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Get in control of those plumbers’ invoices and other paperwork that need doing with our top tips!

We’re all guilty of it, putting off doing our invoices and other paperwork until the last possible moment. No one gets into being a plumber or heating engineer because they enjoy doing paperwork.

So what are some easy ways that can help you tackle the never ending tide? Well luckily for you, we’ve put together some top tips!

1. Plastic sleeves
   Keep a plastic sleeve at the front of your van so you can chuck anything in, it’s quick, easy and it’ll just help you get into the habit of keeping the paperwork somewhere that will be safe when the windows are open.
2. A stapler is your best friend
   Even if the documents don’t necessarily have to be together, over the course of a busy day you can just staple everything together, making it much less likely for you to loose that one sheet. Just chuck a stapler in the front of your van, it takes up no room, and it only takes a minute.
3. Patience
   If you have the time and patience, scan those absolutely vital pieces in. It’s annoying and takes time, but at least you then know you have two copies, and just think, at least everything else is taken care of by YourTradebase!
4. Make Time
   If you can just set aside 10 minutes a week to put anything important into a folder. It doesn’t matter what order it’s in, as long as it’s in there. Have the folder in a place where you walk past every day even, so that when you do, you’ll remember that bit stuffed in your pocket that you have to chuck in.
5. Sign up for YourTradebase
   Okay, okay, so this isn’t strictly a tip, but we do offer a 30 day free trial. You can create estimates, quotes and plumbers invoices in minutes. Helping you cut down the time you spend doing all your paperwork. We don’t take your credit card details, so there’s no nasty surprise at the end of the month where there would be an unexpected charge, we just think YourTradebase can truly help you organise your paperwork much more easily, leaving you to do the things you want to do!

Follow one, or a couple of these tips, and you’ll be cutting down the time you spend doing your paperwork in no time.

Looking for a shortcut? Try our plumbers software free for 30 days

Do you have any tips of your own you want to share? Let us know on either our Twitter or Facebook pages!

Cowboy tradesmen ruin the reputation of all plumbers.

Especially as it’s easy for a customer to tar every plumber with the same brush. So how can you prove to your customers that you’re not a cowboy plumber who isn’t just going to take all their money and ride off into the sunset?

Well here are our top five tips to prove you’re not a cowboy!

1. Professional looking plumbers’ invoicing and paperwork – You’ll be surprised how professional looking estimates, quotes and invoices can all help your image when it comes to dealing with current and potential customers. The fact that it does look professional gives you an instant boost in their eyes, and makes you much easier to trust.
2. Getting back to customers’ phone call in a timely manner – This doesn’t mean that you have to down tools for every customer call. But by setting yourself a limit of when to get back to a customer can help you stay on track. Customers also will easily worry if their calls aren’t answered.
3. Use testimonials – If you’re proud of a piece of work you’ve done, or if a customer is, take pictures and get a testimonial! Sending these out with a potential estimate or quote will do wonders for you and your business, and prove that you’re a hard working and dedicated plumber.
4. Get yourself online – You don’t have to pay for an expensive website, use free social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to set up a place on the internet for you and your company. Even if you’re not very good at updating them, it’ll give you a good place to put pictures of work you’re doing/done, and a place where customers can get peace of mind. If you’re searchable on the internet, potential customers are far more likely to feel comfortable in employing your services.
5. Take advantage of word of mouth – We’ve seen it time and time again. Customers often ask friends if they know a good plumber/electrician/builder/you name it to come round and do work on their home. This is possibly on of the most powerful ways to avoid being labelled as a con man/woman. Use this to your advantage by offering your customers incentives to recommend you to their friends. Get business cards printed out so they can easily pass on your details. Offer money off any further work if you get customers through recommendation.

These are just 5 simple ways to make sure you’re not labelled as a cowboy plumber. Try any, or all of them and you’ll definitely see a difference in a customers’ decision to hire you.

Got any tips of your own? Let us know!

Want more hints and tips on managing your paperwork and customers? Keep up to date on our blog, or Twitter and Facebook channels!

Did you know that creating an electricians’ invoice with YourTradebase is as easy as 1, 2, 3?

Here are the 3 simple steps to creating an invoice.

Step 1) Click ‘new invoice’

Step 2) Input all the details directly onto the invoice

Step 3) Send, save or mark your electricians’ invoice as paid! Of course you can edit it at any time too.

Want to be able to create your electricians’ invoices as easy as 1, 2, 3?  Sign up for a free 30 day trial with us!

Our electrician software packages makes invoicing and more easy as 1,2,3!

Tired of running round trying to keep on top of your Electricians’ Invoices and other paperwork?

We’ve tweaked our tasks system to work even better around you and your jobs.

