Turning down work goes against every instinct when you’re running your own trade business. You’ve worked hard to build a reputation, the phone is ringing, and saying no feels like leaving money on the table. But not all work is good work. Some jobs cost you more than they make you. Some customers cost you…
Most tradespeople think the way to make more money is to take on more work. More jobs, more hours, more income. But if your margins are thin, more work just means more of the same problem at a larger scale. You end up busier, more stressed, and still not significantly better off. Improving your profit…
You’re booked solid for weeks. The phone doesn’t stop. You’re leaving the house at 7am and getting back at 6pm. And yet at the end of the month there’s barely anything left in the bank. If that sounds familiar you’re not alone — and you’re not doing something wrong. You’re doing something common. Being busy…
Most tradespeople set their day rate by looking at what the person down the road charges and going similar. The problem with that approach is that the person down the road might be undercharging too — and now you’re both working harder than you need to for less than you deserve. Your day rate shouldn’t…
Most tradespeople know they should be charging more. Materials are up. Fuel is up. Insurance is up. Van costs keep climbing. But the day rate hasn’t moved since 2021. That gap between what things cost and what you’re charging is where your profit disappears. Raising your prices feels risky — but staying where you are…
Waiting days for a bank transfer after finishing a job doesn’t have to be normal. The right payment app gets you paid on site, the same day the job is done — by card, by link, or by tap. Here’s what’s worth using in 2026. What to Look for in a Payment App Transaction fees…
If you’re still starting jobs without taking a deposit, you’re carrying all the financial risk yourself. Materials bought, time committed, diary blocked — and if the customer turns difficult or disappears, you’re the one out of pocket. Taking a deposit before you start work is standard practice across the trades. It protects your cash flow,…
Getting MCS certified or OZEV approved is only half the job. The other half is making sure the customers who are actively searching for qualified green energy installers in your area can actually find you. Most tradespeople who get certified don’t update their marketing to reflect it — and then wonder why the enquiries aren’t…
Pricing green energy work is one of the areas where tradespeople most commonly get it wrong — either leaving significant money on the table by undercharging, or losing jobs by quoting in a way that confuses customers about grants and net costs. Both mistakes are avoidable once you understand how the pricing and grant structure…
Green energy installation jobs are more complex to manage than a standard callout. A heat pump installation might involve an initial survey, a detailed quote with grant paperwork, a site survey visit, materials ordering, a multi-day installation, commissioning, MCS certificate generation, and a final invoice — all tracked across weeks or months. An EV charger…