The Subbies' Toolbox Podcast

In recent weeks we have seen trade credit insurers pull cover on particular builders with 30 days notice. Many subcontractors are now wondering whether their trade credit insurance policy is pointless?  In this episode I drill down into all of the factors you should consider before you give up your policy.    --------------------------------------------------------------------------...

Material price increases and rising building costs have been a major stress point for the industry for almost two years now. Here are three ways we are seeing subbies and builders get price increase clauses into their contracts.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Download Michelle's Freebies! 10 Changes to Make to Your Builders Contract ; A G...

This month we have been receiving daily calls about issues we usually only hear about once or twice a year.  So that you can be ahead of the game, we are sharing these with you in this episode of the Tricks of Your Trade Podcast.    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Download Michelle's Freebies! 10 Changes to Make to Your Builders Co...

One of the best profiling data you have available to you about your builder is your builder's payment schedule. Use these tips to work out what is going on behind the scenes with the builder's cashflow, project profitability and staffing situations.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Download Michelle's Freebies! 10 Changes to Make to Your Bu...

In an EPIC Subbies' Toolbox Members Spotlight interview, Kieran Scott from Fyre Pro Aus tells all about what its like to be a certifier one day, and a sub-subbie the next. Dabbling in Contracts, the Building Code and tinnys of XXXX Gold behind the warehouse after work, it doesn't get more coal face than this. Kieran is quite literally playing with fire on the best of days. Tune in to hear how Kier...

In this candid interview, Brice talks about how he was so busy putting out fires and trying to win work that he neglected his admin, which ultimately led to him not being paid. 12 months on, Bryce reflects on how different business can be when you contract with confidence.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Download Michelle's Freebies! 10 Ch...

Anyone who has worked with me or even just followed me on socials will know that I frown and cuss a lot when people start talking about relationships being the be all and end all of their business. I've always taken this on board, because I recognise that it is a genuine concern for business owners. But deep down inside, I've always seen relationships as a blindfold of their own. Until this week,...

The instability in the market in the construction industry at the moment is seeing builders scramble to lock Subbies in for yesterday's pricing. One of the ways Subcontractors are being hoodwinked is by having inadequate margin on variations.  Listen to this episode and do the three small things at contract signing to avoid this happening to you.   ---------------------------------------...

It is absolutely possible for Aussie Subcontractors to pick up a 400 + page construction contract and read it with the same ease and understanding as you read drawings. You just need to know how it is done. In this Episode of the Tricks of Your Trade Podcast spill the beans on how to do it.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Download Michelle...

If you're experiencing increased cost of materials, delays in getting materials and labour or you can't get to site because of a lockdown issue, tune into this Podcast for some tips on how to navigate the problem.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Download Michelle's Freebies! 10 Changes to Make to Your Builders Contract ; A Guide For Subcon...

It's Father's Day here in Australia and a good time to reflect on the way our children see and learn from our business interactions.  We only get one life. How much is your relationship with your builder affecting the lives of your family?    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Download Michelle's Freebies! 10 Changes to Make to Your B...

Time is quite literally, your money. If you aren't claiming delay costs under your subcontract you are forgetting who you work for. In this episode of the Tricks of Your Trade Podcast, I give you the 5 key things you need to do to claim delay costs under your construction contract.    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Download Michelle's...

Modern day Adjudication has its pitfalls, and as an Aussie Subcontractor who is owed money, it is so important for you to understand what you're getting yourself in for if you can't avoid costly debt recovery processes. In this episode, I break down the five high stress moments in an Adjudication process and give you an outline of what to expect from the process.   ---------------------------...

How often is your builder asking you to leave money on the table on the current job so that you can be spoon fed the next job? When you understand why you're being asked this question in the first place, you will see that your business will be better off if these builders are working with your competitors. Unless your builder is throwing in the next project as a good faith value proposition in rea...

Your builder isn't always trying to rob you of a quid when he asks you to start work on site without the written contract squared away.  Thing is, the real reason you're being asked to do this are because of internal problems or procedural issues that your builder is juggling. Listen to this episode to find out what they are, and what might happen if you do start before you square away the pa...

If you're not thinking about getting paid for your retentions until the end of the project, you've already missed the boat on the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to protect your payment. In this episode I'm not only giving you contract hacks to get retention released, I'm also giving you a free template email to your builder to firm up your end of DLP reference date.   ---------------------...

If you're an Aussie Subcontractor and you don't have a cost effective and practical solution to reviewing your Builder's Contract before you sign it, this is the episode for you.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Download Michelle's Freebies! 10 Changes to Make to Your Builders Contract ; A Guide For Subcontractors  Explore ways to get...

In this episode I'm ripping off the rose coloured glasses to road test your relationship with your builder.  With tips and tricks on how you can harness that relationship to gain commercial footholds at all the right times, this podcast is a must listen if you're one of those "too nice" guys when it comes to negotiation.   -----------------------------------------------------------------...

If you're an Aussie Subbie there is every chance you have been in this situation without even being aware. Being trapped under contract in a situation where you're not making money - or worse, you're LOSING money, is a business sinker reality. In this episode I spill the beans on the two most common way subcontractors find themselves trapped under contract.    ---------------------------...

Guest expert Jillian Hamilton of Manage Damage deep dives into why your safety systems can be the point of difference that  wins you work. Click HERE for an exclusive offer for Tricks of Your Trade Podcast Listeners (and existing clients). Download the QLD Priority Fine First Offence Summary HERE.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Downl...

If you  hate  calling your Builder to chase overdue invoices, in this Episode I'm literally talking to YOU. A lot of Subcontractors think that being patient and taking a softly softly approach will get them paid sooner without a fight. It's actually the opposite.  In this Episode I'm giving you 5 undeniable reasons sitting on your hands waiting for payment will only result in you no...

Subcontractors signing their Builders' contracts are routinely faced with BIG scary risk and very little leverage to negotiate. In this podcast I explain how you can strike a balance between head in the sand signing your life away and understanding the risks but living with them anyway.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Download Michelle's F...

#subcontractors this is why you can't be paid on time EVERY time, in full.  And here's what you should do about it. Register below to attend my upcoming FREE webinar below. I'll be helping you develop an Accounts Receivable Escalation Procedure for your trade business. No cookie cutter templates - during this one hour webinar I'll be showing you what buttons to push at what times to protect y...

In today's episode I'm giving you three very easy things you can start doing right now (for free) that will eliminate bucket loads of risk for your business. Doing these things will  not  lose you any work, or get anyone's nose out of joint. In fact, if you do these things with a good bloke approach, your builder is likely to thank you.   --------------------------------------------...

In this episode we are tell you how to increase your profit margin without risking the biscuit. Adam Barnard of Tactix Business Coaching and I dive deep into winning work in a price war, and how to set your trade business up in a stable way to bump up and bump down your resources. Contact details for Adam are: Adam Barnard e: adam.barnard@tactixcoaching.com.au p: (02) 4204 8203  -------------...