Getting started

You need an account to use TradieFiles. It's free to try.

1. Go to the TradieFiles website and click Start free trial (on a phone, Sign up).
2. Under I'm signing up as, pick I run a business.
3. Type your Business name, for example "Smith Plumbing".
4. Pick Your trade. This adds starter checklists and price list items for your trade. Pick I'll choose later if you're not sure.
5. Type Your name, Email address and a Password, then type the password again.
6. Click Create account.
7. Open the email we send you and click the link to confirm your email address.

You can also click Sign up with Google to use your Google account instead of a password.

New businesses get a free trial. You don't need a card to start it.

1. After you sign up, TradieFiles opens Plan and billing.
2. Pick Solo (just you) or Team (up to 15 people).
3. Click Start free trial. Stripe, our payment company, opens.
4. Follow the steps. You can skip adding a card.
5. You come back to TradieFiles, ready to go.

During the trial you can use everything. Near the end, a banner reminds you to add a card.

If the trial ends without a card, TradieFiles becomes read-only. Read-only means you can still see everything, but you can't change anything. Nothing is deleted. Add a card and choose a plan to carry on. See Plan and billing.

Do these once, before you send your first quote or invoice. Each one takes a minute or two.

1. Business details. Add your ABN, phone, address and bank details. They print on every quote and invoice. See Business details.
2. Price list. Add your labour rate and the things you charge for most. See Price list.
3. Your team. Invite the people who work with you. See Your team and roles.
4. Card payments (optional). Let customers pay invoices by card. See Card payments.

A trade pack is a set of starter checklists, price list items and photo tags for your trade. It saves you typing them in yourself.

There are packs for Electrician (VIC), Plumber, Concrete cleaning and sealing, Carpenter, Painter, Landscaper and gardener, Air conditioning and refrigeration, Handyman and maintenance, and Another trade (a general pack).

A trade pack is just a starting point. Edit or delete anything it adds, and add your own.

To add a pack:

1. Open Settings (the cog at the top right), then Trade pack.
2. Find your trade.
3. Click Add this pack. If it's your trade already, the button says Add anything missing.

Adding a pack never changes or doubles up anything you already have. Price list items come without prices, so set your own in the Price list.

On a computer, the main menu runs across the top: Dashboard, Jobs, Customers, Money, Calendar, Timesheets and Tasks.

On a phone, the main menu sits along the bottom of the screen.

At the top right you'll find:

• Search, to find any page, job, customer or help topic. See Search and shortcuts.
• ?, which opens the help for the page you're on.
• The bell, for your notifications.
• The cog, for settings.

• Create your first job.
• Send your first quote.
• Get the phone app.