The Financial Foreman

The Financial Foreman The Accountant for Tradies, specialising in the construction and trade industries. Offering Accounti

One of the biggest pricing mistakes we see Adelaide tradies make is quoting a job to cover materials and wages... then h...
30/08/2026

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 ...
27/08/2026

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...
26/08/2026

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.

25/08/2026

Working from home has plenty of perks.

You might be claiming expenses for part of your home, saving money today, and thinking you're making the smartest tax move.

But here's the sting in the tail...

If you're running your tradie business from home and claiming occupancy expenses like mortgage interest, rent, or rates for a dedicated business area, you could reduce part of your main residence CGT exemption when it's time to sell.

The ATO has recently reinforced that this is an area business owners need to understand properly—it isn't as straightforward as many people think.

Before claiming everything you're entitled to, ask yourself:

🏡 Are you claiming running expenses or occupancy expenses?

📊 Will today's deduction create tomorrow's tax bill?

🔍 Have you weighed up the long-term impact before lodging your return?

A small deduction today isn't always worth a much bigger tax bill years down the track.

That's why tax planning isn't just about saving money now—it's about making smarter decisions for your future.

💬 Comment "READY" if you're running your business from home and want to make sure you're claiming the right deductions without creating a costly surprise later.

Learn how The Financial Foreman can help you navigate your business with confidence.

24/08/2026

Carousels are gold for sharing tips, educational content, or showcasing projects in progress.

🎯 Short-form videos work amazingly too.

But don’t count out static posts entirely—they still have a place in your content mix!

Want to learn how to balance your content for maximum engagement? 💡

👉 Want to watch the full video? Click the link in our bio!

Ever finished a big job, sent a healthy-looking invoice, and still wondered where the money went? You're not alone. One ...
23/08/2026

Ever finished a big job, sent a healthy-looking invoice, and still wondered where the money went? You're not alone. One of the biggest mistakes we see Adelaide tradies make is assuming a bigger job automatically means a bigger profit.

The truth is, revenue is only one part of the story.

Labour hours can run over, materials can increase, subcontractor costs add up, and all those "small" expenses like fuel, plant hire, and admin time quietly chip away at your margins.

The tradie businesses making the strongest profits aren't necessarily doing more work—they're tracking what each job actually costs.

Compare your quote against the real labour hours, materials, overheads, and extras that came up along the way.

Once you start measuring profit per project instead of just looking at your bank balance, you'll quickly see which jobs are worth repeating, where you're underquoting, and where a simple pricing adjustment could put thousands back in your pocket.

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

If you're tired of finishing big jobs without seeing the profit you expected, comment "READY" and The Financial Foreman will help you build a job-profitability system that takes the guesswork out of quoting and helps you keep more of what you earn. 📊

21/08/2026

Everyone wants to jump straight into filming content…
But the real magic happens before the camera even turns on. 🎥

This is the part most businesses skip:
🔧 Understanding who you are
🎯 Knowing your point of difference
👥 Getting clear on your target audience
📍 Figuring out where they actually spend their time

Because if you don’t get this right first, no amount of content will fix it.

In this Ask an Expert episode with Shannon, we dive into why strategy is the foundation — and how getting clear on your message makes everything else (content, marketing, leads) actually work.

And yeah… once that’s sorted, the fun stuff like filming and creating content becomes a whole lot easier too. 👊

👉 Want to watch the full video? Click the link in our bio!

This is why we do what we do. 🙌Accounting and finance can feel complicated, but they don’t have to. Shane’s kind words a...
20/08/2026

This is why we do what we do. 🙌

Accounting and finance can feel complicated, but they don’t have to. Shane’s kind words are a great reminder that the right advice isn’t just about knowing the numbers — it’s about being able to explain them in a way that actually makes sense and helps you feel confident about your business.

Thanks, Shane, for the incredibly kind words and for trusting Josh and the team. We love helping tradies cut through the jargon, understand their numbers, and make better decisions for the business they’re building. If you’re ready to make your finances feel a whole lot simpler, comment **READY** below.

19/08/2026

The days of paying super every quarter are coming to an end—and waiting until the last minute could hurt your business more than you think.

For years, plenty of tradie businesses have treated super like a quarterly expense. But with Payday Super on the way, that mindset will need to change.

If your cash flow only works because you hold onto super payments until quarter-end, it's time to rethink your systems. The businesses that prepare now will avoid the stress later.

Don't wait for the rules to catch you off guard.

Start reviewing your payroll, tighten up your cash flow, and make sure your business is ready before the changes kick in.

💸 Comment "READY" if you need help navigating what Payday Super means for your business and learn how The Financial Foreman can help you stay ahead.

18/08/2026

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make with content?

Trying to post the same thing everywhere. 😬

The truth is, every platform works differently — and the algorithm decides what gets seen.

That means the way you shoot, post, and present your content should change depending on where your audience is.

📱 Instagram & TikTok = portrait-based, quick, engaging, entertaining content
💼 LinkedIn = perfect for B2B businesses building trust and authority
👥 Facebook = still valuable for community connection, just not as dominant as it once was

If you’re a tradie working B2B with builders, developers, or commercial clients — LinkedIn might be where you should focus.

If you’re B2C and working directly with homeowners or consumers — Instagram could be your best move.

And if you’re selling products or running e-commerce, TikTok can be a game changer for fast attention and trend-based marketing. ⚡

But before any of that, it always comes back to the same question:

👉 Who are you?
👉 What are your goals?
👉 Who are your ideal clients?
👉 Where do they actually spend their time?

In this Ask an Expert episode, we break down how to choose the right platform, the right strategy, and the right content for your business—so you stop wasting time posting where your customers aren’t.

👉 Want to watch the full video? Click the link in our bio!

Address

The Financial Foreman, 671 Marion Road, Ascot Park
Adelaide, SA
5043

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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