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Do You Know Your Numbers? Cost, Charge, and Pay Rate Explained

Ever feel like the harder you work, the less you’re taking home? For many Kiwi tradies running a trades company, it’s not about working more—it’s about working smarter.We recently shared a social media post explaining the difference between cost rate, charge rate, and pay rate, and it sparked some great conversations. It’s clear that many tradies are keen to understand how these numbers affect their business —and for good reason.Getting your cost rate, charge rate, and pay rate sorte...

Dealing with Tradie Burnout: Managing the Mental Load

This topic is close to my heart. Coming from a family full of tradies, including my husband, I’ve seen firsthand the effects it can have on loved ones.With rising food prices, power bills, and rent and mortgage interest rates, it’s harder than ever to stay on top of things.But there are ways to manage the load and take care of yourself when things get tough. ...

Top Xero Bookkeeping Tips for Tradies to Save Time and Money

Running a tradie business means long days on the tools, managing multiple jobs, and trying to keep your customers happy. But what about the mountain of admin that builds up—those late nights spent sending invoices, chasing payments, and trying to get your GST sorted?Imagine if you could hand it all over to someone else instead of spending hours at night sorting through paperwork. That’s where Xero bookkeeping and a virtual assistant (VA) come in, streamlining your business operations and giv...

How your virtual assistant can take your customer service to the next level

Running a tradie business is a big job. You have to manage projects, make decisions, and keep your customers happy, all while keeping up with the dreaded but important admin work. It can get pretty full-on. That’s where your virtual assistant can step in, help you stay ahead of your competition, and be known as the tradie who shows up and delivers!...

Top 5 benefits of outsourcing admin for NZ builders

Admin tasks can be a real hassle for NZ Builders. They eat up your time and keep you from doing what you’re good at and what brings in the dollars – building.  That’s where outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant (VA) comes in handy. Let’s check out the top five benefits.  ...

Why Social Media is a Game Changer for Your Trades Business

If you're swinging hammers, fixing pipes, or sparking wires, you've gotta get on the social media bandwagon. It’s not as scary as it might sound. We’ve even provided you with some content ideas to get the creative juices flowing!Here's why diving into social media is a game-changer for your trades business:...

Unleash Your Business Potential: Bookkeeping Services for Tradies

Picture this: it's tools down time, and instead of relaxing with a cold drink with the boys, you're buried under a mound of crumpled receipts, unpaid invoices and overdue debtors. Sounds all too familiar? We're here to tell you there's a better, smarter way. Outsource the accounts to Shadow – we’re your Xero Bookkeeping experts and we can help elevate your business. When it's time to power down the tools, you should be able to do exactly that!...

Why every Tradie in NZ needs a Virtual Assistant in their toolbox

Are you a Tradie in NZ feeling the strain of balancing life on the tools with running the show? Trust us, we get it! The struggle of managing the admin, sorting out accounts, handling staff dramas, staying on top of social media, and dealing with subbies on top of your day-to-day work can take its toll. It's like trying to lay down a perfect foundation while juggling a dozen other things – exhausting, right?...