Cleaning gutters is the hard part – getting paid and managing your money shouldn't be! Here's a simple breakdown of how to handle invoices and track your business money in Australia.

Invoicing Made Easy (Like, Really Easy!)

• Must-Haves on Your Invoice: Think of your invoice as the bill for your work. Here's what to include:
  • Your Business Name, ABN, and how to contact you
  • Your Client's Name and Address
  • Invoice Number (like 001, 002 – makes it easy to find)
  • Date You Made the Invoice
  • Short Description of What You Did (e.g., Cleaned gutters on a house)
  • How Much You Charge
  • When You Expect to Get Paid (like within 14 days)
  • How They Can Pay You (bank transfer or cash)
• Software Helpers: Programs like Xero or QuickBooks make invoices look nice and remind you when someone hasn't paid yet.
• Talk It Out: Always tell your client how much it'll cost and when you expect payment before you start working.

Tracking Your Money: Where Does It All Go?

• Keep a List: Every time you spend money on your business, write it down! Here's a quick example:
  
• Taxes: The government wants a bit of your hard-earned money (it's called taxes). Good records make tax time way less stressful.
• What About GST? If you make more than a certain amount each year, you have to add GST (it's 10%) to your invoices and pay it to the government.
• See Where Your Money Goes: Looking at your list (or fancy reports if you use software) shows if you're spending too much on some things.

Software Helpers: Xero vs. QuickBooks

These programs are awesome helpers for Aussie businesses. They can:

• Make and Send Invoices Automatically
• Track Every Dollar You Spend
• Make Reports to Show How Your Business Is Doing
• Connect to Your Bank Account

Try both for free to see which one feels easier for you!

Extra Tips

• Employees Need 'Super': If you hire people, you have to pay extra money for their retirement – look it up on the ATO website.
• Insurance is Important: Get insurance in case something goes wrong on a job – it protects you from having to pay a lot of money.
• Keep Those Papers: The government says how long to keep invoices and receipts – they like to check sometimes!

It Doesn't Have to Be Scary!

Keeping track of your money is easy if you do a little bit at a time. Start simple, use helper programs if you want, and it'll help your gutter cleaning business grow big and strong!