In the new task system everything to do with your electricians’ invoices and other paperwork is automatic, so you don’t have to spend time creating tasks to remind yourself.

So for instance if you create a quote and save it as a draft, a task is then automatically generated to remind you that you have to send it to your customer. After you’ve sent a quote, a task is then generated to remind you to chase it up! Pretty easy right? So it’ll even help you win more work, by reminding you to chase up customers!

This new task system works for all areas of the paperwork side in YourTradebase. So it’ll remind you if one of your invoices hasn’t been paid (not that money is easily forgotten about!), if it hasn’t been sent, or if there is a estimate that hasn’t been followed up. We like to think it’s a friendly reminder that can help things run a bit more smoothly, and make sure that you never forget a thing!

All of these tasks are shown on your dashboard. So when you logs in, you can get an instant overview of jobs and paperwork that need your attention.

As well as this, we’ve also added the function to ‘remind later’ your tasks. So if you’ve logged on to YourTradebase to create new quotes, and not send invoices; this ‘remind later’ means you can set it to tomorrow, the next day, or next week.

Of course you can still create tasks for yourself. From reminding yourself to buy supplies, or call your plasterer to ask him about a job you have on. But by having this new task system automatically take care of your invoices, and other paperwork, it can help you save even more time, and stop running around trying to keep on top of your invoices!

To stay up to date on all of our news, take a look at our Facebook and Twitter pages, or blog.

Want to make your invoicing simple?

Then YourTradebase is for you!

Electricians’ invoicing is hard at the best of times; dragging out receipts crumpled at the bottom of pockets, remembering what needs to be included, and that’s not mentioning the maths involved. Invoices seem never ending when you start them, and you’re constantly fighting with different things such as daily life, and other more important jobs taking away time from you.

So how does YourTradebase help with creating an electricians invoice?

1. Invoices are templates – there’s no messing around trying to align the information properly on the page, all you have to do in drop the information in, and you’re done!
2. Names and addresses are automatically populated – you select the customer you’ve done the work for, and all their details: contact information, address and name, are all put on to the invoice for you. The same goes for your own business details, so you don’t have to keep typing the same information out, so you save time!
3. The details are taken care of – all our invoices automatically add VAT to items for you, and come with a basic terms of agreement that are ready to use, leaving you to just add the important information in.
4. You can create an invoice anywhere – YourTradebase can be used on any computer, tablet or smartphone at any time. So you don’t have to be tied down to a desk to create invoices.
5. Totals are totted up for you – no maths required, as soon as you add an item, the total at the bottom goes up. Simple!

Want to try our YourTradebase to create your electricians’ invoices? You can try us out for a 30 day free trial, we don’t take credit cards and there aren’t any catches, just an easy way to manage your paperwork and jobs.

You’ve potentially tapped a whole new client sector with local landlords in your area, but how do they differ?

You might be an electrician, builder, or odd jobs person who is wanting to open up your client base with clients who will want to use you on a regular basis. But how do you go about getting a landlord or property developer onside?

Our guest blogger this week has 5 tips that will help you do exactly that.

What do landlords want from tradesmen?

Are you a tradesman looking to expand your client base? If so consider appealing to landlords and property developers as potential customers…

When landlords need a tradesman for one of their rental properties it is usually because something has gone wrong, if the person they choose can ease the logistics of fitting round the tenants and completes the job to a high standard it’s likely that landlord could become a regular client!

The majority of landlords and property developers want to build up a relationship with someone they can trust and call on for both odd jobs and more serious work they may not be qualified to carry out themselves. Here are our top 5 tips on how to attract landlords and find out what they are looking for in a tradesman:

1. Word of mouth.
   Most landlords are going to want to use a tradesman that a family member, friend or colleague has recommended as they will trust their judgement. Make sure you give out business cards and connect with your clients on sites such as Google+, Facebook and Twitter to encourage recommendations of your work.

2. Do you belong to any of the following: Tradesmen Directories, Rated People, Trust a Trader, Top Workmen?
   If not seriously consider them as they allow potential customers looking for tradesmen to choose based on client reviews. Tradesmen should be able to provide information on how long they have been in business and give examples of their previous work. Reviews are so important, so make sure you chase up your existing clients to give you a glowing review!

3. Become a member of an accredited body.
   For peace of mind potential clients want to know if you are an accredited tradesman. Do you belong governing bodies such as:Electricians Governing Bodies: NICEIC Registered, ELECSA Registered, Electricians Contractors Association, British Standards Institute, BRE Certification and NAPITGas Installers Governing Body: Legally anyone who deals with Gas must be registered with the Gas Safe RegisterDouble Glazing Installers Governing Body: FENSAPlumbers Governing Body: CIPHE, Water Industry Approved Plumber Scheme

   Small Businesses: Federation of Small Businesses

   If you do then make sure you tell your clients and put it on your business cards! If not seriously think about joining.

