tradie business coach

Should Staff Be Paid by the Hour?

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I’ve been having a lot of conversations with clients about how to structure pay for non-billable office staff – especially project managers and operations managers in trades and manufacturing businesses. A common question that keeps coming up is: Should these staff be paid by the hour? 

I’ve seen a pattern, especially with team members who’ve moved off the tools and into the office. Some of them come in with a bit of a clock watching mindset – they’re used to being paid hourly and working to rigid schedules. But once they’re in a leadership or coordination role, things need to shift. 

In my view, these roles should be based around fixed hours, say 8:30 to 5:00, but with a clear understanding that there needs to be some give and take. Maybe they’ll stay back late to finish a project, drive back from an interstate site, or set up jobs for the next day. On the flip side, they might pop out to a dentist appointment or need some flexibility from time to time. That’s all part of it. 

What’s most important is that they understand their role is no longer about punching the clock. It’s about managing their own time and being focused on results and completion. The job is to get things done whether it’s submitting a tender, finalising a schedule, or making sure the team has what they need to hit the ground running. 

But here’s the key: this needs to be communicated right from the start. When you’re hiring, when you’re onboarding, and through everyday conversations. Talk about expectations, reinforce the idea of ownership, and most importantly lead by example. 

When this kind of culture is set up well, it works beautifully. But if it’s left unclear or assumed, that’s when issues creep in. 

If you want support with setting up these expectations and building a results focused culture in your business, reach out. I’m always happy to help. 

Hugh Bowman
Business Consulting for Tradies 

You must increase your GOALS to increase your INCOME

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The #1 Thing You Need to Increase Your Income

Lately, I’ve been working with a group of my clients to review where their net wealth sits today and how it has changed over the last couple of years. Despite flat property prices and tough market conditions, many of them have managed to grow their wealth by around 20 percent per year. That got me thinking: what sets these people apart?

It is not luck. It is not timing.
It is something much simpler and far more powerful.

The clients who are building wealth consistently are the ones who have bigger goals.

When people first come to me, they often say they want to increase their income. But when I ask about their dreams, they usually play it safe. A modest house, a small boat, a comfortable life. There is nothing wrong with that, but when I ask what they really want, the conversation starts to shift. Maybe they want to pay off their home, buy an investment property, upgrade the boat, or own a holiday house. That is when the spark returns.

From there, we map out what those dreams actually cost and what kind of income it would take to achieve them. That is when the real work begins. Once those bigger dreams are on the table, there is something meaningful to aim for. And when there is a clear goal, we can start growing the business in a focused and deliberate way to support it.

That is the real difference.
If you want to increase your income, start by dreaming bigger.

If you are not sure how to define your goals or what to do next, I would love to help.
Get in touch and let’s talk about what your future could really look like.

Hugh Bowman
0409 402 474