Guides · Getting paid · 5 min read · Updated 25 September 2026
Progress claims for small builders: how to set them up and get them paid on time
Progress claims are how a building job stays cash-flow positive. Set them up in the quote, invoice each one as its own tax invoice, and chase them the day they are late. Here is the routine.
Set the stages in the quote
Deposit, then milestones the client can see: slab poured, frame up, lock-up, fit-out, completion. Give each a percentage of the contract price. The client agrees to the schedule when they accept the quote, so there is no negotiation at each stage.
Invoice each stage properly
- Each claim is a numbered tax invoice referencing the quote and the stage.
- Show the contract total, the amount claimed to date, this claim, and the balance remaining.
- Add approved variations to the claim they fall in, referenced by number.
- Seven-day terms, bank details on the invoice, invoice number as the reference.
Chase on day one
A late progress claim slows the job for everyone. The day after it is due, a short email with the invoice attached. A week later, a call. SmokoBooks shows every late claim on the dashboard with a pre-written reminder one click away.
Security of payment
Every state and territory has security of payment legislation for construction work. It gives contractors a fast, statutory process to recover progress payments, with strict time limits for serving claims and responding. The rules and forms differ by state, so learn your state's process before you need it, because the deadlines are short.
Common questions
Can I claim before a stage is fully complete?+
Claim for the stage as defined in the contract. Claiming early invites a dispute and, in some states, breaches the contract rules.
What if the client disputes a claim?+
Refer to the accepted quote's stage definition and any signed variations. Keep the claim factual and itemised. If it is not resolved, the security of payment process exists for exactly this.
Do variations get their own invoice?+
They can, or they can be added to the next progress claim as a separate line referencing the variation number. Either way, the variation must have been accepted in writing first.
General information for Australian sole traders and small trade businesses, not tax or legal advice. Thresholds, rates and due dates change: confirm the current figures on ato.gov.au or with your accountant.