The New Year’s here, and if you’re like most tradies, you’re keen to hit the ground running. But before the jobs pile up and the admin gets forgotten again, now’s the perfect time to get your books sorted. Whether you’re on the tools solo or managing a full team across sites, these bookkeeping tips for tradies will help you stay in control, get paid faster, and make 2025 your best year yet. ✅
Chase Up Overdue Invoices
💵 Start fresh by chasing up any invoices that slipped through the cracks over the holidays.
Unpaid jobs = unpaid you. No more leaving money on the table.
Even just a couple of follow-up texts or emails can make a big difference to your January cash flow. Tools like Xero let you automate reminders, so you’re not stuck playing debt collector while trying to get work done.
Set Up a Simple System That Works for You
🛠️📲 You don’t need anything fancy – just something that’s easy to stick to.
Use an app, a whiteboard, or even a notebook in the ute. Track your jobs, receipts, and expenses as you go. It’ll save you hours when BAS time rolls around and means you’re not scrambling for info.
Put Money Aside for BAS and Tax
💸 Open a separate account and squirrel away a bit from each payment.
Even setting aside 10-15% can save you a world of stress later, but the ideal is 30-40% if you have employees.
By the time your BAS is due, or the ATO comes knocking, you’ll already be prepared — no panic, no dramas.
Review Last Year’s Spending
🧾 Take a quick look back at 2024. Where did your cash go?
Did any tools or suppliers bleed more money than they should’ve?
You don’t need a fancy report – even a basic look at your expenses can help you trim the fat and make smarter calls in 2025. We help our tradie clients do this every quarter, so they’re not flying blind.
Take Control Before It’s Too Late
🚀 A couple of hours now will save you days of stress later.
No one wants that last-minute scramble when BAS or tax is due.
Get organised early, and you’ll spend more time on the tools and growing your business – and less on admin headaches.
Let’s smash 2025! 💯
P.S. Need a hand with any of this?
We work with tradies across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, and Darwin to get their books tidy, their BAS in on time, and their cash flow on track.
📧 bettina@tradiesbookkeeping.com.au
📱 0424 467 921