Tradies who run their your own shown know the work keeps going long after they pack up the tools. Late payments hit tradies hard—but you can stay in control. A few simple invoicing tips for tradies can mean faster cash in the bank and less stress at the end of the month. Here’s what’s working for smart tradies across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and Darwin:
Send your invoice straight from the job site 🧾
Send the invoice right after finishing the job to get paid faster. It’s too late on Friday night when you’re knackered. Try shooting it off while you’re still in the ute.
A quick mobile app like Xero https://www.xero.com/au/ or MYOB https://www.myob.com/au/support/myob-business/product-account/signing-in-to-myob makes it dead easy to invoice on the go.
Pro Tip: Fresh jobs prompt customers to pay quickly.
Make your bank details easy to find 💸
Sometimes customers can’t easily spot the payment details on invoices, which leads to a delay in payment. Make sure to put your BSB and account number right there on the invoice where it’s easy to read. That way there’s no hunting around, no excuses.
Using online payments like PayID, Stripe, or Square makes it even better. The fewer steps it takes for them to pay, the faster you’ll see the money land.
Keep it short and sharp ✂️
You don’t need to write an essay.
Just list what you did in simple, clear language:
“Supplied and installed 20m² of concrete driveway”
“Repaired roof leak above kitchen”
No jargon, no fancy legal talk. Sending a clear invoice avoids confusion. Confused customers may delay paying as they may need to “doublecheck”.
Set clear payment terms ⏰
Don’t leave it open-ended. State your payment terms clearly on every invoice – 7 days, 14 days, whatever works for your business.
Payment terms need to be spelt out for them.
You can even add a friendly reminder like:
“Payment due within 7 days. Thanks for your prompt payment!”
Don’t be shy about chasing it up 📞
Once the due date has passed and payment hasn’t been received, make sure to follow up quickly.
A short, polite text, call, or email often gets things sorted without any drama.
You’re not being a pest – you’re running a business. And you deserve to be paid on time.
Need a hand getting your invoicing sorted?
At Tradies Bookkeeping, we help tradies across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and Darwin stay on top of their invoicing, bookkeeping and cashflow.
If chasing money is doing your head in, give us a buzz. We’ll help you set up systems that keep the cash coming without the headaches.
👉 Contact us today and let’s get you sorted.
