Progress claims with auto-percentage tracking, variations with builder's admin loading, retentions deducted automatically, sub-contractor margins, ATO-compliant tax invoices. HIA and Master Builders contract aligned.
Where residential builders quietly leak cashflow
Open the Builder starter pack inside Invoice Better and these line items load instantly. Edit the rates to match your business and you're done. No spreadsheet, no calculator. Starter packs are free and don't count toward the free plan's 3-item cap.
| Builder Job | Formula | Sample Output |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenter labour (standard) | $95/hr + $40 setup | 8hr → $1,012 inc GST |
| Carpenter labour (Saturday) | $142.50/hr (1.5× auto) | Auto-loaded |
| Framing (per m²) | $95/m² + min $1,800 | 30m² → $3,135 inc GST |
| Decking (per m²) | $220/m² + min $2,500 | 20m² → $4,840 inc GST |
| Pergola / patio | $3,800–$8,500 fixed packages | 3×4m pergola → $4,400 inc GST |
| Materials supply | Cost + 15% builder's margin | Frame timber $4,200 → $4,830 inc GST |
| Progress claim 1 (deposit) | 20% of contract value | Contract $48,000 → $9,600 inc GST |
| Variation (open-rate) | Quoted line + 15% admin | Adds $X line + admin |
| Retention (held back) | 5% retained until practical completion | Auto-deducted from final claim |
Tap any item, set quantity, GST is auto-calculated. The full smart price list walks through how every formula type works.
An example of what Invoice Better makes from a saved client and price list. It shows what an Australian tax invoice needs: ABN, GST and your bank details.
Henderson Builders Pty Ltd
ABN 98 765 432 109
Pay to: Henderson Builders Pty Ltd · BSB 062-000 · Acct 1234 5678
Construction invoicing is structurally different from on-the-spot trade work. Contracts run for months, payments come in stages, variations stack up, and retentions sit at the bottom of every claim. A builder's invoicing tool needs to handle all of it without forcing you into a heavyweight construction suite.
Invoice Better's Builder starter pack handles the four jobs that matter: progress claims, variations, retentions, and end-of-job final claim. Plus the day-to-day stuff — labour, materials, sub-contractor coordination — that fills the gaps.
Set your contract value as a saved customer total. Each progress claim references the percentage complete and auto-calculates the claim amount. Invoice Better generates an ATO-compliant tax invoice with the claim number, percentage complete, prior claims paid, current claim amount and remaining balance — all on one PDF.
For domestic building contracts under HIA or Master Builders standard form, the claim format Invoice Better produces aligns with the typical client-side expectation. Commercial contracts under AS4000 or AS4902 may require additional schedules — Invoice Better's PDF supports adding attachments via the share sheet.
Every builder loses money on undocumented variations. Invoice Better's variation line is built so you can quote, accept and invoice each one cleanly:
Most domestic contracts retain 5% of the contract value until practical completion or final inspection. Invoice Better calculates the retention deduction on each progress claim automatically and surfaces the running retention balance — so when PC arrives, you know exactly what's owed.
The single biggest cashflow leak in residential building isn't unpaid invoices — it's under-claimed ones. Builders who claim percentages incorrectly can be tens of thousands of dollars behind by the time the slab is poured. Track it from claim 1.
If you're the head builder coordinating sub-contractors (sparkies, plumbers, plasterers, tilers), Invoice Better helps you on both sides:
Tradify is excellent for multi-staff trade businesses with daily dispatch — but for a sole-trader or small-crew builder running one or two domestic projects at a time, the dispatch features go unused. Invoice Better is the focused alternative: 30-second progress claims, A$7.99/mo or A$79.99 lifetime, and you can write a claim in a half-built shell with no signal (sending needs a connection).
Every Invoice Better PDF is a fully ATO-compliant GST tax invoice — ABN, BSB, "Tax Invoice" header, GST 10%, sequential numbering. For domestic building contracts, the progress claim format also covers the typical HIA and Master Builders contract schedule expectations. Commercial contracts requiring schedules of values can attach those as additional PDFs via the share sheet.
Compare every option side-by-side: Best Invoicing App for Tradies Australia 2026.
Real questions Australian tradies and sole traders ask before switching invoicing apps.
For sole-trader and small-crew Australian builders running 1–3 domestic projects at a time, Invoice Better is a good fit — progress claims, variations, retentions and tax invoices on your phone, with no signal needed to make them (sending needs a connection). From A$7.99/mo, A$59.99/yr or A$79.99 lifetime. For larger multi-project builders with dispatch needs, Tradify or Buildxact are stronger.
Yes — the Builder starter pack includes progress claim formulas. Set the contract value, enter percentage complete, and the claim amount, prior claims paid and remaining balance auto-populate on a fully ATO-compliant tax invoice.
Quote each variation on a separate line, get written approval (the Invoice Better quote PDF includes a sign-off field), then invoice it on the next progress claim with optional 15% builder's admin loading. Every variation is tracked separately for end-of-job reconciliation.
Yes — set the retention percentage on the customer record (default 5%) and Invoice Better deducts it on each progress claim and tracks the running retention balance. When practical completion arrives, the held amount is released as a final-claim line.
Yes. Use the materials-supply line with builder's margin (default 15%) to re-invoice subbie costs to the customer with your loading applied. Track subbie payments via your bank — Invoice Better doesn't manage subbie payments, just the customer-facing invoicing.
Yes for typical domestic contracts. Invoice Better's progress claim PDF covers the standard schedule expectations of HIA and Master Builders standard-form contracts. For commercial contracts under AS4000/AS4902 requiring schedules of values, attach those as additional PDFs via the share sheet.
Free: up to 3 clients, 5 invoices sent a month and 3 saved price-list items. Starter packs are free and don't count toward the 3 items. Premium is A$7.99/month, A$59.99/year, or A$79.99 once for a lifetime licence, as listed on the Australian App Store. Tradify Lite is $48 per user a month ex GST (checked 22 Oct 2026), about $576 a year. Premium yearly is A$59.99.
Yes — your invoices, clients, prices and PDFs are saved on your phone. Create progress claims, save them, send them on-site via AirDrop or queue email for when you're back in range. More on offline invoicing.
Yes — export all invoices and claims as CSV from Settings. Most builders send their accountant a monthly CSV for BAS and a project-end CSV for retention reconciliation.
Use the labour line + materials-supply line with builder's margin. Each claim is essentially a cost-up plus margin invoice. The PDF clearly breaks out labour, materials and margin so the customer can see what they're paying for.
Free: up to 3 clients, 5 invoices sent a month and 3 saved price-list items. No card. No account needed to invoice.
Premium A$7.99/mo · A$59.99/yr · A$79.99 lifetime