SubMonitor monitor = SubMonitor.convert(mainMonitor,"Start",10000);
// Here I would like this process to take up to 96% of the bar
doProcess1(monitor.newChild(9600));
// Now that this is done, I need 5 more tasks
monitor.setWorkRemaining(5);
task1();
monitor.worked(1);
task2();
// etc 

When this method is called, the remaining space on the progress monitor is redistributed into the given number of ticks.

SubMonitor monitor = SubMonitor.convert(mainMonitor,"Start",10000);
// Here I would like this process to take up to 96% of the bar
doProcess1(monitor.newChild(9600)); // in the doProcess1, you have to call sm.worked(x) as your job progresses, you can even redistribute the workload using sm.setWorkRemaining(xxx);
// Once you split your work with "child", I think it's better to do it consistently.
// monitor.setWorkRemaining(5);
SubMonitor smTask1 = monitor.newChild(300);
task1();  // I think it's better to pass smTask1 into this method since you can already quantify workload, but it's ok as long as you "newChild" consistently along the job, just that the progress bar won't update.
SubMonitor smTask2 = monitor.newChild(100);
task2();
// have to finish the work
monitor.done();  // the progressbar would probably jump from 96% straight to 100%
// etc