4. Landlords won’t give you the job before receiving a quote.
   Arrange a time with the landlord or tenant to visit the property and view the job. Discuss what needs to be done and quote appropriately. If you are matching a quote the landlord has been given by someone else make sure to get written proof. Don’t forget to provide a written confirmation of your quote; it will help you appear professional.

5. Do your landlords have the option to make payments online via services such Paypal?
   Always remember to discuss and agree a payment plan before the job begins. Taking an initial 50% payment followed by 50% on completion is standard practice, this way both you and the landlord are protected.

These are all key points which will help you build good working relationships with potential landlord clients. Keep in mind that a competent, reliable, flexible tradesman willing to deal directly with tenants will be a highly valuable asset to all landlords.

The majority of landlords know other landlords so expect word of mouth recommendations if you go the extra mile!

Written by Sarah Male. www.urbansalesandlettings.co.uk online estate agents, selling and letting houses online in the UK.

Want a bit of a refresher on the key points of an estimate?

Then you’ve come to the right place!

Here are the 4 key points you need to remember when putting together an estimate!

1. It’s a guestimate of the price, usually based on years worth of knowledge and experience.
2. It’s done before or during a site visit, depending on what the job is. Obviously if it was for a conservatory, you wouldn’t give a price without actually going to the site.
3. Make a distinction between an estimate and quotes to your customer: make sure that they know it’s an estimate and the price may change. If you’re unsure yourself of the difference, take a look at our guide.
4. Often informal, might be given verbally, but a lot of customers like it in hand to compare it with your competitors, plus it makes you look professional which is always a bonus!

Want more help with your paperwork and job management? We’re always creating blogs and tips to help out tradesmen with their paperwork, so take a look at our blog and Twitter to keep up to date!

Want to know the best boilers to recommend to your customers this year?

It’s hard enough keeping up with jobs that are going on without having to research the best boilers to recommend to your customers. So our guest blogger this week has done all the hard work for you – all you have to do is read on!

What’s selling in 2013?

I have found that when it comes to combi boilers finding one that all installers agree about is nigh on impossible.

Like anything I guess, different installers have their own opinion about what the best combi boiler model is.

It is therefore going to be difficult for me to award 1 combi boiler model “best buy” status over another.

I therefore decided to wimp out and give a general overview on some of the most popular combi boilers that have been selling in 2013 so far.

Worcester CDi Compact range

In early 2013 the CDi Compact range was introduced to the market to offer homeowners greater choice when it came to installing the combi boiler in their property.

The CDi range is the smallest combi model that Worcester have manufactured to date and this makes it nice and easy to install in tight spaces such as closed kitchen cupboard areas.

With a 5 year warranty and in spite their small stature a powerful performance, the CDI Compact range is one that is becoming more and more popular.

Vaillant EcoTec Plus range

Ideal for medium to large sized properties, the 831 has probably been the most popular seller in the Vaillant Plus range.

Matching the Worcester equivalent (the 29CDi) in terms of its 5 year warranty, the Vaillant EcoTec Plus range covers central heating outputs of between 19kW – 28kW and has a hot water flowrate range of 9.4 – 15.2 litres/minute.

With a SEDBUK A-rated performance, the EcoTec Plus range range is lightweight and all feedback we have had suggests it is nice and easy to install.

Ideal Vogue’s

With a futuristic look, the Ideal Vogue Combi Boiler range looks like it has arrived from the future.

Its sleek and stylish performance doesn’t mask its quality in other areas either, as the Ideal Vogue range covers an expansive heating output of between 18kW-32kW and flowrates of between 10.4 – 16.4 litres/min. There really is something for properties of all sizes.

The biggest reason for the popularity is probably the 7 year manufacturer warranty, which acts as a great enticement for homeowners looking for extra safeguards against faults further down the line.

If you are an installer then I am sure you have your own opinion about what makes a good boiler, but hopefully this overview of some of the biggest sellers in 2013 will prove useful in highlighting some of the popular combi boilers currently available.

Author information: This article was written by Tom Key from Direct Heating Supplies, 1 of the Uk’s fastest growing online retailers of heating and plumbing supplies.

Thanks Tom for a great article!

Want a way to easily and painlessly create professional looking builders’ invoices?

These days it’s not only getting the information down on a piece of paper to create an invoice, but actually making it look professional too. Gone are the days where a scrap of paper will do; professional looking paperwork can help you win more work.

So here are our top 5 tips to create a more professional looking invoice with our online software for builders that will help you build a good reputation, and turn your company into a slick, well oiled machine!

