1

There should be a "document" menu item in the start menu.
Furthermore, it would be great if a hover brought up a list of folders in the document, allowing the user to go directly to a sub-folder rather than have a window open and then have to go from there.

Kindly

I suggest you take a look around and start exploring KDE a bit. There is a wealth of software pieces available and very often one finds that what one is looking for already exists in one or another form.

If you want a "document menu" inside the launcher menu, then I suggest you use another menu, not the default one. Give "Lancelot" a try. You can install it in parallel to so normal start menu, even use both at the same time for testing and comparison. Lancelot offers such a "document menu" and many more practical details that make it vast superior to the normal menu in my eyes. You can either install it via your package management (if offered, obviously depends on your distribution) or KDE will download it for you in your widget administration. So just open the "add widget" feature, from there you can drag Lancelot to wherever you want it. It has a few configuration options controlling its behavior. And it adjusts to your chosen desktop theme.

About the "folders in the document": not absolutely sure what you mean by this, I assume you refer to an easy and direct access to folders in your home directory, or wherever you store documents. If so, then again: take a look around. You will find a few of such solutions offered as widgets too that allow to directly open a specific folder. I am sure you will find some that suits your requirements.

Have fun!