Free tools for tradies
The Tradie Toolbox
Six working tools for the sums that decide whether a trade business makes money: the cash gap, the quote, the tax bill, the new machine, the ute and the loan application.
- Drawer 1
Cash Flow Gap Planner
Weekly money in and out with your invoice terms. See the gap, the lowest point and how many weeks of runway you have.
Open the drawer → - Drawer 2
Job Quote Margin Calculator
Labour, materials, markup versus margin, contingency and GST. Know what a quote really earns before you send it.
Open the drawer → - Drawer 3
GST and BAS Set-Aside Planner
What to park from each invoice so the quarterly BAS and PAYG never ambush you.
Open the drawer → - Drawer 4
Equipment Payback Calculator
Kit cost against extra jobs and hours saved. How many months until it pays for itself?
Open the drawer → - Drawer 5
Ute Running Cost Calculator
Fuel, rego, insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation into a cost per week and per kilometre.
Open the drawer → - Drawer 6
Loan Readiness Checklist
Tick off the documents lenders ask for, answer a short quiz and get a readiness note.
Open the drawer →
Tools built for the job site, not the boardroom
Most business calculators are made for people with a finance degree and a spare afternoon. These are made for a tradie in the ute at smoko, with a phone, a quote to send and a BAS to think about. Every tool opens instantly, works at phone size, and gives an answer in plain words rather than a pile of ratios.
Each tool is also a full guide. Underneath the calculator you'll find how the sums work, what the answer means, what to do about it and the questions tradies ask most. If a result shows you need money, a 60-second enquiry is a click away: no credit check when you first enquire, a real person reading it, and your details staying with us.
Which drawer first?
- Money's tight right now. Open the Cash Flow Gap Planner to size the gap, then the GST and BAS Set-Aside Planner so tax doesn't deepen it.
- You're pricing a big job. The Job Quote Margin Calculator shows markup versus margin and what you really keep.
- You're about to buy gear. Check the Equipment Payback Calculator and the Ute Running Cost Calculator.
- You're getting ready to apply. Work through the Loan Readiness Checklist.
Want to go deeper? Browse our guides, or jump to cash flow loans, equipment finance and tax debt for the finance side of each problem.
Toolbox questions
Are the Toolbox tools really free?
Yes. Every tool is free, works on your phone on the job site, and doesn't ask you to sign up or leave an email address.
Do you save the numbers I type in?
No. The sums run in your browser. Nothing you enter into a calculator is stored or sent to us. The only exception is the document checklist, which remembers your ticks on your own device so you can come back to it.
Do the tools show loan interest rates?
No. Every loan is priced on the individual situation, so the Toolbox sticks to what you can calculate yourself: cash gaps, margins, tax set-aside, payback and running costs.
What should I use first?
If the account is tight, start with the Cash Flow Gap Planner. If you're about to buy gear, start with the Equipment Payback Calculator. If you're preparing to apply, start with the Loan Readiness Checklist.
No credit check to enquire
Ask what's possible without leaving a mark on your credit file. A credit check only comes up once you've decided to go ahead.
No spray and pray
Your details don't get blasted around a pile of lenders. One real person looks at your situation and matches it properly.
A real person on your job
Someone who reads enquiries for a living calls you back. Fill the form in accurately and we'll point you the right way first time.
Done the sums? Let's talk about the money.
One short enquiry. No credit check when you first enquire, a real person reading it, and your details staying with us rather than going out to a pile of lenders.
No credit check to enquire
No spray and pray
A real person on your job