Tradie business tips

The Federal Budget Won’t Save Your Trade Business, But This Will

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Every year when the Australian Federal Budget is released, business owners wait to hear whether there will be some major announcement that changes everything. Tax concessions, incentives, rebates, grants, write offs. While some of these can certainly help around the edges, the reality is this: no government budget is going to suddenly transform your trade business overnight. 

The businesses that perform well over the long term are usually not the ones waiting for handouts. They are the ones focused on what they can actually control every single day. How well is your team performing? How good is your customer experience? Are you following up quotes properly? Is your marketing consistent? Are you charging correctly? Are your systems strong enough to handle growth? These are the things that genuinely determine whether a trade business grows or struggles, regardless of what is announced in Canberra. 

Markets go through cycles. Costs rise. Interest rates change. Budgets come and go. Every business in Australia is facing the same environment at the same time. The businesses that stand out are the ones that position themselves better during uncertain periods, not the ones that retreat and wait. In tougher conditions, good operators often gain market share because weaker competitors pull back on marketing, stop following up leads properly, or lose focus internally. That creates opportunity for businesses that stay proactive and disciplined, and willing to change.. 

So instead of asking “What did the budget do for me?”, a better question might be “How can I position my business to benefit from all the uncertainty while others are indecisive or slow to act?” This is where strong leadership, better systems, better sales processes and clearer financial control matter most. There will always be opportunity for trade businesses that are organised, responsive, profitable and well marketed. 

The market is not about to crash and burn. But it will reward businesses that adapt, stay visible, lead their teams well and continue improving while others slow down. That is where the real opportunity sits. 

Happy to chat more about this if you wish.

Thanks
Hugh

The Daily Disciplines Behind High Performance

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In this video, I share the daily disciplines I rely on to perform at my best. These are the habits that have made the biggest difference in my life and business, especially coming out of a period where things were not going well.

High performance is not about big breakthroughs. It is about consistently getting the fundamentals right.

The five areas I focus on are simple, but powerful. Looking after your body, strengthening your mindset and self-identity, having a clear vision for your future, setting meaningful goals, and staying connected with the people around you.

None of these are easy at first, but when you commit to them daily, they compound quickly.

Watch the video above and take note of which area you could improve first. That is usually where the biggest impact sits.

If you want help applying this in your business or building better structure around your goals, feel free to reach out.

Hugh Bowman
ActionCOACH Geelong

Do you know your Gross Profit?

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How to calculate your gross profits

As a business coach, I often get asked about gross profit – what it actually means, how to calculate it, and why it matters. A client asked me about it just this week, so I thought it was worth breaking it down here for other tradie business owners.

Gross profit is simply the money left over after subtracting the direct costs of a job – things like materials and site labour — from the total sales. For example, if a job is billed at $100 and the costs of materials and labour are $60, the gross profit is $40. That’s the amount that tells you how much money your business has earned from the job before overheads like rent, insurance, or admin costs are factored in.

It’s also useful to look at gross profit on a monthly profit & loss statement. Let’s say sales for the month are $100K, and costs of sales (materials and site labour) are $60K. That leaves a gross profit of $40K. Once you subtract fixed expenses (say $20K), your net profit is $20K. By tracking gross profit percentage — gross profit expressed as a percentage of sales — you can see more clearly whether jobs are truly profitable and how efficiently your business is running.

This is why I always encourage clients to measure gross profit percentage on every job. If you know your overheads run at 20%, then a job with 50% gross profit is a winner, while a job at 30% gross profit is a red flag. Comparing gross profit percentages helps you benchmark jobs, identify underperformers, and even measure your business against others in the industry.

Understanding gross profit isn’t about getting bogged down in accounting jargon — it’s about giving yourself clarity, confidence, and control. When you know your numbers, you can make smarter decisions that improve both your jobs and your business overall.

If you’d like help making sense of your numbers and building a stronger business, I’d be happy to talk.

Thanks
Hugh
0409 402 474

How to Get the Most Out of Your Admin Staff (Without Letting Xero Take Over)

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Today I want to talk about something I see way too often in tradie businesses what I call The Great Xero Addiction. 

Here’s the pattern: A small trade business grows to the point where they put on an admin person. The biggest pain point for the business owner at that stage is often the accounting system (usually Xero or QuickBooks) so that becomes the admin’s primary focus. Makes sense, right? 

