Guides
Quoting guides for Australian tradies
Plain answers to the questions that cost you jobs and money: what goes on a quote, GST, deposits, following up and pricing. Sources are linked, so you can check them.
Writing and winning quotes
How to write a quote as a tradie (with a checklist)
A good quote is clear, complete and easy to say yes to. Here is what to put on it, in what order, and the small details that stop arguments later.
Read the guideHow to send a quote from your phone (before you leave the driveway)
The quote that lands first, while the customer still remembers you, wins a lot of jobs. Here's how to write and send it from your phone in a few minutes.
Read the guideQuote vs estimate in Australia: what's the difference?
A quote is a fixed price for a set job. An estimate is your best guess. Mixing them up is one of the most common causes of disputes between tradies and customers.
Read the guideGST on quotes: what Australian tradies need to know
Quote consumers a price that includes GST, show the GST amount if you're registered, and never add GST if you're not. Here's the detail, with sources.
Read the guideTaking a deposit as a tradie: how much, and the rules by state
Deposits protect you from no-shows and cover materials, but residential building work has legal caps in several states. Here's what applies, with links to each regulator.
Read the guideHow to follow up a quote without being pushy
Most quotes aren't lost to a cheaper tradie. They're lost to silence. A short, friendly follow-up at the right time wins back a surprising number of jobs.
Read the guideHow to price a job as a tradie: rates, markup and profit
Most tradies who struggle aren't short of work. They're underpriced. Here's a simple way to work out what you need to charge, and how to put your profit on top of your costs.
Read the guideHow to quote an electrical job (for Australian electricians)
Power points, downlights, fans, smoke alarms, switchboards and EV chargers. What to look at on site, how to price the common items, and a worked example that adds up.
Read the guideHow to quote a plumbing job (hot water, gas and repairs)
Fixtures, hot water, gas fitting and blocked drains. What to check, how to price the common items, how to show rebates, and a hot water example that adds up.
Read the guideHow to quote a building or renovation job
Bathrooms, kitchens, extensions and granny flats. How to scope the job, use allowances properly, stay within deposit caps, and send a quote the customer can follow.
Read the guideHow to quote a carpentry job (decks, pergolas, floors and doors)
Decks, pergolas, flooring, doors and trim. How to measure, which units to price in, when approvals come into it, and a deck quote that adds up.
Read the guideHow to quote a fencing job (Colorbond, timber and pool fences)
Measure the run, count the posts, price per metre, add gates and removal. A plain guide to fencing quotes, with a Colorbond example that adds up.
Read the guideQuote breakdown: what to show the customer and what to keep
Every quote has two sides. The customer needs enough detail to trust it and compare it. You need every cost, hour and profit figure behind it. They're not the same breakdown.
Read the guideHow to keep a record of how you priced a job
A customer rings back in March about the quote you sent in October. You can see the total, but not how you got there. Here's what to write down while you price, so you never have to guess.
Read the guideAutomatic quote follow-ups: what to automate and what to keep
Most tradies know they should follow up and most forget. Automating it fixes the forgetting. The trick is deciding what goes on its own and what waits for your OK.
Read the guide
What jobs cost in Australia
Rough price ranges by trade, what pushes a price up, and what to check before you accept a quote.
How much does decking cost in Australia? (2026 guide)
Treated pine, hardwood or composite. Here's what a new deck actually costs per square metre in 2026, what pushes the price up, and how to get a real number.
Read the guideHow much does tiling cost per m² in Australia?
Labour, tile supply, waterproofing and removal all stack up. Here's what tiling really costs per square metre in 2026, and how to price your own job.
Read the guideHow much does an electrician cost in Australia?
Call-out fees, hourly rates and common job prices, from a single power point to a full rewire, plus what licensing and compliance certificates mean for you.
Read the guideHow much does fencing cost per metre in Australia?
Colorbond, timber paling or glass pool fencing. Here's the real per-metre cost in 2026, what pushes it up, gates and removal included, and how to price your run.
Read the guideHow much does concreting cost per m² in Australia?
Plain, exposed aggregate, coloured or stamped. Here's what concreting really costs per square metre in 2026, what drives the price, and how to size your own slab or driveway.
Read the guideHow much does house painting cost in Australia?
Per square metre, per room, or whole-house. Here's what interior and exterior painting really costs in 2026, why prep and access drive the price, and how to budget yours.
Read the guideHow much does a plumber cost in Australia?
Call-out fees, hourly rates and common job prices, from a leaking tap to a new hot water system, plus why emergency and diagnostic work needs a site visit before a real price.
Read the guideHow much does plastering & gyprock cost in Australia?
Hanging and setting plasterboard, ceilings, cornice and patch repairs all price differently. Here's what plastering really costs in 2026, and why there's usually a minimum call-out.
Read the guideHow much does a new roof or re-roof cost in Australia?
Colorbond re-roof, tile re-roof, restoration or new guttering. Here's what roofing really costs per m² in 2026, why re-roofs are a range until inspection, and how to budget yours.
Read the guideHow much does a carpenter cost in Australia?
Hourly rates and common job prices for wardrobes, flooring, pergolas and door hanging, plus the state licence thresholds that decide whether your job needs a licensed carpenter.
Read the guideHow much does a garage door cost in Australia? (2026 guide)
Single panel-lift, double sectional or roller. Here's what a new garage door actually costs installed in 2026, what pushes the price up, and how to get a real number.
Read the guideHow much does a front entry door cost in Australia? (2026 guide)
Solid timber, pivot or a door with sidelights. Here's what a new front entry door actually costs supplied and installed in 2026, and how to get a real number.
Read the guideHow much does landscaping cost in Australia? (2026 guide)
Turf, paving, retaining walls and garden beds. Here's what landscaping actually costs per m² and per project in 2026, what drives the price, and how to get a real number.
Read the guideHow much does a retaining wall cost in Australia? (2026 guide)
Timber sleeper, concrete sleeper, besser block or rock. Here's what a retaining wall really costs per square metre of wall face in 2026, and what pushes it up.
Read the guideHow much does a carport cost in Australia? (2026 guide)
Single, double or attached. Here's what a carport really costs in 2026, what pushes the price up, council approval included, and how to get a real number.
Read the guideHow much does a pergola cost in Australia? (2026 guide)
Open timber, aluminium or louvred roof. Here's what a pergola really costs per square metre in 2026, what pushes the price up, and how to get a real number.
Read the guideHow much does a bathroom renovation cost in Australia? (2026 guide)
Budget, mid-range or high-end. Here's what a bathroom renovation really costs in 2026, what pushes the price up, and how to get a real number for your job.
Read the guideHow much does a concrete driveway cost in Australia? (2026 guide)
Plain, coloured, exposed aggregate or stencilled. Here's what a concrete driveway really costs per square metre in 2026, and what pushes the price up.
Read the guideHow much does it cost to rewire a house in Australia? (2026 guide)
Full or partial rewire. Here's what rewiring a house really costs in 2026, what pushes the price up, the signs you might need one, and how to get a real number.
Read the guideCard surcharge ban 2026: how tradies should re-price their quotes
From 1 October 2026 you can't add a surcharge on top of the bill for Visa, Mastercard, eftpos or American Express. Here is what changed for tradies, and how to re-price so you don't quietly lose profit.
Read the guide
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