How to Stop Doing Free Work as a Tradie

Every tradie has been there. You show up to a job, the client says "while you're here, can you just..." and before you know it, you've done an extra hour of work for free.

It's not that you don't want to charge for extras. It's that in the moment, it feels awkward. The client is standing right there. You don't have paperwork ready. And honestly, by the time you could write up a quote, you could've just done the work.

But here's the thing: these small "freebies" add up to massive losses.

The Hidden Cost of "Just Quickly"

Let's do some maths. Say you do 3-4 small extras per week that you don't bill for. Each one averages $50-100 in missed revenue.

That's $150-400 per week. $7,800 to $20,800 per year.

Now think about it this way: that's your family holiday. Your new tools. Your deposit on a work vehicle. Gone.

Why Traditional Methods Fail

The usual advice is "just write up a variation order." Great in theory. In practice:

1. You're in the middle of a job — stopping to write paperwork kills your momentum
2. The client is right there — feels awkward to suddenly pull out forms
3. You don't have templates ready — so you think "I'll sort it later"
4. Later never comes — you forget the details or it feels too late to invoice

The real problem isn't knowing you should charge. It's having a system that makes it easy in the moment.

The 30-Second Capture Method

Here's what actually works: capture the conversation when it happens.

When a client asks for something extra:

1. Pull out your phone (you've always got it on you)
2. Record a quick video of them explaining what they want
3. Confirm the scope and price on camera
4. Send them a work order for signature before you start

The whole thing takes 30 seconds. And now you've got:

• Documentation of what was agreed
• The client's own words on record
• A signed variation before the work begins
• No awkward conversations later

Handling the "Can't You Just..." Objection

Some clients will push back. "Come on, it's only small." Here's how to handle it:

"I'd love to help, but I need to get this documented first. Takes 30 seconds, then we're good to go."

Keep it casual. Most clients respect it. The ones who don't? They're exactly the clients you want this protection with.

Remember: professionals document their work. Clients expect it from their accountant, their lawyer, their doctor. You're a professional too.

The Confidence Factor

Here's something nobody talks about: when you have a system, you're more confident.

Instead of the awkward "um, that's gonna be extra," you can say "no worries, let me just capture this quick and we'll get you a price."

It's professional. It's expected. And clients actually appreciate it because they know exactly what they're paying for.

Real Numbers from Real Tradies

We've talked to hundreds of tradies who've switched to capturing variations properly:

• Average extra revenue per month: $1,200-2,500
• Time spent on admin: Down by 60%
• Disputes about extra work: Almost zero
• Client satisfaction: Actually goes up (clarity = trust)

The tradies who are crushing it aren't working harder. They're just capturing the work they're already doing.

Getting Started

You don't need fancy software to start. Here's a bare minimum system:

1. Create a simple variation template (one page, covers scope and price)
2. Keep it on your phone as a PDF
3. When extras come up, fill it out on site
4. Get a signature before you start the extra work

That said, doing it manually still has friction. That's why we built SiteScope — to make the whole process happen in 30 seconds on your phone.

The Bottom Line

Every hour you spend on unbilled work is an hour you could be earning. And every unbilled variation is money walking out the door.

The solution isn't to work harder or have uncomfortable conversations. It's to have a system that makes billing easy.

Stop doing free work. Your time is worth money.