Media Release

• $45 is the magic number for hourly rate charged by tradespeople
• 75% of tradies aspire to start their own businesses in the next 12-18 months
• 30% of this sector are not paying themselves super

New research by St.George Bank reveals that 75% of tradies have aspirations to be self-employed in the next 12-18 months and female tradies are alive and kicking with 40% of representation in the research.

The St.George Bank Tradie Economy Report surveyed over 600 people across Australia who identify as a tradie or someone working in the trades field. The most prevalent roles were in the fields of building and construction, electrical, followed by landscape and gardening.

The report revealed the top major business concerns for tradies were being paid on time, profitability, followed by the ability to pay bills and manage their cashflow. Conversely, they were least concerned about the political landscape, competing with larger businesses, and having a succession plan.

Anthony Mathews, National Head of SME at St.George Bank said “Tradies are vital to the prosperity of the Australian economy. With the average tradie charging over $45 an hour for their services it’s no surprise to see there’s such a huge appetite for tradies to start their own businesses.”

“However, as the St.George Tradie Economy Report reveals, for this industry to succeed they need help with sourcing new customers, hiring good workers (both 44%), managing slow paying customers (43%) and gaining better access to cashflow (36%).

“The good news for Tradespeople experiencing such concerns is that following recent Federal Budget announcements, instant asset write-offs have increased to $30,000 and expanded to more businesses with a turnover of up to $50m.

“To further support this policy, St.George has been piloting an amended equipment finance credit policy allowing us to lend to Tradespeople in the first two years of starting a business, many who weren’t previously eligible.”

“In addition, when it comes to leveraging technologies that help improve customer service, Australia’s trades industry are seeking mobile banking apps for faster payments (39%), invoicing tools that can automatically send invoices and reminders to customers (34%) as well as apps or technology that allow their customers to provide instant feedback (30%).”
 

Tools of the trade to drive sales

According to the majority of respondents, word of mouth is ranked the most important tool to drive sales (65%), followed by personal contacts and networking (60%), and social media sites (44%).

The top marketing channels used to increase business profits were social media (45%), their business’s website (33%) and mainstream advertising (9%).

A large portion of tradies still rely on a laptop (55%) or desktop computers (47%) ahead of smartphones like the Apple iPhone (41%) to assist in running their business.
 

Tradies are savvy savers

More than half of respondents surveyed financed their business through their own savings (57%) ahead of a business loan or credit card (both 33%).

In fact, a quarter (24%) stop to think about their personal finances every day and almost half (49%) visit a financial adviser to discuss their personal savings goals regularly.

“It’s positive to see tradies are taking their financial wellbeing seriously and even thinking about the long term success of their business with a quarter of respondents having a retirement plan in place.”

“However, understandably 31% are too busy running their business to seek advice or progress with their retirement plan. In addition, 30% of respondents don’t pay themselves super.”

“This is something our St.George Business Bankers will be encouraging tradies to look at to ensure that after a hardworking career, they can lead a comfortable life in retirement.”

“In addition, we often find that when tradies are using their own hard earned savings or personal lending to fund their business it can often impact on their work life balance.”

“There are other low-cost finance options to consider such as equipment finance for example which can help alleviate the financial pressure and also provide positive tax advantages through instant capital write off,” said Anthony.
 

St.George Bank Tradie Economy Report - Key Findings

• 61% male vs 39% female surveyed.
• 40% are employed for wages (full-time), 34% self-employed, 13% contractors, 11% employed for wages (part-time).
• Most common fields of work are building and construction (40%), electrician (18%), and plumbing (14%).
• 29% are part of a franchise, and 93% say they find it beneficial.
• 75% of those employed for wages have aspirations to be self-employed in the next 12-18 months.
• 45% have held another job outside of the trades filed. The most common jobs where held in the field of IT, Retail and Hospitality.
• The top pain points that affected respondents’ business was sourcing new customers (44%) and hiring good workers (44%), slow paying customers (43%) access to cashflow (36%).
• Word of mouth (65%) is ranked the most important tool to drive sales, followed by personal contacts and networking (60%), and social media sites (44%).
• The marketing channels that have increased business profits the most were social media (45%), the business’s website (33%) and mainstream advertising (9%).
• The top new technologies to help improve customer service were mobile banking app for faster payments (39%), invoicing system that automatically sends out invoices and reminds customers of making payments (34%) and apps for customers to provide feedback (30%).
• The top devices used by trades are laptop (55%), desktop computer (47%) and Apple iPhone (41%).
• Trade businesses are most concerned about payment times and profitability (each 37%), ability to pay bills/wages cashflow (33%) and the state of the economy and ability to grow their businesses in a slowing economy each 33%).
• They were least concerned about the political landscape (26%) competing with larger businesses and succession planning (both 25%).
• The majority financed their business through their own savings (57%), followed by a personal loan or credit card (both 33%).
• 39% stop to think about their personal finances at least once a week and 24% do so every day. However, only half (49%) visit a financial adviser to discuss their personal savings goals regularly, while 13% don’t see one at all.
• 30% of respondents don’t pay themselves super. 25% have spoken to a financial advisor and have a retirement plan in place, while 31% are too busy running their business to seek advice or progress with their retirement plan.
• A quarter of businesses (24%) charge over $60 and hour with the average figure being $45 per hour.

Media enquiries
Penny Mahon, St.George Bank
mahonp@stgeorge.com.au
0434 185 590

About the 2019 St.George Tradie Economy Report
The research was commissioned by St.George in May 2019 and conducted by Pure Profile, surveying over 600 small businesses nationally who identified as working in or owning a business in the Trades sector. Surveys were distributed throughout Australia including both capital city and non-capital city areas. The survey was conducted online amongst members of a permission-based panel.

About St.George’s Equipment Finance Pilot
Following recent Federal Budget announcements, instant asset write-offs have been increased to $30,000 and expanded to more businesses with a turnover of up to $50m. St.George has further supported small businesses by piloting an amended credit policy which allows us to lend to people in the first two years of starting a business, many who weren’t previously eligible.