The No-BS Business Plan for Aussie Tradies and Small Business
Forget the 50-Page Business Plans
Let's be honest — most Aussie tradies and small business owners don't have time for MBA-style business plans. You're too busy actually doing the work. But flying blind without any plan is how businesses go bust.
The good news: you need about two hours and a notepad to create something useful. Not a fancy document. Just clear thinking about how you'll actually make money.
The "Smoko Break" Business Plan
If you can answer these questions during a smoko break, you've got the bones of a plan:
Who's Paying You?
Not "everyone who needs plumbing." Get specific. Are you chasing:
- New home builds in growth suburbs?
- Emergency repairs for landlords?
- Commercial fit-outs?
- Renovations for homeowners?
Each one means different marketing, different pricing, different headaches. Pick your lane.
Real example: A sparky in Brisbane tried doing everything — domestic, commercial, industrial. Stretched too thin, average at all of them. Focused just on new builds in Logan. Now clears $180k working with three builders exclusively.
What's Your Edge?
Why would someone pick you over the bloke down the road who's $50 cheaper? Honest answers only:
- You show up when you say you will (surprisingly rare)
- You clean up after yourself
- You explain what you're doing in plain English
- You've got specific expertise (split systems, solar, heritage)
- You're available nights/weekends when others aren't
If you can't answer this — that's your first problem to solve.
Where's the Work Coming From?
Word of mouth won't cut it forever. Where are your next 20 jobs coming from?
Free:
- Posting your services on Tuble.vip
- Asking every happy customer for a Google review
- Joining local Facebook community groups
- Tradie networking at supplier mornings
Paid:
- Google Ads for "[your trade] [your suburb]"
- Facebook/Instagram ads showing your work
- Vehicle signage (never underestimate the ute billboard)
Budget at least $300-500/month on getting work when you're starting out.
The Money Side — Don't Skip This
Most trades go broke not because they can't do the work, but because they can't do the numbers. Get this sorted.
What Does a Job Actually Cost You?
Before quoting, know your true costs:
Materials you buy for this job
Plus your time (what's an hour of your time worth? Be honest)
Plus travel time and fuel
Plus your percentage of monthly overheads
Plus GST you'll owe
Plus income tax you'll owe
Most tradies quote materials + labour and forget everything else. That's why they're working 60 hours and barely scraping by.
Use the profit margin calculator to work out what you actually keep after a job.
The Numbers That Matter
Track these monthly:
- Total invoiced
- Total collected (not the same thing)
- Jobs completed
- Average job value
- Money set aside for BAS
- Money set aside for tax
If you're not tracking these, you're guessing. Guessing is how businesses fail.
Set Aside Tax Money
The ATO doesn't care that you spent your GST money on a new ute. Set aside:
- 10% for GST from every invoice (if registered)
- 25% for income tax from what's left
Open a separate bank account. Don't touch it except for BAS and tax time. This is non-negotiable.
Handling Growth
When to Hire
Hire when you've got:
- More work than you can handle for 3+ months
- Cash reserves for 3 months of wages
- Systems so an apprentice doesn't need you hovering
Don't hire because you're "busy." Busy could end next month.
When to Grow
Scale when:
- You're profitable (actually, after tax and paying yourself properly)
- You can handle the admin load
- You've got repeat customers who aren't going anywhere
Most successful tradies I know stayed solo for 3-5 years before bringing anyone on. There's no rush.
The One-Page Version
If everything above is too much, here's the absolute minimum:
This week:
- Open a business bank account (keep it separate)
- Set up automatic transfers for tax (25%) and GST (10%)
- List your services on Tuble.vip
This month:
- Work out your minimum hourly rate that actually covers costs
- Get 10 Google reviews from past customers
- Create a simple quote template
This quarter:
- Track every job and its actual profit
- Identify your most profitable type of work
- Get an accountant who specializes in tradies
Create your business profile and start building your online presence properly.
Common Traps
The Cheap Quote Trap
Undercutting to get work means you're busy but broke. Charge what you're worth. If you're good, customers will pay.
The Every Job Trap
Saying yes to everything means you're always driving across town for small jobs. Set a minimum job value and stick to it.
The No Deposit Trap
Big jobs without deposits mean you're financing your customers. 30-50% upfront on anything over $1,000. No exceptions.
The BAS Surprise Trap
Every BAS quarter, tradies discover they've spent money they owe the ATO. Separate account. Automatic transfers. Do it.
A plan doesn't have to be complicated. But it does have to exist. Spend two hours this weekend and sort it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do tradies really need a business plan in Australia?
Not a 50-page document, but you need clear numbers — what jobs cost you, what you charge, where work comes from. Two hours with a notepad is enough to start.
How much should Aussie tradies set aside for tax?
Set aside 10% for GST plus 25% for income tax from every invoice. Separate bank account. Don't touch it. The ATO doesn't accept excuses.
What's the minimum hourly rate for tradies in Australia?
Depends on your costs, but most qualified tradies need $80-120/hour minimum to actually profit after expenses, tax, super, and insurance. Use our profit calculator.
When should an Aussie tradie hire their first employee?
When you have 3+ months of consistent overflow work, cash reserves for 3 months wages, and systems in place. Don't hire just because you're busy this month.
