Getting an ABN, a business name and insurance sorted is only part of starting out. None of it automatically puts a job in the calendar.
To win your first jobs, people need to be able to find you, understand what you do, trust that you're legitimate, and contact you easily. That usually means a simple website, a Google Business Profile, a business email, a clear way to quote, and an easy way to invoice and take payment.
This guide covers what actually helps a new tradie get those first jobs, without spending a fortune on paid leads.
Your first jobs rarely come from strangers. Mates, family, old workmates, anyone who's seen you work before, tell them you're taking on jobs now. A short message beats a formal announcement: who you are, what you do, where you're working. People forward these on far more than you'd expect.
This is one of the first places many local searches start. Get your trade, service area, phone number and hours right, add photos as soon as you have them, and keep it updated. A profile with genuine photos and a few real reviews will usually give customers more confidence than a bare listing.
You don't need much: what you do, where you work, how to get in touch, and a way to start a quote. That's it. A cluttered site with five menus and no clear call to action does less for you than one clean page.
A Google Business Profile gets you found locally. A simple website gives people confidence when they click through. A business email, a clear enquiry process and a professional quote make it easier for them to choose you.
You can set these up one by one yourself. But doing them separately often means juggling different tools, logins and suppliers when you're already trying to get work underway. Build Your Biz brings those essentials together in one setup, so you're not left with an ABN and no clear way for customers to find or contact you.
Every job is proof of what you can do. Ask the customer first, then use the photos on your website, your Google profile, and if you're up for it, social media. A trade with no visible work is a harder sell than one with a wall of finished jobs.
Don't wait until you've done fifty jobs to start collecting reviews. Ask straight after a job goes well, while the customer's still happy: "If you've got two minutes, a Google review really helps a business like mine get started." Most people are glad to help if you ask at the right moment.
A referral ask doesn't need to be complicated. "If you know anyone else who needs [trade] work, I'd really appreciate the introduction" is enough. Some tradies offer a small thank-you for referrals that turn into jobs, entirely optional, but worth considering once you're established.
Speed matters more than most tradies expect. Someone who messages three tradies will usually go with whoever replies first and sounds switched on. A same-day reply, even just "thanks, I'll get a quote to you by [day]," keeps you in the running.
Send quotes promptly, make them easy to read, and follow up if you haven't heard back in a few days. A polite check-in ("just following up on the quote I sent Tuesday, happy to answer any questions") closes more jobs than people expect.
Getting the first job is one thing, keeping the work coming is another, and it usually comes down to a handful of simple habits.
None of it's complicated, which is exactly why doing it consistently sets you apart. Word of mouth in trades runs on reliability as much as skill.
Platforms that sell leads can work, but they cost money whether or not the lead turns into a job. Worth trying once your basics, website, Google profile, reviews, are in place, not before. Getting the fundamentals working first means paid leads convert better when you do use them.
Word of mouth, a solid Google profile, and a simple website will carry most new trade businesses further than paid advertising in the first few months. Get the basics working before spending on marketing, not instead of them.
The early work doesn't come from an ABN alone. It comes from being easy to find, easy to contact, and easy to trust.
Build Your Biz helps new tradies put those essentials in place in one guided setup:
You still make the decisions that need your personal details, trade knowledge or professional advice. We help you get the customer-facing business setup organised, so you can start quoting and taking enquiries with confidence.
See what I need to start taking jobs
See how it works →This is general guidance, not a guarantee of results. What works best will vary by trade, location and how established your local market already is.