Cashflow is the amount of money moving in and out of your business, and managing it well — not simply having lots of work — is what keeps a trade business alive. Plenty of busy, skilled tradies have gone under because money went out faster than it came in. Here’s how to stay on the […]
How to Price a Job So You Actually Make Money
To price a job properly, you cover your labour at your true hourly rate, your materials with a markup, a share of your overheads, and a profit margin on top — then check the total against what the job is worth. Tradies lose money when they price off gut feel and forget one of these […]
Should You Take a Deposit on a Job? (When and How Much)
For any job with significant material costs or a long timeline, taking a deposit is smart business — it protects your cashflow, covers your upfront outlay, and confirms the customer is serious. For small, quick jobs it’s often unnecessary, but the bigger the job, the stronger the case. Why deposits matter When you buy parts […]
How to Chase an Unpaid Invoice Politely (Without the Awkwardness)
The best way to chase an unpaid invoice is early, friendly, and consistent — a short professional reminder soon after the due date, followed by steady follow-ups until it’s paid. Most late payments aren’t refusals; they’re oversights, and a polite nudge fixes the majority of them without any friction. Start before it’s a problem The […]
Why Tradies Get Paid Late (and How to Fix It)
Tradies get paid late mostly because of the gap between finishing a job and sending the invoice — and then the gap between sending it and following up. Neither gap is about the customer being difficult; both are about admin being slow, and both are fixable. The first gap: finishing the job vs sending the […]
How to Work Out Your Hourly Rate as a Tradie (Step by Step)
To work out a sustainable hourly rate, you add up everything your business needs to earn in a year, then divide it by the hours you can realistically bill — not the hours you work. Most tradies undercharge because they divide by total hours worked, forgetting that a large share of their week isn’t billable. […]
How Much Should a Tradie Charge Per Hour?
Your hourly rate needs to cover far more than the time you spend on the tools — it has to pay for your unbillable hours, your overheads, your super, your tax, and a real profit on top. Most tradies who struggle financially aren’t charging too little for the work; they’re charging a rate that only […]