Guides
Guides for tradies and service businesses in Australia
These guides for tradies and service businesses answer the questions asked most in Australia: what a tax invoice must include, how GST works for a small trade business, how to get paid sooner, and how to choose job management software. Each is written in plain English for Australian rules, and each ends with what to do next, whether or not you use Karya Falak.
Every guide
- Tax invoice requirements in AustraliaWhat an Australian tax invoice must show, the extra detail for sales of A$1,000 or more, the 28-day rule, and what to do if you are not registered for GST.
- Quote vs estimateA quote is a fixed price that binds once accepted; an estimate is a careful best guess. When to use each in Australia, what to include, and handling extra work.
- GST for tradiesGST for Australian tradies in plain English: when to register, quoting with GST included, tax invoices, cash or accruals, and the three boxes on your BAS.
- Job management software in AustraliaHow to choose job management software in Australia: pricing models, GST invoices, Xero and MYOB, messaging, payments and data location, compared fairly.
- WhatsApp Business for tradiesHow Australian tradies can use WhatsApp Business well: app or platform, sharing a number, quick replies, the 24-hour window, templates and spam rules.
- How to get paid faster as a tradiePractical ways for Australian tradies to get paid sooner: deposits, clear payment terms, same-day invoices, easy ways to pay and polite reminders.
- Online booking for tradiesShould customers book your trade online? Which jobs suit self-booking, request or instant booking, service areas, prices with GST and keeping times honest.
Money, tax and paperwork
- Tax invoice requirements in Australia: what the ATO says a tax invoice must show, when you must give one, and the extra detail needed for larger sales.
- GST for tradies: when you have to register, quoting with GST included, GST-free and input-taxed lines, and what goes in G1 and 1A on your BAS.
- Quote vs estimate: the difference between the two, why it matters if the price changes, and how to word each one.
- How to get paid faster: deposits, clear payment terms, PayID and card options, reminders before and after the due date, and invoicing on the day.
Winning and booking work
- Online booking for tradies: whether to let customers book themselves, request or instant booking, limiting by postcode, and keeping your Calendar honest.
- WhatsApp Business for tradies: the WhatsApp Business app against the WhatsApp Business Platform, sharing one number with a team, the 24-hour reply window and message templates.
Choosing software
- Job management software buyer’s guide: the questions to ask before you commit, from pricing models and Australian tax invoices to accounting links, phone apps and getting your data out.
If you already have a shortlist, the comparison pages set the main tools side by side.
How these guides are written
Tax and legal rules come from the ATO and other government sources, linked on each guide with the date we checked them. The guides explain the rules in general and are not tax advice for your situation, so check with your accountant or BAS agent before acting on anything that affects your tax.
Where a guide mentions Karya Falak, it describes what the product does.
Questions
Do I need Karya Falak to use these guides?
No. Every guide is written to be useful whatever software you use, or none.
Are there templates to go with them?
Yes. Free quote and tax invoice templates, general and for eight trades, are on the templates page.
Put the guides into practice
Karya Falak works out GST, lays out your tax invoices, sends payment reminders and puts your PayID and bank details on every invoice. Try it free for 14 days.