Whether you are one of the fledgling tradies about to start an apprenticeship or experienced tradies running their own business, you need business equipment. There is always a list of must-have items applicable to all trades. The points in the following list are non-negotiable, so it’s important to get what suits you best for your line of work and your day-to-day activities.
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Don’t leave your business exposed
It’s one simple word that can be the make or break of any company: insurance. Make sure you aren’t exposing your business to unnecessary risks by not having it and yourself properly insured. Accidents unfortunately do happen, and there is enough to deal with on those occasions without stressing about how your business will cover the costs. If you don’t know where to start, or you aren’t happy with your current insurance, talk to a specialised company like Tradewise Insurance who can help you make a decision.
Don’t leave yourself exposed
This, quite literally, means ensuring you have appropriate clothing. It may seem obvious, but the constant jokes about “builder’s crack” should make you consider this more carefully. Do you have work-appropriate clothing for your trade? Is your uniform breathable and comfortable? Does it protect you from the sun? Perhaps you can have branded clothing to help promote your business? No matter what, you’ll be spending plenty of hours wearing your uniform, so make sure it’s comfortable (and that it covers up potential builders’ cracks).
Don’t leave yourself stranded
A vehicle is one of the most important assets you will have as a tradie. More than just a reliable mode of transport for getting you from worksite to worksite, your vehicle becomes your moving office, carrying and possibly storing your tools, and becoming your greatest dependency for work. Make sure you find a reliable model, with appropriate space for tools. It’s also imperative your vehicle is well-insured. You might also want to think about the amount of seating required, if you choose to carpool with your mates to work.
Don’t leave yourself underexposed
This might seem like a strange one, but if you’re in the business of, well, business, you need to make sure people know about you. These days, if you’re not online, you don’t exist. This means you need a website and social media presence. You can easily run and manage this marketing yourself, but if you’re not a technical wizard, it can be a worthwhile investment to have someone create your website for you. When you set it up, make sure it’s easy to find – you want your trade and location to pop up quickly when someone searches for local tradies. Once that’s all done, it’s up to you to keep it updated. There’s nothing worse than a website with old news, or a social media account that hasn’t been active in three months. Don’t forget!
There are a couple of must-haves for all tradies, but obviously there are many more things that could go on this list. What is your single most valuable business item? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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