TradeTrac · Resources
Articles for Contractors
Practical guides on site visits, quoting, invoicing and running a tighter trade business — written for contractors, by people who get the work.
50 Things to Check During a Site Visit
A site visit is your one chance to get everything right before the job starts. Miss something and you're heading back — wasting time, burning fuel, and losing money. Whether you're a plumber, electrician, builder, or general contractor, this checklist will make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
Read articleHow to Price a Painting Job
Pricing a painting job correctly is one of the most important skills a contractor can develop. Price too high and you lose the job. Price too low and you lose money. Get it right and you build a reputation for fair, professional quoting that keeps clients coming back.
Read articleWhat Photos and Measurements to Take During a Site Visit
The photos and measurements you take on a site visit decide how accurate your quote is. Here's exactly what to photograph and measure on every visit — so you don't miss a detail that costs you later.
Read article10 Costly Site Visit Mistakes Contractors Make
Most contractors don't lose money on the tools — they lose it in the details. A missed measurement, a forgotten complication, a misunderstood scope of work. These aren't things that happen to bad contractors. They happen to busy ones.
Read articleHow to Write Better Quotes That Win More Jobs
A great quote does more than list prices. It builds trust, demonstrates professionalism, and gives a client confidence that you're the right person for the job. Contractors who write better quotes win more work — at better margins.
Read articleHow to Stay Organised as a Contractor
Running a contracting business means juggling jobs, clients, suppliers, quotes, invoices, and a thousand small decisions every day. Most contractors are exceptional at the trade itself. Organisation is where many struggle — and where money gets lost.
Read articleBest Apps for Contractors in 2026
The right apps can save a contractor hours every week — on admin, communication, scheduling, and invoicing. The wrong ones just add another platform to check and another subscription to pay for.
Read articleWhy Contractors Forget Important Site Details (And How to Stop)
You visit a site. The job is clear in your mind. You can picture exactly what needs to be done, what materials you'll need, and what the complications might be.
Read articleSite Visit Report Example: What a Professional Report Looks Like
A professional site visit report does more than record what you saw. It demonstrates expertise, protects you legally, and gives everyone involved — client, subcontractors, yourself — a clear and shared understanding of the job.
Read articleHow to Reduce Admin Time as a Contractor
If you're spending evenings and weekends on admin, you're not alone. Most contractors spend 5-10 hours a week on tasks that aren't the actual work — quoting, invoicing, chasing payments, updating records, and responding to messages.
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