Guides
Guides for running a trade business
Practical, Australian-specific advice on quoting, getting paid and keeping on top of the admin.
All guides
Getting paidDeposits and progress payments for trade jobs in Australia
Take a deposit when you're ordering materials or holding a booking, and use progress payments on any job longer than a couple of weeks. For residential building work, deposits are capped by state law, so check your state's limit. Agree payment stages in writing and invoice each one as soon as it's reached.
Choosing softwareXero for tradies: how to set it up with your job management app
Run jobs, quotes and invoices in your job management app and let it sync invoices, payments, customers and bills to Xero automatically. Before connecting, tidy up duplicate contacts, agree the income accounts and tax codes with your bookkeeper, and decide which system is the source of truth for each record. Then nobody enters anything twice.
Running your businessHow to schedule a trade crew without the daily phone calls
Schedule a crew from one shared calendar that the office and the field both see live. Send each job's address, notes, photos and forms to the worker's phone, leave buffer time for overruns, group jobs by area and plan weather-dependent work with a backup job, so nobody needs to ring the office.
Winning workHow tradies can get more Google reviews (without being pushy)
The simplest way to get more Google reviews is to ask every happy customer when the job is finished, then text them a direct review link the same day. Reply to every review. Never pay for reviews, offer incentives or post fake ones: that breaches Google's policies and Australian Consumer Law.
Choosing softwareHow to choose job management software for your trade business
Choose job management software by listing what your business does each week, then testing apps with a real job. Must-haves are mobile quoting, scheduling, a crew app that works offline, invoicing with card payments and a Xero or MYOB sync. Ask who sets it up and how you can export your data.
Winning workCRM for tradies: do you need one, and what should it do?
A CRM (customer relationship management) system keeps every enquiry, customer, quote and job in one place and reminds you to follow up. Tradies need one once leads start slipping through the cracks. For most trades, a CRM built into your job management app works better than a separate sales tool.
Safety and complianceWhat is a SWMS and when do tradies need one?
A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) sets out high risk construction work, the hazards and how the risks will be controlled. It must be prepared before that work starts, for example work where a person could fall more than two metres, near energised electrical services or in trenches deeper than 1.5 metres.
Running your businessHow to price trade jobs for profit: markup vs margin explained
Price for profit by calculating a charge-out rate that covers all your overheads, not just wages, then adding a markup on top of total job cost. Remember that markup and margin are different: a 25% markup gives a 20% margin. Track actual costs on every job so you can adjust your rates over time.
Getting paidPayment terms for tradies: what to set and how to word them
For homeowners, ask for payment on completion or within 7 days. For commercial and builder clients, 14 to 30 days is normal. Put your terms on every quote, take deposits on larger jobs within your state's limits, and use progress claims for anything longer than a couple of weeks.
Getting paidHow to chase unpaid invoices as a tradie
Chase unpaid invoices in steps: an automatic reminder on the due date, a call after a week, a firm written reminder at 14 days, a letter of demand at 30 days, then your state's tribunal or court. For construction work, security of payment laws may offer a faster path.
InvoicingTax invoice requirements in Australia: a checklist for tradies
A GST-registered business must show the words 'tax invoice', its name and ABN, the issue date, a description of what it supplied, and the GST amount or a statement that the total includes GST. For sales of $1,000 or more, the invoice must also show the buyer's identity or ABN.
QuotingHow to quote a job as a tradie (and win more of them)
To quote a trade job well, measure accurately, price labour and materials from saved rates, add a markup that covers overheads and profit, show GST clearly, offer options and send it the same day. Then follow up within three days. Speed and clarity win more jobs than the lowest price.
See it running on your jobs
A 30 minute walkthrough using your own trade, your own price list and the way your crew actually works.