You're set up, Marcus. 🛠️

None of this is urgent. One card a week is plenty. Open a card, follow it, tick it off when it’s done.

0 of 8 done

1See what you've got 2 minutes. Just a look around.›

You now have: a website at webbandsonscarpentry.com.au, a business email (hello@webbandsonscarpentry.com.au), an app on your phone that does quotes and invoices, card payments, a booking calendar and a Google listing.

Open your website on your phone. Send yourself a test email. That's the whole job.

2Tap the Google verify link 2 minutes. Biggest source of local calls.›

We’ve already built your Google listing. It’s what comes up when someone searches “carpenter Geelong” or looks at the map, with your number, hours and website ready to go.

Before Google shows it to everyone, it needs you to prove you own the business. That proof is one tap: Google emailed you a verify link when we created the listing. Tap it and follow the prompts.

Can’t find the email? Log in at business.google.com with your business email and hit verify there. Stuck? Reply to any of our emails and we’ll sort it with you.

3Text 10 people you're open 10 minutes. The message is written for you.›

Copy this, send it to 10 people who know you:

Hey, quick bit of news: I've gone out on my own. Webb & Sons Carpentry, working around Geelong. Website's webbandsonscarpentry.com.au. If you hear of anyone needing a carpenter, send them my way.

4Sort your business insurance 30 minutes, once. Then forget it.›

Three covers matter for a carpenter:

Public liability: if your work damages something or hurts someone.
Tool cover: your tools, stolen or smashed.
Personal accident: pays you if you're hurt and can't work.

Get quotes online in minutes. A broker can tell you what suits you. We can't, and anyone unlicensed shouldn't.

When the policy starts, save the Certificate of Currency PDF to your phone. Builders ask for it.

5Cover yourself, not just the business Worth 10 minutes. Most new business owners never get told this.›

Employees get sick leave. You don't. If you can't work, the money stops. Three things close that gap:

Ambulance cover: in Victoria an ambulance isn't free. Membership is about $50 a year. Do this one today.
Income protection: pays part of your income if you're laid up. Check your super first, you may already have some.
An emergency fund: 2 to 3 months of expenses in a separate account. Start with a slice of every invoice.

Not financial advice, just the checklist. A broker or adviser can tailor it in an hour. Your accountant knows what's deductible.

6Meet your trade's crew Optional. Worth knowing they exist.›

Carpenters in Victoria have two industry bodies: HIA and Master Builders Victoria. Membership costs a few hundred a year and buys an advice line, contract templates, help when a client won't pay, and a logo that says "established".

Not urgent now. Worth a look once work is flowing, and sooner if you're chasing builder work. Both do a free info call.

7The 20-minute Friday The habit that replaces Sunday dread.›

Every Friday, 20 minutes:

Chase unpaid invoices (friendly nudge, one text)
Photo any paper receipts into your phone
Reply to new reviews, two lines is plenty
Glance at next week

That’s the whole admin system. Twenty minutes and your week is squared away.

8Chasing builder work? Only if that's your plan.›

Builders pay well and book long. They just ask for paperwork first:

A White Card: one-day course, done for life.
Higher public liability, usually $10 to 20m. One sentence to your broker.
A capability statement: the one-pager builders expect. Yours is drafted in your handover email. Fill the brackets, save as PDF.

The intro email to send builders is drafted there too.

You're set up better than most businesses ever get.
One card a week. Go send that first quote. 🎉

Stuck on anything? Reply to any of our emails. A real person reads every message.