Hiring a local business

Hiring is where good preparation pays off. You've found a few businesses and checked who they are. Now you need to compare quotes, confirm licences, agree a contract and pay, all without falling into the traps that catch people every year. The guides in this section take you through each step.

The guides in this section

• How to get and compare quotes: writing a brief, quotes versus estimates, what a good quote includes and how to compare them.
• How to check a trade licence: which jobs commonly need a licence, how to check one and what to look for.
• Contracts and deposits for home jobs: what a contract should cover, deposit limits, progress payments, variations and cooling-off.
• How to pay a local business safely: payment methods, receipts, timing and how to avoid fake invoices.

Compare quotes with our free tool

Our quote checker lets you put up to three quotes side by side. Enter the price, deposit and warranty, tick whether you've checked the licence, have a written contract and have seen insurance details, and the tool flags anything that needs attention. For example, it highlights a deposit over 10%, which is the NSW limit for home building work, so you can check the rule in your state. Everything stays in your browser.

Key rules to know (NSW example)

Rules for home building and trade work are set by the states and territories. NSW Government guidance is a useful example of the kinds of protections that exist:

• Written contracts: required for residential building work over $5,000 including GST. A small job contract covers work between $5,000 and $20,000, and a large job contract covers work over $20,000.
• Deposits: can't be more than 10% of the contract price.
• Home building compensation cover: required for work over $20,000; the government advises not paying anything until you have the certificate.
• Cooling-off: large job contracts have a 5-day cooling-off period.
• Licence checks: you can check a builder's or tradesperson's licence online.

Other states have similar rules with different thresholds and names. Check with your state's consumer protection or building agency.

Red flags at the hiring stage

Most businesses are honest, but these signs are worth a pause:

• no written quote, or a vague one;
• pressure to sign today, or a price that "expires" in hours;
• a deposit well above the limit in your state, or full payment upfront;
• a licence that doesn't match the name on the quote, or doesn't cover the work;
• a request to pay in cash with no receipt, or into an account in a different name;
• an email saying the bank details have changed.

Each of these has an innocent explanation now and then, but each one deserves a clear answer before you go ahead.

Who does the work?

On bigger jobs, the business you contract with may use employees or subcontractors. That's normal, but ask who will be on site, who supervises, and how the business makes sure subcontractors are licensed. For electrical and gas work, ask what compliance documentation you'll receive at the end.

Keep good records

From the first quote to the final invoice, keep everything in one place: the brief, quotes, contract, variations, invoices, receipts, certificates, photos and messages. Good records make payments easy to check and disputes much easier to resolve.

A simple routine for any local business

Whatever the job, the same short routine works:

1. Write a brief of what you need, where and when.
2. Find three to six names from people you trust, maps, directories and associations.
3. Check each one: ABN, any licence and a spread of reviews.
4. Ask the same questions of each business and get written quotes.
5. Compare like with like using our quote checker.
6. Agree everything in writing, pay safely and keep your records.

Ask questions early

The best time to raise a concern is before you sign. Ask how variations will be priced, who will be on site, what warranty is offered and how payments are scheduled. Clear answers now prevent most disputes later.

About these guides

Search My Local is independent. We aren't a directory, a government agency or a regulator, and no business pays to appear in our guides. We write every guide in our own words and list the official sources we relied on, such as the Australian Business Register, the ACCC, Scamwatch and state government agencies. Rules change and differ between states, so always check the current rules where you live.

Small jobs versus big projects

Not every job needs the full process. For a small repair, a clear written quote or a fixed call-out rate, a quick licence check where relevant and an invoice with the ABN may be enough. For a renovation, extension or anything with a large price tag, take the full route: several quotes on the same brief, licence and insurance checks, a detailed written contract, a deposit within your state's limit and progress payments tied to completed stages. Matching the effort to the stakes keeps things simple without leaving you exposed.

Where to go next

If you're still building a shortlist, start with our finding section. If something has gone wrong, our rights section explains consumer guarantees and how to resolve disputes.