But as the business grows, the admin role grows too. They start picking up the phone, managing a job management system like ServiceM8 or Simpro, scheduling the team, and handling materials. Yet despite all that, many admins stay heavily focused on Xero. It becomes their comfort zone and the thing they default to even if it’s not the most valuable use of their time. 

That’s where the problem lies. 

In a growing business, answering the phone can be the difference between winning and losing a job. Managing scheduling and ensuring jobs are run profitably is crucial. Staying on top of materials and adding variations matters too. But Xero? That’s mostly about managing expenses and while it’s important, it’s something you can outsource to a great bookkeeper (I know of a great one if you need a recommendation!).  

So if you’ve got an admin person who’s glued to Xero while other key areas are slipping, it might be time to rethink the structure of the role. Either pull Xero off their plate or train them to prioritise tasks that actually move the needle in your business. 

Need help figuring out how to make that work in your business? Contact me, I’d be happy to chat through it with you. 0409 402 474 

Why Holidays Are Great for Business – with Hugh Bowman

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In this video, I’m sharing something a bit different – why taking holidays has become one of the best things I do for my business.

Every time I take a proper break like last week’s trip to Mt Hotham with my five boys, I come back clearer, sharper, and more energised than ever. But more than that, I always seem to learn, realise big ideas, attract unexpected leads, and return refreshed and ready to make big changes.

Here’s what I’ve noticed after years of doing this:

  • LEARN: I set myself up to learn while I’m away (yes, even if my kids have to listen to Jim Rohn in the car!)

  • REALISE: I have those lightbulb moments when I finally slow down – whether I’m on a chairlift or holding a fishing rod

  • LEADS: I get surprising leads out of nowhere (I don’t know why, but it always happens)

  • REFRESHED: I come back with energy and perspective I just can’t access when I’m stuck in the daily grind

If you’re running a business, especially as a tradie or hands-on owner, I really encourage you to plan your holidays well in advance and take more of them! They’re not time away from your business… they’re fuel for what’s next.

Take the break. You (and your business) will be better for it.

– Hugh

How to Prioritise your Time

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How tradies should prioritise time

Are you working too much, constantly on call for your customers, and left with no time or energy for yourself of your family?

You’re not alone! And it’s a problem I see all the time. The truth is, unless you take control of your priorities, the consequences can be serious: burnout, broken relationships, or complete exhaustion.

When you’re in that state, EVERYONE LOSES including your customers, you team and your business.

Let’s shift that.

A Simple Framework to Help You Focus on What Matters

To get your time and energy going to the right places, I want to share a simple yet powerful framework. It’s all about putting your effort where it truly counts, and in the right order.

Here’s how it works:

  1. YOU

Yes, we start with you. And no, it’s not selfish. If you’re unwell, burnt out, or mentally drained, you’re not going to be much help to your business, your team, or your family.

Prioritising your own mental state and wellbeing is not optional, it’s essential! You sit at the very top of the tree. If you’re not functioning well, everything else underneath will suffer.

  1. FAMILY

This is probably the reason you’re in business to begin with. It’s what drives and sustains you.

But too often, I see people putting their business above their family, and that’s when things fall apart. Your family needs your presence, not just your income.

  1. YOUR BUSINESS

Yes, your business is important, but it’s there to serve you and your family, not the other way around. Keep it in perspective.

When the business becomes the top priority and everything else is sacrificed for it, that’s when resentment, stress, and imbalance start to creep in.

  1. TEAM

Some business owners bend over backwards for individual team members, even at their own expense. While your team is valuable, your business can’t revolve around one person.

Don’t let the fear of losing a staff member take priority over your own wellbeing or the bigger picture.

  1. CUSTOMERS

This might surprise you, but customers come last in this hierarchy, and that’s not a bad thing.

Some people do absolutely everything for their customers, sacrificing themselves, their family, their team… everything. But that’s completely upside down.

Customers are important, but not more important than your health, your family, your business, or your team.

Final Thoughts

So, the next time you feel pulled in a million directions, ask yourself: Where is my time and energy actually going?

If you apply this framework:

  1. You
  2. Family
  3. Business
  4. Team
  5. Customers

You’ll start making clearer, healthier decisions about how to spend your time.

When your priorities are in order, everything else starts to flow. Hope this helps.

Hugh Bowman
Tradies Business Coach