audit? Start with the Compliance & Inspection System (System 03)
  • Crew accountability issues? Start with the Daily Operations System (System 01)
  • Lost a warranty claim? Start with the Client & Asset History System (System 05)
  • Hiring your first employee? Start with the People & Accountability System (System 04)

If you're not sure, the Daily Operations System is the right starting point for most operations — it's the foundation everything else builds on.

How long does it take to implement?+

You can have a document in use on day one. Download it, add your company name to the header, and hand it to your crew lead with the included usage guide. For a full system, plan for one day to set up all documents and one week to have your crew using them consistently. By day 30, you'll have a meaningful operational record. By day 90, you'll have enough data to start using the V2 analytics documents.

Can I use these with Google Sheets or Google Docs instead of Excel and Word?+

Yes. Excel files (.xlsx) open in Google Sheets and most formulas carry over correctly. Word documents (.docx) open in Google Docs. Some advanced formatting may shift slightly when converted, but the structure and functionality remain intact. For best results and formula reliability, we recommend using Excel and Word directly.

Products & Formats
What formats do the documents come in?+

Two formats only:

  • Excel spreadsheets (.xlsx) — logs, trackers, registers, and dashboards. Auto-calculating formulas, color-coded status fields, sortable rows.
  • Word documents (.docx) — forms, checklists, SOPs, and reports. Structured for field use, fillable, printable.

Every listing specifies which formats are included. Most system purchases include both Excel and Word documents as appropriate to each document type.

Can I edit these documents — add my logo, change field names, adjust the layout?+

Yes. Every document is fully unlocked and editable. Add your company name and logo to the header, modify field labels to match your terminology, adjust column widths, add rows — all of it is yours to customize. The only thing that requires care is modifying formula cells (black text) — editing those can break calculations. Blue text cells are input fields and are safe to modify freely.

What's the difference between blue cells and black cells in the Excel documents?+
  • Blue text cells — input fields. You type into these. These are the fields your crew fills out.
  • Black text cells — formula cells. These calculate automatically from your blue cell entries. Don't overwrite these unless you know what formula you're replacing.
  • Green/tinted cells — status indicators. These change color automatically based on values (red = expired/risk, yellow = warning, green = compliant).
What's the difference between V1 and V2 documents?+

V1 documents are operational — logs, forms, registers, and SOPs that you start using from day one to document your work. They create the data.

V2 documents are analytical — dashboards, reports, and assessments that require 3–6 months of V1 data to be meaningful. A KPI dashboard with one week of data tells you nothing. With 6 months of consistent V1 data, it tells you everything.

Buy V1 first. Use it consistently. Add V2 when you have data worth analyzing. Every Gumroad system includes guidance on when to add each V2 document.

What are the reference documents (WS-DR series)?+

The WS-DR reference documents are the standards every other document in the system is built on — data definitions, KPI formulas, downtime categories, incident severity levels, and data entry standards. They're included with every Gumroad system purchase as supporting documentation. They are not sold individually on Etsy because they're only useful in the context of the full system.

Etsy vs. Gumroad
What's the difference between buying on Etsy versus Gumroad?+

Etsy sells individual documents ($8–$15) and document packs ($19–$39). It's the right starting point — buy the specific document you need right now, validate it works for your operation, then decide whether to upgrade to a full system.

Gumroad sells complete systems ($49–$449) — multiple documents bundled with reference guides and SOPs that function as a full operational layer. It's where the real system lives. If you know you want the full Daily Operations System, Gumroad is significantly better value than buying individual documents on Etsy.

The intended flow is Etsy first → Gumroad when you're ready. Every Etsy purchase includes a discount code toward any Gumroad system in your download.

Do Etsy buyers get a discount on Gumroad systems?+

Yes. Every Etsy download includes a discount code for Gumroad. You can also email us at [email protected] to credit your Etsy purchase directly toward a full system — we'll apply the purchase amount and send you an upgraded download link.

Which Gumroad system should I buy first?+

Depends on your trade and your biggest operational gap:

  • HVAC companies: GR-13 (HVAC Daily Operations System) or GR-14 (HVAC Compliance & Inspection System)
  • Electrical contractors: GR-16 (Electrical Daily Operations) or GR-17 (Electrical Compliance & Inspection)
  • Plumbing: GR-18 (Plumbing Daily Operations) or GR-19 (Plumbing Compliance)
  • General contractors: GR-21 (GC Daily Operations) or GR-22 (GC Compliance)
  • Any trade, all-in: The Complete Trade System (Tier 3d, $229–$349) is the best single purchase if you want everything at once
Compliance & Legal
Are these documents OSHA compliant?+

The incident reports, injury reports, corrective action logs, and related documents are structured to align with OSHA recordkeeping requirements under 29 CFR 1904. They capture the required fields and follow the documentation logic OSHA expects. They are not certified compliance instruments and do not constitute legal advice. Your specific regulatory context — state plan states, industry-specific regulations, company size thresholds — may impose additional requirements. We recommend reviewing with your compliance officer or legal counsel for your specific situation.

Do these cover EPA 608 refrigerant documentation requirements for HVAC?+

Yes. WS-HVAC-AD-001 (Refrigerant Log) and WS-HVAC-AD-002 (Refrigerant Recovery Record) are specifically built to capture the fields required for EPA 608 compliance — refrigerant type, quantity recovered, recovery equipment certification, technician certification, and disposal documentation. As with all compliance documents, verify against the current EPA 608 requirements for your specific operation and equipment types.

Can these documents be used as evidence in a dispute or legal claim?+

A contemporaneously completed, consistently maintained operational log is a factual business record — and factual business records are routinely used in disputes, insurance claims, warranty disputes, and litigation. The value of these documents in a dispute is directly proportional to how consistently and accurately they were filled out at the time of the work. A log filled in retroactively has minimal value. A daily log completed by the crew lead at the end of each day, consistently, for months — is a very different document.

Are these documents specific to any state or local jurisdiction?+

No. The documents are built on federal requirements (OSHA, EPA, NEC, etc.) and structured to be jurisdiction-neutral. Trade-specific licensing fields are included with blank fields for your state's specific license numbers and categories. You add your state-specific requirements to the Compliance Register and Regulatory Calendar — the documents are built to accommodate that information, not to pre-populate it for a specific state.

After Purchase
How do I get my download after purchasing?+

On Etsy: your download is available immediately after purchase in your Etsy account under "Purchases and Reviews." You'll also receive an email with the download link. On Gumroad: you receive an email immediately after purchase with your download link. Downloads are available permanently in your Gumroad library.

What if there's a technical issue with my file?+

Email us at [email protected] with your order number and a description of the issue. We'll send a corrected file or alternative format. We want the documents to work for your operation — if something isn't right, we'll fix it.

Can I share these documents with employees or across multiple locations?+

Yes. A single purchase covers use within your company — share with your crew leads, office manager, and across multiple job sites. The license does not cover resale, redistribution to other businesses, or use as a template in a competing documentation service. Within your own operation, use them as widely as you need.

Do you offer refunds?+

Digital downloads are generally non-refundable once accessed. If there's a technical issue with your file or the document doesn't match its listing description, contact us directly — we'll make it right. We stand behind what we sell.

Ready to get started?

Start with a single document on Etsy or go straight to a complete system on Gumroad. Either way, you're one download away from an operational record.