Late payments are a real pain for tradies. Picture a carpenter finishing a $500 deck — solid work — only to still be out of pocket weeks later. Or a plumber who pours $2,000 into a fit‑out, then watches the client vanish. It’s not rare. Cash dries up, rent’s due, and tradies are left chasing their own money. Small construction businesses — which make up 98% of Australia’s building sector and employ fewer than 20 people — feel this most. According to the Disputes Register, late payments cost tradies billions each year, with some waiting months to get paid. It’s a grind, and it’s personal.
Clients cause headaches too. An electrician might have a job booked, cancelled, then rebooked — all without clear communication. A tiler can face constant last‑minute changes and on‑site shouting. Ghosted texts and broken promises are commonplace. Research shows payment reminders speed up collections by eight days, but that’s after the damage is done. Tradies aren’t banks — they deserve to be paid on time, without the fight.
Options to Get Money Back
When payments don’t arrive, tradies have a few options. Small Claims Court handles debts under $100,000 for a $95 filing fee (NSW Courts), but the process can be lengthy.
Government‑run mediation costs $195 (ASBFEO)and may recover less than you’re owed. Debt collectors typically take about 30% of the recovered amount—and chasing payment this way can damage future client relationships. Well‑drafted contracts (for example, templates from Sprintlaw) can enforce deposits and late fees, but some clients still walk away. All these remedies help — but they’re slow.
Finding Out Before Trouble Starts
Imagine a tiler lining up a big job. The client seems fine—until the work’s done and the payment never arrives. Later, he discovers two other tradies had the same experience with that person. Had he known, he would’ve walked away. Research shows deposits and clear invoices reduce payment delays , but spotting a risky client before starting is even smarter. Tradies share intel for a reason—it saves time and money.
Melbourne offers plenty of work, from high‑rise projects in the CBD to home renovations in the suburbs. Yet getting paid isn’t always straightforward. Some large companies take up to 60 days to settle invoices, leaving small tradies out of pocket. Apps can flag late payments after the fact, but that’s too little, too late. With Melbourne’s fast pace and demanding clients, tradies need a solution built for their market — one that helps them screen and manage clients before any hammer hits the nail.
Feed4Ward: A Tool for Tradies
Feed4Ward could be the solution. It’s a Melbourne‑built platform where tradies share honest feedback about clients. Sign‑up takes minutes — no complicated steps. Simply log your experience and Feed4Ward vets each entry for authenticity. It’s exclusive to tradies, so you can focus on jobs with a reputation for paying on time.
Before accepting work, you can quickly review client feedback and avoid potential headaches. Used alongside a proper contract and payment reminders, Feed4Ward gives tradies the confidence to choose reliable clients and keep cash flow steady.