The Tyro Blog

29 February 2024 - 10 min read

Business Strategies

Top 12 Software and Apps for Tradies & Small Business Owners

Streamlining operations: Tools for efficiency  

In today’s competitive business world, being efficient is crucial for success. Check out the top apps and software designed specifically for tradespeople, freelancers, and small business owners. These tools may help you streamline payment processing, job management, and accounting tasks. 

Find reliable tradies: Platforms you can hire 

When you’re expanding your team or looking for trustworthy subcontractors, using online platforms is a smart move. These platforms act as a connection between your business and experienced professionals, helping you hire the right people for the job. Explore the following platforms: 

hipages 

As an online tradie marketplace, hipages connects you with a network of experienced tradies across various trades. Whether you need a plumber, electrician, or carpenter, hipages simplifies the hiring process, allowing you to browse profiles, read reviews, and make informed decisions that align with your project requirements. 

Service.com.au 

Service.com.au is a go-to platform for finding skilled tradies in Australia. It provides a variety of services, allowing you to post your job needs, get quotes, and connect with skilled professionals who meet your requirements. With its easy-to-use website and commitment to offering a complete service, it stands as a tool for individuals seeking tradespeople for various tasks.

ServiceSeeking 

ServiceSeeking is a platform helping with simplifying the process of hiring tradies. The website makes it easy to post your job, get quotes, and choose the right tradie for your project. ServiceSeeking has a robust review system provides transparency and valuable information to customers, enabling them to make well-informed hiring decisions. This commitment to a reliable and clear process makes ServiceSeeking a platform for those seeking skilled professionals for their projects. 

Oneflare 

Oneflare proves to be a versatile platform connecting you with local tradies across various trades, offering a wide spectrum of services ranging from landscaping to intricate home renovations. Making hiring easy, Oneflare goes beyond just being convenient by providing a complete platform. Here, you can easily compare quotes, thoroughly check reviews, and make good decisions to hire the most suitable tradie for your specific project. This helps provide a personalised approach to your unique needs. 

Exploring these platforms opens up lots of possibilities for your trade business, ensuring that you can build a dependable and skilled team for your projects. Whether you need subcontractors for specific tasks or want to expand your workforce, these platforms offer an easy and straightforward hiring process. 

Simplify transactions with Tyro  

Tap to Pay on iPhone with Tyro BYO App1 changing the way trade businesses handle payments, offering a streamlined and efficient approach to accept most types of in-person, contactless payments on an iPhone.   

How can I use it for payment processing?  

All you need to accept contactless payments is an iPhone and the Tyro BYO App1—no additional hardware required2. This solution empowers trade professionals, sole traders, and small business owners to accept payments anytime, anywhere. The convenience extends to customers, who can use various card types and digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.  

Rest easy knowing that your business and customer data are secure with the built-in features of the iPhone3. Apple’s security ensures that card numbers aren’t stored on the device or Apple servers during payment processing, keeping your business information safe.  

For a streamlined and secure payment experience, Tap to Pay on iPhone with the Tyro BYO App is the ideal solution for tradies and sole traders. 

Accounting Software for sole traders 

If you’re a solo entrepreneur dealing with finances, special accounting tools can make a big difference. Check out these user-friendly options: 

Xero® 

Xero is an easy-to-use accounting tool designed for small businesses and sole traders to efficiently manage their daily accounts. It helps businesses to track expenses, manage invoices, and takes care of admin tasks to save time.  

Tyro seamlessly integrates with Xero, allowing Tyro customers to easily send all their transactional information from their Tyro Bank Account to their Xero account. This includes both incoming and outgoing transactions. This integration not only saves time and reduces manual work but also minimises errors. Plus, it provides a real-time view of their cash flow whenever needed. 

Read more about the benefits of Xero integration with Tyro here.  

Hnry 

Hnry is aimed at sole traders, making financial tasks simpler. It helps track income and expenses. 

With its easy-to-use platform, Hnry lets solo entrepreneurs handle their finances, in a way that fits their dynamic and agile business style. 

Wave Apps 

Wave Apps is great for solo entrepreneurs who want a simple and feature rich financial tool. Its easy interface helps navigate business accounts, offering features tailored for sole traders. From easy invoicing to smooth expense tracking and detailed financial reports, Wave Apps lets solo entrepreneurs stay on top of finances and save time. 

Joist 

Joist is designed for solo entrepreneurs, with tools to simplify key business tasks like invoicing and payment processing. 

Its simple design makes it easy for even those without much financial know-how to use it. By keeping things straightforward, Joist helps solo entrepreneurs manage their finances efficiently, saving time for their main business activities. It’s more than just an invoicing tool – Joist is a helpful companion for solo entrepreneurs to stay in control of finances and boost overall business productivity. 

