The Financial Foreman

This is your FAQ of the Week for all the tradies — and this one catches plenty of business owners out.

An ABN and an invoice don't automatically determine whether someone is genuinely an independent contractor.

You need to look at the actual working arrangement.
👷 Who controls how, when and where the work is done?
🛠️ Who provides the tools and equipment?
📋 Can they delegate or subcontract the work?
💰 Who carries the commercial risk?
🏢 Are they actually running their own business?

Getting the classification wrong can mean unexpected tax, super and employment obligations.

And with the new Payday Super rules now applying from 1 July 2026, getting your worker arrangements right is even more important.

If you've got a crew of “subbies” working regularly for you, don't just assume the ABN settles the question.

Got a worker arrangement you're unsure about? Drop your question below or chat with The Financial Foreman.

🎙️ ASK AN EXPERT SERIES | Has content marketing changed more than we realise?

Still posting like it's 2020? That could be holding your business back. 👀

Welcome to another episode of The Financial Foreman's Ask an Expert Series, where we sit down with industry experts to help tradies and business owners make smarter decisions that grow their business.

In this episode, Josh chats with Shanon from Yeah Buddy about one of the biggest questions business owners are asking:
Has content marketing changed more than we realise?

The answer is yes—but that doesn't mean you need to jump on every new trend.

We've gone from relying heavily on static posts to a world of Reels, Shorts, algorithms, and content that needs to earn people's attention.

The businesses getting results aren't necessarily chasing every trend—they're understanding their audience, choosing the right platforms, and adapting as things change.

If you're a tradie looking to grow your business online, this is a conversation worth watching. 👀

💬 What's the biggest change you've noticed on social media over the last few years? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

What if you could see what your business could look like before making a big move? 👀

More leads. Higher prices. Better margins. Lower overheads.

But which changes could actually make the biggest difference to your bottom line?

That’s exactly what our FREE Business Scenario Planner is designed to help you explore.

Plug in your current numbers — like your average job value, leads, conversion rate, gross profit margin and monthly overheads — then test different scenarios to see how they could impact your profit.

🔧 What happens if you increase your prices?
📈 What if you bring in more leads?
💰 What if you improve your gross profit margin?
📊 What if you cut unnecessary overheads?

Instead of guessing “What if?”, you can put some numbers behind the question and see the potential difference.

And the best part? It’s FREE.

Whether you're a tradie looking to grow, improve your margins or simply get a better handle on where your business could go next, this is a great place to start.

👉 Head to The Financial Foreman website and find our FREE Business Scenario Planner under Resources. Give it a go and see what your numbers could look like.

And if you want help turning the scenario into an actual plan, comment READY and start the conversation with us.

One of the biggest pricing mistakes we see Adelaide tradies make is quoting a job to cover materials and wages... then hoping there's something left over at the end.

The problem is, your business has plenty of costs that don't appear on a single quote—fuel, insurance, tools, software, vehicle expenses, and the hours spent quoting and chasing invoices all eat into your margins.

A practical starting point is to build in around 10–20% for overheads, then add 15–25% profit on top. It's not a one-size-fits-all formula, but it helps ensure you're paying for the real cost of running your business—not just the job itself.

When you know your numbers, you're pricing for profit instead of simply winning work.

This is part of our FAQ Series, where we answer the real questions Adelaide tradies and foremen ask about running a more profitable business.

If you're not sure whether your pricing is leaving money on the table, comment "READY" and The Financial Foreman will help you work out a pricing strategy that actually pays you what you're worth.

This week's Ask an Expert question: how genuine is too genuine when you're marketing to tradies?

Every trade business is different — some owners want cheeky and loud, some want it straight down the line. We work with all of them, so we've learned where that line actually sits.

Genuine doesn't mean going overboard. It means showing the real look, feel and personality of your business, in a way that still fits your industry.

That's the same principle we bring to your numbers too — straight talk, no corporate spin, tailored to how you actually run your business.

Comment "TEAM" and we'll send you the link to get to know us properly.

Got a question you want answered in the next Ask an Expert? Drop it below.

Think a 20% markup means you're making 20% profit? 🤔

This is one of the most expensive mistakes we see tradies make.
A lot of tradies assume that adding a markup automatically means they're making healthy money on every job.

But here's the catch: markup and gross profit aren't the same thing.

Mix them up, and you could be undercharging without even knowing it.

That's exactly why we created our FREE Markup to Gross Profit Calculator. In just a few clicks, you'll see where your margins really sit, price your jobs with confidence, and make sure the long days on the tools are actually putting more money in your pocket.

💬 Comment "READY" if you want help understanding your numbers, or try our FREE Markup to Gross Profit Calculator before quoting your next job.
The difference between breaking even and building real profit could be one small pricing adjustment.