Guides for Canadian small business
Plain how-to guides with worked examples, each linked to the tool that goes with it.
- Markup vs margin: worked examples for small business
- How to track billable hours and turn them into a fee
- Break-even point explained, with a worked example
- How to work out your hourly rate
- What to record in a mileage and expense log
- How to write a quote for a job
- How to write an invoice
- Payment terms explained: due dates and late fees
- How to track unpaid invoices
- How to follow up on an unpaid invoice
- How to write a client brief and set the scope
- How to write a clear quote for a renovation or trade job
- How to record a change to a job so everyone agrees
- A simple routine for getting paid on time
- How to price a job when a helper works with you
- How to price small jobs and call-outs
- How to cover your fixed costs in a slow season
- What to write down after every job
- How to work out what to charge for a job
- How to keep simple job records on paper first
- How to price a job that is far from town
- How much paint do I need for a room or a job
- How much concrete do I need for a slab or a footing
- How many sheets of drywall do I need
- How to measure square footage of a room, wall or lot
- How to convert hours and minutes to decimal hours
- A simple job costing sheet for trades, and how to fill it in
- How to calculate your overhead costs and what each hour must cover