Scorecard

A few quick questions to start

What type of business do you run?

Building or construction trade Electrical, plumbing, air-con or similar trade Another trade or service business Something else

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Roughly what was your turnover last financial year?

Under $300K $300K–$1M $1M–$3M Over $3M

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A few quick questions to start

How many people work in the business, not counting you?

Just me 1–4 5–10 More than 10

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Survival/Chaos

1. On a typical weekday, when do you finish work, including quotes, invoices and phone calls?

Around 6pm, plus a bit of catch-up on weekends Most days I'm done by 5:30 and the evenings are mine Usually around 7pm, later when quoting is busy Rarely before 8 or 9pm; nights are for admin

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Survival/Chaos

2. In the last six months, how often has paying wages, super or the BAS felt tight?

A few times; we juggled what got paid first Most months; it's a constant background worry Once or twice, but it sorted itself out quickly Never; they're planned and set aside well ahead

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Survival/Chaos

3. If I asked what's owed to you now and what's due out in the next 30 days, how quickly could you tell me?

Straight away; I check it every week Within a few minutes, from the accounting software Honestly, I'd be guessing I'd need to ask my bookkeeper or accountant

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Survival/Chaos

4. Looking back over the last three months, which sounds most like you?

Flat out, but that's just how this industry works Flat out and stretched, and I know it's on me to change it Busy, but we're on top of it and know what's coming Steady, with a few rough weeks we got through

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Stability

5. How do you set your prices?

Our costs plus a markup, checked now and then Whatever I think will win the job Roughly what others charge, adjusted by feel From our real costs and target margin, reviewed each year

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Stability

6. How do you use your financial reports?

I review them monthly and act on what they show I glance at them; the bank balance tells me enough I leave the numbers to my accountant I look when my accountant walks me through them

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Stability

7. Your accountant shows you that one type of job is losing money. What happens next?

Probably keep doing it; the work keeps the crew busy Ask them to work out the fix and sort it for me Look at the numbers myself, then reprice it or drop it Look at it, but trust my gut on what's working

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Stability

8. Do you know your break-even, the turnover you need each month just to cover costs?

I've got a feel for it, but no actual number Yes, to within a few thousand, and I track against it Roughly, from a conversation with my accountant No, I've never worked it out

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Control

9. When a new person starts, how do they learn how you do things?

I show them myself, job by job They shadow an experienced person for a few weeks Written procedures and checklists, plus time with a buddy They pick it up as they go and ask when stuck

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Control

10. How do you know a job has been done to your standard?

I check the important ones myself Checklists and photos are signed off at completion The leading hand checks and flags any issues to me I check nearly every job personally

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Control

11. Which is closest to how you feel about the way your team does things?

Mostly right; I'd like it written down so it's consistent Honestly, nobody does it quite like I do They're good, but it's quicker if I do the tricky parts They do it well, and differently to me, which is fine

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Control

12. Do you have a regular weekly routine to plan the week ahead?

Yes, same time every week, with the team When things get busy enough to need one No, we plan as the phone rings Yes, on my own most Monday mornings

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Leverage

13. If you were off sick for a full week, what would happen to the jobs?

Most would run; a few would wait for me They'd run normally; the team knows what to do The team would cope, but quoting and new work would stop Most work would stop until I got back

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Leverage

14. Who does your quoting and estimating?

Me, every one, usually at night Me, with some help from the office A team member does them; I review the larger ones We share it; I do the complex quotes

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Leverage

15. In the last 12 months, which of these have you paid for to improve the business?

A coach, advisor or structured business program Courses, books or events I chose myself Nothing outside normal running costs Better software or equipment, but no outside advice

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Leverage

16. What best describes the role of your most senior employee?

Very good on the tools; I make the calls There isn't really a senior role yet Leads jobs on site; checks in with me on decisions Runs a team or area and makes decisions without me

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Growth

17. Where does most of your new work come from?

A mix of repeat clients, referrers and marketing we track Repeat clients and word of mouth, steady and reliable Whoever calls; we take what comes Word of mouth, but it comes in waves

