Keeping Up with Work Is Easy. Keeping Up with Admin? Not So Much.
For most tradies, the goal is simple: get the job done, keep the work flowing and make sure clients are happy. But behind every great trade business is a pile of admin – quoting, invoicing, chasing payments, payroll, BAS lodgment, tax compliance. The work that doesn’t make you money but still needs to get done.
It’s easy for paperwork to build up when you’re flat out on-site every day. And before you know it, your nights and weekends are spent catching up instead of switching off.
That’s exactly where Marty, a Perth-based roof plumber, found himself.
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The Turning Point: When Admin Becomes Too Much
Marty has worked as a tradie his whole life, handling residential and commercial projects across Perth. In 2019, he took the leap and started his own business, excited for more freedom and control.
But as the work picked up so did the admin.
“At first I could keep up, but as more jobs came in, I was spending too much time on paperwork. I knew I needed a better system before it got overwhelming.”
Rather than letting admin take over, Marty reached out to Carbon, a firm he already knew and trusted. He wanted a team that could help him structure his business properly, manage the financials and make sure everything ran smoothly, without him having to micromanage it.
The Solution: Virtual Assistant & Admin Support for Tradies
At Carbon, we know admin is just one piece of the puzzle. Tradies need more than someone to send invoices, they need a proactive team that keeps their business in order and helps them plan ahead.
To take back control, Marty signed up for Carbon’s Virtual Assistant services, giving him a dedicated team to handle the day-to-day admin while also setting up systems to future-proof his business.
Here’s how Carbon helped Marty:
Invoicing & Debt Collection
Marty no longer has to chase clients for payments or worry about sending invoices on time. His Virtual Assistant handles it all, sending invoices, following up overdue payments and making sure cash keeps flowing into the business. With a streamlined system, Marty’s invoices go out on time, every time and overdue payments are chased automatically, improving his cash flow.
Payroll & Bookkeeping
Managing wages for subcontractors and suppliers used to be a hassle but now Carbon takes care of payroll processing, superannuation and reconciling expenses. Instead of sifting through receipts and spreadsheets, Marty gets accurate, up-to-date financial records and automated payroll management, so there are no last-minute headaches.
ATO & Tax Compliance
No more last-minute tax surprises. Carbon’s team manages BAS lodgements, GST reporting and tax compliance to ensure everything is up to date with the ATO. We also proactively identify opportunities for tax savings, helping Marty keep more of his hard-earned money in his pocket.
The Results: More Time, Less Stress and a Smoother Business
Since working with Carbon, Marty has:
- More time on the tools, less time stuck in paperwork: With invoices, payroll and tax taken care of, Marty can spend more time working and less time worrying about admin.
- Faster invoicing and fewer late payments: His cash flow has improved because invoices go out faster and overdue payments are followed up quickly, ensuring steady income.
- A proper bookkeeping and payroll system that keeps everything in order: Marty’s financial records are up to date, his payroll is handled accurately and his books are compliant, so no more last-minute panic at tax time.
“It’s just easier now. I don’t waste time sorting through paperwork, and I know everything’s looked after properly. I can just focus on the work.”