The end of the year can be hectic – jobs finishing up, invoices stacking up, and Christmas just around the corner. These tradie cashflow tips will help get your cash flow sorted so you can down tools and actually enjoy the break.

With suppliers chasing payments, extra expenses like gifts and parties, and downtime on the horizon, it’s easy for cashflow to take a hit. And if you’ve got wages, super, or BAS to deal with while everything’s shut, it can get stressful fast.

Now’s the time to get ahead of it. Here’s how.

Know Who Owes You 💸

Before you knock off for Chrissy, check which invoices are still unpaid. Follow them up now—don’t wait until everyone’s out of office with their phones switched off.

Apps like Xero make this easy with automatic reminders so you’re not stuck chasing payments during your break. You’ve done the work – make sure you get paid for it.

Track What You Owe 📆

The bills don’t stop just because you’re on holidays. Make a list of what’s due over the break—suppliers, wages, super, loan repayments, BAS. Knowing what’s ahead helps you stay in control and avoid unpleasant surprises mid-January.

If anything looks off, now’s the time to sort it – not when you’re trying to hang out with the fam and relax at the beach.

Spread Out Big Expenses 🧮

As well as creating a buffer, think about staggering major payments where possible. If you’ve got big bills landing in early January, talk to your suppliers now and see if there’s room to move things around.

This helps smooth out the post-Christmas cashflow dip and keeps your account from bottoming out when you’re not earning. For extra support, the ATO’s cashflow planner is worth a look.

Get Your Books Up to Date 🧾

Let’s be honest – if you’ve been flat out on the tools, your books might’ve slipped. But leaving it until the New Year means starting 2024 already behind.

Get things cleaned up now. Reconcile the accounts, file receipts, and check your reports. Or better yet, get a bookkeeper to help so you can kick off the break with everything in order.

Plan for Time Off 🍻

You’ve earned a break, but it’s hard to relax when the numbers are a mess. When your cashflow’s under control, you can actually switch off – no last-minute invoices, no worrying if there’s enough in the account to pay wages.

Set yourself up now so the only thing you have to chase is one of your kids or another cold one.

Need a Hand Before the Break? 🤝

If your file’s a mess or you’re not sure where your cashflow’s at, we can help. We’ll clean up your books, follow up overdue invoices, and get your BAS and super sorted before the holidays hit.

Call Bettina on 0424 467 921 or email bettina@tradiesbookkeeping.com.au and let’s get things under control – so you can start the New Year strong.