19 Mar Boosting profitability: Four simple fixes for your trades business
Running the books for a tradie business isn’t just about making sure the numbers add up—it’s about making sure there’s actually money in the bank at the end of the month. If you’re constantly chasing invoices, wondering where the team’s hours have disappeared to, or struggling to track jobs, you’re not alone. These small headaches add up to lost profits, but the good news is, they’re totally fixable!
- Get paid on time (without the chase)
Unpaid invoices are one of the biggest profitability killers. You send the invoice, cross your fingers, and then… silence. Suddenly, you’re spending hours following up, feeling more like a debt collector than anything else. A simple solution? Automate it! Using a job management system can help by letting you send invoices straight from the job, track outstanding payments, and even set up automatic payment reminders. Less chasing, more getting paid.
- Know where your jobs stand (no more guesswork)
It’s hard to know if a job is profitable when you don’t have a clear view of costs, time spent, and materials used. If jobs are getting finished, but the bank account isn’t reflecting the effort, something’s off. A good job tracking tool helps you see job profitability in real time—so you know which jobs are worth the effort and which ones aren’t. No more guesswork, just smarter business decisions.
- Stop playing detective with timesheets
If you’ve ever sent out a ‘Where are your hours?!’ text to your team, you know the struggle of tracking timesheets. Missing or inaccurate hours mean you’re either paying for work that wasn’t done or not charging for work that was. A simple mobile app for logging hours can help make this process easier—so the team updates their timesheets on-site, and you get accurate records without the constant reminders.
- Cut down on admin time with automated supplier invoices
Manually handling supplier invoices can lead to missed costs and inaccurate job pricing, eating into your profits. Instead of spending hours sorting and entering invoices, use a tool that lets you quickly upload and process them automatically. With accurate cost tracking against jobs, you’ll always know where your money is going—helping you protect your margins and improve cash flow.
Small fixes, big impact
Running a trades business is hard work, but keeping on top of invoices, job tracking, and timesheets doesn’t have to be. Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to profitability—and free up more time for the things that really matter.
Fergus, TradieWives’ exclusive Job Management Partner, is built to help tradie businesses stay on top of job management, invoicing, and timesheets without the admin headaches.
Want to see how it works? Check it out here: Fergus Job Management Software
No Comments