Starting a trades business? Step-by-step guides for electricians, plumbers, builders and more — from registration to your first job.
Most construction companies look the same. A generic logo, a white van with stick-on lettering, a website with a picture of a hard hat and “quality you can trust.” In a market where first impressions determine whether you even get asked to quote, a distinctive brand is a real competitive advantage. This isn’t about spending…
More construction businesses fail from cash flow problems than from lack of work. It sounds counterintuitive – being busy but going bust – but it’s real and it’s common. You can be turning over £300,000 a year, fully booked, and run out of money to pay your subcontractors if the timing between spending and getting…
CoreQuote and Billdu both offer quoting and invoicing functionality – but they are built for fundamentally different types of business. This comparison explains the differences clearly, so you can choose the right tool for your trades business. The Core Difference: Trades-Specific vs Generic CoreQuote is built specifically for UK trades businesses – electricians, plumbers, gas…
This is the most common business structure question for people starting a construction business – and the honest answer is: it depends on your numbers. There’s no universally correct answer. There’s only the right answer for your specific income level, risk profile, and plans. Here’s a clear breakdown to help you decide. What’s the Difference?…
The best invoicing app for self-employed tradespeople in the UK in 2026 is one that handles the full workflow: quote, approval, invoice, and payment tracking – all from your phone, without unnecessary complexity. This guide reviews the options for sole trader tradespeople specifically. What Self-Employed Tradespeople Need From an Invoicing App For a self-employed tradesperson,…
The jump from domestic to commercial work is one of the most valuable moves a construction business can make – but you can’t make it by waiting for commercial clients to find you. Commercial clients don’t search Checkatrade. They use approved contractor lists, tender portals, and trusted referrals. Here’s how to get in front of…
Most tradespeople in the UK currently create quotes using a combination of WhatsApp, text, email, or a Word/Excel template – and this is exactly the problem. These tools were not designed for quoting, produce inconsistent output, and give customers no formal approval mechanism. The good news: there are now apps built specifically for this, and…
The best quoting software for tradespeople in the UK in 2026 depends on the size of your business and what you need it to do – but for most sole traders and small trades businesses, the answer is a mobile-first app that’s fast to use on site, produces professional output, and doesn’t cost a fortune….
Yes – there is a free quote app for tradespeople in the UK, and CoreQuote is built specifically for the trades. Unlike generic invoice and quoting tools designed for any small business, CoreQuote is designed around how trades businesses actually work: on site, from a phone, quoting labour and materials with professional presentation that wins…
Starting a construction company without understanding your legal obligations is how businesses get into serious trouble. The construction industry is one of the most regulated sectors in the UK – not to create bureaucracy, but because the consequences of getting it wrong (injury, structural failure, financial dispute) are serious. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the…