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Growth

18. If turnover grew 30% next year, what would happen to your profit?

Not sure; busier hasn't always meant more profit Last time we grew, profit went backwards It should rise, if we hire well It would rise; we've planned the people and margins

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Growth

19. A big customer offers steady work at a lower rate. What do you do?

Talk it through with my advisor before deciding Run the numbers first; take it only if the margin works Take it; steady work is worth a thinner margin Take it; turning down work never feels right

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Growth

20. Think about the last good business idea you had or were given. What happened to it?

Someone was meant to sort it, but it didn't happen Still on the list for when things quieten down It's in place and working Started; it's about half done

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Freedom

21. When did you last take two weeks off without checking in?

In the last 12 months, with a few calls I can't remember the last time A couple of years ago, and I was on the phone a lot In the last 12 months, and it ran fine

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Freedom

22. How much of your week goes on working on the business rather than in it?

Most of it; the team handles the day-to-day An hour or two when things are quiet Almost none; it's all customers and jobs A day or so a week, protected in the diary

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Freedom

23. If you had an extra day each week, what would you most likely do with it?

Catch up on quotes and paperwork Plan, review the numbers and work on the next step Spend it with family or on things I've put off Take on another job; there's always more work

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Freedom

24. If you stepped back, could the business pay you a good wage for running it, plus a profit?

It pays me, but only because I'm on the tools Yes, it already does both Close; it pays my wage and the profit is improving I'm paid less than my best tradie for the hours I work

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Lifestyle Business

25. How clear are you on the life you want the business to fund in five years?

Haven't had time to think about it Clear on the life; still working out the numbers Very clear, with a number, and the business is built around it A rough idea, but no real plan behind it

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Lifestyle Business

26. If you wanted to sell or step away in five years, how ready is the business?

It's worth something, but mostly because of me It would run without me and has real value to a buyer We're building toward that, with a plan Without me, there isn't much business left

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Lifestyle Business

27. What would most need to change for you to reach the lifestyle you want?

Mostly me: what I hold onto and how I run things Better staff who care as much as I do Better systems and clearer numbers Not much; we're mostly there already

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Lifestyle Business

28. Is the business building wealth for you outside of it, such as super, property or investments?

Yes, on a plan that's reviewed each year A little, when there's money left over Not yet; everything goes back into the business Yes, mostly super and some property

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Where is your business on the Lifestyle Business Ladder?

What type of business do you run?

Roughly what was your turnover last financial year?

How many people work in the business, not counting you?

1. On a typical weekday, when do you finish work, including quotes, invoices and phone calls?

2. In the last six months, how often has paying wages, super or the BAS felt tight?

3. If I asked what's owed to you now and what's due out in the next 30 days, how quickly could you tell me?

4. Looking back over the last three months, which sounds most like you?

5. How do you set your prices?

6. How do you use your financial reports?

7. Your accountant shows you that one type of job is losing money. What happens next?

8. Do you know your break-even, the turnover you need each month just to cover costs?

9. When a new person starts, how do they learn how you do things?

10. How do you know a job has been done to your standard?

11. Which is closest to how you feel about the way your team does things?

12. Do you have a regular weekly routine to plan the week ahead?

13. If you were off sick for a full week, what would happen to the jobs?

14. Who does your quoting and estimating?

15. In the last 12 months, which of these have you paid for to improve the business?

16. What best describes the role of your most senior employee?

17. Where does most of your new work come from?

18. If turnover grew 30% next year, what would happen to your profit?

19. A big customer offers steady work at a lower rate. What do you do?

20. Think about the last good business idea you had or were given. What happened to it?

21. When did you last take two weeks off without checking in?

22. How much of your week goes on working on the business rather than in it?

23. If you had an extra day each week, what would you most likely do with it?

24. If you stepped back, could the business pay you a good wage for running it, plus a profit?

25. How clear are you on the life you want the business to fund in five years?

26. If you wanted to sell or step away in five years, how ready is the business?

27. What would most need to change for you to reach the lifestyle you want?

28. Is the business building wealth for you outside of it, such as super, property or investments?

Last step: your free personalised report