Your end-of-year tradie checklist: What to get done before you knock off for Christmas

The weeks leading into Christmas can feel like a sprint: jobs to finish, customers calling, suppliers shutting down, and everyone wanting everything “done before the break.”But before you put down tools, a little planning can save you from coming back to chaos in January.

Here’s your simple, no-fluff end-of-year checklist to help you finish strong, get paid on time, and enjoy your break without the stress.

Wrap up all invoicing before you switch off

If there’s one thing to never leave until after Christmas… it’s your invoicing.

• Send all outstanding invoices now

• Double-check job sheets, variations, and call-outs

• Follow up on overdue invoices before clients disappear to the beach

• Offer debit/credit payment options to speed things up

Why it matters: December–January is the slowest payment period of the year. The sooner invoices hit inboxes, the sooner money hits your account.

Quote for January jobs while work is fresh

Avoid starting the year scrambling for work (or quoting with a holiday brain).

Before clocking off:

• Finalise any quotes waiting in draft form

• Price up jobs you’ve inspected recently

• Lock in January start dates where possible

• Update your margins and material costs for next year

Bonus: Sending quotes now positions you ahead of competitors who leave it until mid-January.

Check your cash buffer so you don't feel the crunch

The Christmas shutdown can mean two–four weeks of little to no income, depending on your trade.

Do a quick pulse check:

• How much do you need to cover wages?

• Are super, PAYG, and end-of-month bills accounted for?

• Do you have enough to float you until jobs pick up again?

• Have you factored in holiday spending?

If things look tight, bring forward invoicing, offer progress payments, or slow non-essential spending now.

Pay supplier bills before they go on break

Many suppliers shut down or run skeleton staff during Christmas.

Tick these off:

• Pay or schedule December and early-January bills

• Check stock and order anything needed for January

• Follow up on backorders so you’re not caught out next month

This stops January delays, because nothing’s worse than having work lined up but no materials arriving.

Prepare your BAS & bookkeeping while the numbers are fresh

Even if your BAS isn’t due until late January or February, prepping it now saves you a headache.

Do this before you sign off:

• Upload receipts and match transactions

• Reconcile accounts and check for duplicates

• Update payroll and super

• Review GST on invoices and bills

Your future self (the one returning from holidays) will be very grateful.

Set up auto-reminders so you don't come back to chaos

January is easier when the admin is already organised.

Set reminders for:

• Supplier payments

• Recurring invoices

• Payroll due dates

• BAS lodgement

• Insurance renewals

• Vehicle regos

• Tool/equipment servicing

Even better: automate what you can through your accounting software so tasks keep ticking over while you’re off.

Out-of-office, done properly

A good OOO message saves phone calls, confusion, and annoyed clients.

Include:

• Your shutdown dates

• Emergency contact options (if any)

• When you’ll respond after the break

Set it once across email, job software, and voicemail.

Finish with a clean slate

Before you knock off:

• Clear your ute

• Sort tools and trailers

• Back up job photos and files

• Review what worked well in 2025 and where to improve

A tidy set-up makes coming back in January smoother and a lot less overwhelming.

The bottom line

End-of-year planning doesn’t have to be complicated. A few hours spent getting organised now can mean:

• Faster payments

• Less stress

• A smoother return

• And a guilt-free Christmas break

Tick off this checklist and enjoy shutting the gate knowing your business is set up for a strong start in the New Year.

Want to hit the ground running in January - not drown in paperwork?

Join our Bookkeeping Series, where we break down the essentials step-by-step so you stay cash-flow strong, compliant, and in control all year round.