Guides
Straight answers for tradies running their own books.
No jargon, no sales pitch in the middle. What the ATO actually requires, what works on site, and the habits that keep BAS to an hour. Written by the people who make SmokoBooks.
Tax and BAS
- BAS for sole trader tradies: what it is, when it is due, and how to get it done in an hour
A plain-English guide to the Business Activity Statement for Australian sole trader tradies: when you need one, the quarterly due dates, what the labels mean, and how to keep the books so BAS takes an hour instead of a weekend.
7 min read
- TPAR explained: who has to lodge it, what to report, and what to keep on every subbie
The Taxable Payments Annual Report in plain English for Australian builders and contractors: which businesses must lodge, the 28 August due date, what details you report for each subcontractor, and how to keep the records as you go.
5 min read
- How much should a sole trader tradie put aside for tax?
A working rule for Australian sole trader tradies: how much of each payment to set aside for GST and income tax, why it is a percentage of profit not turnover, how PAYG instalments work, and the deductions that change the number.
6 min read
- GST for tradies: when to register, what to charge, what to claim
GST in plain English for Australian tradies: the $75,000 registration threshold, how to add GST to quotes and invoices, which purchases you can claim credits on, and how it all lands on the BAS.
5 min read
Quoting
- How to quote a job as an electrician, and get more of them accepted
A practical guide to writing electrical quotes that win the job and protect you: what to put on the quote, how to price labour and materials, exclusions, deposits, validity, and the follow-up that most sparkies skip.
6 min read
- How to quote a plumbing job, and win more of them
A practical guide to plumbing quotes that get accepted and hold up later: what to include, pricing call-outs, labour and supplied units, exclusions, deposits, validity and the follow-up.
6 min read
- How to quote as a small builder: scope, stages, allowances and the fine print that saves you
How small Australian builders and renovators should quote: writing the scope, setting progress stages, using provisional sums and prime cost items, listing exclusions, and turning the accepted quote into the job.
6 min read
Getting paid
- Invoicing for tradies: how to get paid faster
What a valid Australian tax invoice must show, the payment terms that actually get tradies paid, deposits and progress claims, a reminder schedule that works, and what to do when a customer will not pay.
6 min read
- Progress claims for small builders: how to set them up and get them paid on time
How to structure progress claims on a building job, invoice each stage correctly, keep the running total straight, and what to do when a claim is late, including security of payment.
5 min read
Bookkeeping
- Bookkeeping for electricians: what to track, how often, and what your accountant actually needs
A simple bookkeeping routine for Australian electrical contractors: the records to keep, the weekly and monthly habits, expense categories that matter for a sparky, vehicle and tool deductions, and what to hand your accountant at tax time.
7 min read
- Bookkeeping for plumbers: what to track, how often, and what your accountant needs
A simple bookkeeping routine for Australian plumbing businesses: the records to keep, daily and weekly habits, expense categories that matter for plumbers and gasfitters, vehicle and tool deductions, and what to hand your accountant.
6 min read
- Bookkeeping for small builders: progress claims, subbies, variations and what the accountant needs
A bookkeeping routine for small Australian building businesses: tracking a job across progress claims, recording subcontractors for TPAR, keeping variations in writing, job costing, and what to hand your accountant at year end.
7 min read