1. Presentation

Gone are the days where a hand written invoice is the norm. customers appreciate a well presented piece of paperwork, and it gives a great impression of your company (along with the good work of course). You can easily set up a template in Word to help you save a bit of time doing this, or of course signing up to YourTradebase for a 30 day free trial!

2. A company email address

They’re easy to set up, it gives one contact point for your customers to email, and you look professional – all for free! You can also set it up so it forwards to your personal account, so you don’t have to log in and out to it.

3. Due date of payment

It shows you mean business, and you run your company like one too. So make sure you clearly set out a proper payment schedule to each and every one of your customers (even if it’s a standard one you blanket use for all of them). This also makes chasing up payments easier as you can refer them to the clearly stated dates on your invoice.

4. Logo

It doesn’t have to be fancy, but you’d be surprised at how much of an impression this makes on your customers. You can create something simple in Word, or if you want a professional image, buy a small image that you can use.

5. Your payment details.

Not only does this speed up the process of payment for you, but again gives the impression of a well oiled machine that is your business.

Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll be knocking out professional looking builders invoices in no time!

Want to make invoicing simple?

Then you’ve come to the right place.

Invoicing is hard at the best of times; remembering what needs to be included, dragging out receipts crumpled at the bottom of pockets. Invoices seem never ending when you start them, and you’re constantly fighting with Word trying to space out your invoice properly. Online builders software that helps with invoicing makes things easy.

So how does YourTradebase help with creating builders invoice templates?

1. Invoices are templates – there’s no messing around trying to align the information properly on the page, all you have to do in drop the information in, and you’re done!
2. Names and addresses are automatically populated – you select the customer you’ve done the work for, and all their details: contact information, address and name, are all put on to the invoice for you. The same goes for your own business details, so you don’t have to keep typing the same information out, so you save time!
3. Totals are totted up for you – no maths required, as soon as you add an item, the total at the bottom goes up. Simple!
4. The details are taken care of – all our invoices automatically add VAT to items for you, and come with a basic terms of agreement that are ready to use, leaving you to just add the important information in.
5. You can create an invoice anywhere – YourTradebase can be used on any computer, tablet or smartphone at any time. So you don’t have to be tied down to a desk to create invoices.

Want to try our YourTradebase to create your builders’ invoices? You can try us out for a 30 day free trial, we don’t take credit cards and there aren’t any catches, just an easy way to manage your paperwork and jobs.

Cowboy tradesmen are the bane in every hard working tradesman’s life

So how do you beat the image?

Well continuing in our guest blog series David from YOUR Insurance gives some ways in order for you to do exactly that!

Proving you’re not a cowboy

As a tradesmen, you have an uphill battle ahead of you before you even start working for a new client. It is completely unfair, but you will from time to time struggle against stereotypes regarding unprofessionalism. Everyone and their dog has a friend of a friend who has had a run in with a cowboy builder, rogue electrician or easily distracted plumber.

If you work as a tradesman, your first major task when meeting a new customer is to convince them that you are trustworthy and will do a good job. In the cynical age that we live in, this is not always straight forward because maybe your new client just watched “builders from hell” last night and has been whipped into a state of fear by the ever-helpful television.

What can you do?

There are things you can do to win over your client. The most obvious is to do a good job and live on word-of-mouth recommendations and reassurance. A new client that comes to you on the recommendation of one of their friends is one that is going to need a lot less convincing. Previous clients will often be your best source of marketing as they share how satisfied they are with the work you have done.

As for active things you can do, you can simply act in a confident manner and generally win your customers over with charisma, politeness and professionalism. Of course the danger with this is that this is also exactly what a “successful” cowboy builder will do too so you can’t rely on your patter alone.

You basically need to convey that you are a professional and that you take the things that your customers are afraid of very seriously as well. One of the things you can do to put minds at rest is to ensure your public liability insurance is in order.

Insurance can equal assurance

Many clients won’t let you anywhere near their property without you having public liability insurance in the first place, but if when someone asks if you have it in place you can reassure them that it is all in order, you will present them with the impression that you have their best interests in mind and that any mistakes you make will not ultimately cost them. Having insurance in place is something a true professional who takes their work seriously would do. You can even reassure clients that don’t ask for public liability insurance to be in place by showing them proof of cover and explaining that they have nothing to worry about.

Stereotypes are rarely fair, but you can understand the suspicion your customers might have, no matter how infuriating it might be. Of course, you could instead hope your clients have a sense of humour and turn up wearing a wide brimmed hat and spurred boots.

About the author

Written by David Hing for YOUR Insurance, a specialist broker that knows you’re not a cowboy and wants to help you prove it.

Thanks David for the blog post!

Want to see your words up here? Simply email emma@yourtradebase.com and get featured on our blog!