Job management software for tradies 

Keeping track of jobs is crucial for trade businesses, and these software options can assist tradies: 

Fergus 

Fergus is a tool designed for tradies, dealing with complex projects. It helps plan and organise tasks with advanced scheduling features, ensuring every part of the project is managed well. Fergus also helps with task management, making it easy for tradies to assign, monitor, and track tasks throughout the project. It’s also good for making and sending invoices on the go, making the billing process fast and keeping the business organised. Fergus is more than just job management software; it’s a toolkit that helps tradies handle their projects efficiently. 

AroFlo 

AroFlo is a flexible and scalable choice for tradies. Its flexibility makes it great for tradies working in changing environments, and its scalability means it can grow with a trade business. AroFlo’s advanced scheduling helps tradies plan and manage their work, and it’s good for task management too. AroFlo’s document control feature helps tradies manage and organise important project documents, making the workflow smoother. 

Tradify 

Tradify is a strong solution made for the specific needs of small trade businesses. Known for its user-friendly website, Tradify offers an easy solution for tradies looking for an efficient job management platform. Tradify simplifies complex job tasks, providing an all-in-one solution that boosts workflow efficiency. Its advanced scheduling tools make it easy to create, manage, and adjust schedules. Tradify also helps with task assignment, making it simple to assign jobs to team members for clear and accountable work. 

simPRO 

simPRO is a solution made for tradies handling complex projects. It stands out with features crucial for successful project management. One notable feature is project time tracking, helping tradies monitor time spent on different project phases for better accountability and cost estimates. simPRO also helps with scheduling, allowing tradies to create detailed project timelines. Its financial management tools help tradies keep a tight grip on project budgets and expenses. simPRO goes beyond day-to-day operations; it significantly boosts tradies’ capabilities in managing and executing complex projects. 

Software’s and apps that help grow your tradie business  

Empower your trade business with these tailored small business apps and tools, ensuring that whether you’re a sole trader or a small business owner, you have the tools to work smarter and elevate your operations to new heights.  

Choose the right tool for your business and unlock the efficiency needed to thrive in the competitive trades industry.

Frequently asked questions 

What are the key features to consider when choosing job management software for my trade business?

When selecting job management software or a project management app, consider features like scheduling and dispatch tools, real-time communication, project tracking, invoicing and payment processing, and integration with accounting software. These features can help you streamline your operations and improve efficiency, catering specifically to the needs of small businesses in the trades industry. 

How can I find and hire reliable tradies for my projects using online platforms? 

Online platforms such as hipages, Service.com.au, ServiceSeeking, and Oneflare are excellent resources for connecting with experienced tradies. You can post your job requirements, receive quotes, and browse profiles to find the right professionals for your projects. 

What accounting software options are most suited for sole traders in the trade industry? 

For sole traders in the trade industry, account software like Xero, Hnry, Wave Apps, and Joist, recognised small business apps, offer tailored solutions. These tools help you manage expenses, track income, and simplify tax-related tasks, and more. 

How can payment processing apps like the Tyro BYO App benefit my trade business? 

The Tyro BYO App simplifies payment processing by allowing you to accept various payment methods with your iPhone only2. It provides a secure and efficient way to handle transactions3, improving the customer experience and security. 

What are the advantages of using accounting software specifically designed for small trade businesses? 

Accounting software designed for small trade businesses often includes features like invoicing, expense tracking, and tax reporting tailored to your needs. These tools help you maintain financial records. 

What are the benefits of using online platforms to find subcontractors and skilled labour for my trade business? 

Online platforms provide a convenient way to discover and hire subcontractors and skilled labour, helping you expand your team when needed. They offer a diverse pool of experienced professionals, making it easier to find the right fit for your projects. 

Disclaimer: 
Tyro may from time to time provide links to other websites for information purposes. The inclusion of links does not imply endorsement or support by Tyro of any of the linked information, services, products, or providers. Tyro does not accept any responsibility for any errors, omissions or reliability of such content and any use thereof is solely at the user’s risk. Please undertake your own assessment before relying on it. 

(Tyro) may pay financial benefits and/or referral fees to its partners. 

References 

1 Tap to Pay on iPhone requires iPhone Xs or later running iOS 16.4 or later via the Tyro BYO App. Some contactless cards may not be accepted by the Tyro BYO App. The Contactless Symbol is a trademark owned by and used with permission of EMVCo, LLC. For more details, see https://developer.apple.com/tap-to-pay/ The Tyro BYO App requires mobile connectivity for use.  

2 Businesses are required to use their own iPhone. Tyro BYO App is free to download via the App Store. 

3 Tap to Pay on iPhone uses the in-built features of iPhone to keep your business and customer data private and secure. Apple doesn’t store card numbers on the device or on Apple servers. 

Apple Pay is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. 

iPhone, iPad, Touch ID and Siri are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. 

®Xero is a trademark of Xero Limited.