Practical, plain-English guides for running the business side of the job.
How to land on a number that covers your time and materials without under- or over-quoting
Undercharging is the fastest way to resent a job halfway through it; overcharging loses you the work before it starts. Start from your real hourly cost — wages, van, tools, insurance, admin time — then add materials at cost plus a margin, not a guess. Qome's region-adjusted price guides are a useful sense-check: if your quote sits wildly outside the typical range for a job, it's worth knowing why before you send it, whether that's because you're specialising in something harder, or because the number needs a second look.
A simple way to start collecting reviews when you don't have any yet
Homeowners hire from evidence, and a profile with zero reviews reads the same as a business that's never done a job. Ask at the best possible moment — right after the customer has seen the finished work and is pleased, not weeks later when the memory's faded. A short, specific ask beats a generic one: send the direct Google review link, mention the job by name, and make it a two-minute task for them. Once you've got a handful, link them to your Qome profile so they're doing the convincing for you before a homeowner even calls.
How to handle late payment professionally, before it becomes a bigger problem
Most late payment isn't malicious, it's just forgotten — so the first follow-up should assume that, not accusation. A friendly, factual nudge a few days after the due date solves most of it. If it drags on, put the outstanding amount and date in writing rather than only discussing it by phone, so there's a clear record if it escalates. Keeping every job's payment status somewhere visible — rather than relying on memory or a paper invoice pile — makes it obvious who still owes you before it becomes a cash flow problem.
The recurring HMRC and Companies House dates that catch tradespeople out
Self Assessment's 31 January deadline is well known — the payment on account due the same day is the part that actually catches people out, since it's charging you in advance for the year you haven't finished yet. VAT-registered businesses have their own quarterly rhythm on top of that, and a limited company has a separate Companies House confirmation statement date that has nothing to do with the tax year at all. None of these replace an accountant, but a simple reminder system that flags each date a few weeks out — rather than finding out from a penalty letter — is the difference between mildly annoying and expensive.
This is a starting set — more guides are coming. Want to see what Qome Trade actually gives you?
See features for tradespeople