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Admin Services for Trades Businesses – Office Support That Keeps You Moving

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Admin Services for Trades Businesses – Office Support That Keeps You Moving Running a trades business means long days on the tools, tight schedules, and constant problem-solving on-site. What often gets pushed to the side is the office work — emails, enquiries, calendars, paperwork, follow-ups, and customer service. That admin doesn’t disappear. It piles up. Hello, I’m Mara, your Office Administrator at BlueWood Office. If you need help staying on top of the admin and customer service side of your trades business, send us a few details about your current setup. We’ll review it and come back to you with a  practical admin support plan  that fits how you actually work. Why Trust BlueWood Office with Your Admin and Customer Service? I work with tradespeople every day to clear administrative clutter and bring structure back to their business. From handling first enquiries and scheduling jobs, to managing emails and digital paperwork — we make sure everything is: Sorted Filed Follo...
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Money Talks: Bookkeeping Basics for Tradespeople

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Money Talks: Bookkeeping Basics for Tradespeople

Money Talks: Bookkeeping Basics for Tradespeople

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend tools I genuinely use and find helpful.

For tradespeople who want to run smoother, more professional businesses without losing their sanity.

Feel like your business is doing well, but you’re not sure where the money’s actually going? You’re not alone. For many tradespeople, bookkeeping is something we avoid until tax season — and by then, it's a scramble.

This post covers the basic habits, tools, and mindset shifts that helped me take control of my finances without needing to become an accountant.

📚 What Is Bookkeeping (and Why You Should Care)?

Bookkeeping is just a fancy term for tracking money: what comes in, what goes out, and what’s left. It matters because:

  • You can’t price jobs properly if you don’t know your costs
  • You might be busy, but still broke if cash flow isn’t clear
  • You’ll pay more tax or penalties if you guess or miss deadlines

Knowing your numbers helps you run your business, not just work in it.

💻 Tools That Make It Easy

I use Zoho Books for both BlueWood Handyman and BlueWood Office. It’s affordable, UK-compliant, and helps me stay on top of everything.

You can also try:

  • FreeAgent – great if you want something simple and HMRC-approved
  • Xero or QuickBooks – if you're already familiar with them

Whatever you pick, the important thing is to use it consistently.

🧾 Weekly Habits That Make Bookkeeping Easy

Here’s what I recommend:

  • Check income: Who’s paid, who hasn’t?
  • Upload receipts: Fuel, materials, tools — snap a photo and file it
  • Match transactions: Link payments in your bank feed to estimates or invoices
  • Review reports: Cash flow, profit & loss, unpaid invoices

Do this once a week, and you’ll stay ahead of your accountant — and your stress.

BlueWood Tip: Even if you outsource your bookkeeping, it’s still your responsibility. Make time to review your numbers monthly — it’s how real businesses grow.

Related: Requesting Deposits Without Losing Clients | How a Virtual Assistant Can Help Your Trades Business

Ready to Improve Your Business?

At BlueWood Office, we help tradespeople like you get systems in place so you can focus on the work you enjoy (and stop chasing paperwork).

📅 Book a Free Discovery Call

Prefer video? Check out our YouTube series covering these tips step by step:

▶️ Watch on YouTube: BlueWood Office Channel

This post is part of our weekly series for tradespeople who want to build smarter businesses. New post every week — check back soon or follow us for updates.

Got questions or thoughts? Leave a comment below — I’d love to hear how you’re tracking your business finances or what you struggle with most!

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