Tradie blog

How to quote a job: a tradie's step-by-step guide

To quote a job, a tradie works out their charge-out rate, prices the labour and materials, adds a markup, and sends a written, GST-clear quote. A quote is binding once accepted, so price it for profit, not just to win the work.

2026-08-23 23:00:22.755860+00:00

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AI for tradies: the honest guide (why you need a foundation first)

AI for tradies works on the records you already keep, so it can only be as useful as those records are organised. If your jobs and quotes live in your head and your texts, no AI tool can help much yet. Get everything into one place first, then add one AI tool where you lose the most time.

2026-08-19 23:00:00.648788+00:00

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Your first BAS: a tradie's plain-English walkthrough

How to do your first BAS in Australia: the ATO sends you a BAS once you register for GST. You report the GST you collected on your invoices, subtract the GST you paid on purchases, and lodge online by the quarterly due date. It is shorter than it looks.

2026-08-16 23:00:37.261546+00:00

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The best job management software in Australia for 2026, ranked by who it suits

ServiceM8, Tradify, Fergus, Jobber, AroFlo, simPRO, Ascora and Chippie compared for Australian tradies: July 2026 prices, the catches, and who each suits.

2026-08-15 11:13:11.927481+00:00

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Got your first ABN? The practical tradie setup checklist

Your first ABN tradie checklist: confirm your sole-trader ABN, register a business name if you are not trading under your own name, decide on GST (only required above $75,000 turnover), open a separate bank account, sort public liability insurance, set aside tax, and get ready to quote and invoice.

2026-08-09 23:00:37.234494+00:00

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What to put on an invoice in Australia (ABN, GST, the lot)

What to put on an invoice in Australia: your business name and ABN, the words 'Tax invoice' if you are GST registered, the date, a description of the work, the price, and the GST shown separately. Sales of $1,000 or more also need the customer's name or ABN. Leave your ABN off and a business customer can hold back 47%.

2026-08-05 23:00:37.236174+00:00

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Quote vs estimate: which one are you legally bound to?

Quote vs estimate in Australia comes down to one thing: a quote is a fixed price that becomes a legally binding contract once your customer accepts it, so you cannot charge more without an agreed variation. An estimate is an educated guess and is not binding, though the final cost should stay close to it.

2026-08-03 07:25:37.254056+00:00

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Do I need to register for GST as a tradie?

Do I need to register for GST? Yes, once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 in any rolling 12-month period. You then have 21 days to register from the moment you know you will cross the line. Under $75,000 it is optional. Turnover means the total you invoice, not what you keep after costs.

2026-07-29 23:00:40.897933+00:00

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Introducing Chippie: job management for tradies, built by a Newcastle family

Chippie is a job management app for tradies that handles quotes, jobs, invoices and payments from your phone. It was built in Newcastle by a father and two sons, two of them carpenters, after they couldn't find software that was simple, mobile-first and affordable at once. It starts free, with 20 jobs a month included.

2026-07-26 23:00:06.711164+00:00

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