Disputes Tribunal NZ: taking an unpaid invoice to claim (2026)
How NZ tradies use the Disputes Tribunal to recover an unpaid invoice - claim limits, filing fees, the step-by-step process, and the 6-year time limit.
Read guide →Free resources
Guides for NZ tradies who want to get paid faster
Practical advice on invoicing, cashflow, debt recovery, and running a trade business in New Zealand. No fluff.
AI for tradies (NZ): a practical guide for trade businesses
Can AI help a NZ trade business? A practical guide to where AI saves tradies time - quotes, invoices, admin and marketing - and where it must never be trusted.
Read guide →Can AI help an electrician business? (NZ)
Can AI help an electrician business? Where AI saves NZ sparkies time on quotes, admin and customer messages - and the hard line at compliance and certificates.
Read guide →How to use ChatGPT in your trade business (NZ)
How to use ChatGPT in your NZ trade business: copy-and-tweak prompts for quotes, invoices, customer replies and marketing, plus the mistakes to avoid.
Read guide →Best AI tools for NZ tradies (2026)
The best AI tools for NZ tradies in 2026, grouped by job - assistants, job-management AI, accounting AI and more - with indicative NZD pricing.
Read guide →Types of business insurance in NZ explained
Learn about the main types of business insurance in New Zealand, what each cover protects against, and how to choose the right policies for your business.
Read guide →The risks of not having business insurance in NZ (and what it really costs)
Find out what really happens when a NZ business has no insurance - realistic dollar figures, concrete examples, and the cover that fixes each risk.
Read guide →Small business insurance NZ: what cover you need and what it costs
A practical guide to small business insurance in NZ - what cover to prioritise, indicative costs for common business types, and how to keep your premiums down.
Read guide →Business insurance by profession: cover for NZ service businesses
NZ business insurance needs vary by occupation - find the cover that matters most for your profession, from mechanics and tradies to consultants.
Read guide →Mechanic business insurance NZ: cover for auto workshops and mobile mechanics
A guide to the insurance covers NZ mechanics and auto workshops need, from public liability and customer vehicle damage to tools and business interruption.
Read guide →Contractor insurance NZ: cover for independent contractors
Independent contractors in NZ carry their own risk - this guide covers the insurance you need, why clients require it, and how to get proof of cover fast.
Read guide →How to start a business in NZ: a step-by-step guide
A complete step-by-step guide to starting a business in New Zealand - covering registration, GST, business insurance, invoicing and getting paid on time.
Read guide →Sole trader vs company in NZ: which business structure is right for you?
Compare sole trader and company structures in NZ: liability, tax, setup costs, admin, and when to switch. Practical guidance for NZ tradies and business owners.
Read guide →Becoming a sole trader in NZ: how to set up and what you need
A practical guide to setting up as a sole trader in NZ - IRD numbers, GST, ACC, insurance, record-keeping and invoicing, all in one place.
Read guide →GST registration in NZ: when you must register and how to do it
Everything NZ tradies and service businesses need to know about GST registration - the $60,000 threshold, how to register via myIR, and what to do next.
Read guide →Contractor vs employee in NZ: what's the difference and which are you?
Contractor or employee in NZ? Learn the legal difference, how NZ courts test it, the tax and leave implications, and what cover contractors need.
Read guide →Business plan template for NZ tradies and small businesses (free)
A free one-page business plan template for NZ tradies and small businesses - with fill-in-the-blanks sections for pricing, marketing, and insurance.
Read guide →How to start a business in NZ with no money
A practical guide to starting a trade or service business in New Zealand with little or no money - from sole trader setup to getting your first customers.
Read guide →Debt collection Wellington: recover unpaid invoices in the capital
Debt collection Wellington guide for NZ tradies: how recovery works in the capital, commercial and subcontract debt, choosing an agency, and the Disputes Tribunal.
Read guide →Debt collection Christchurch: get paid in Canterbury without court
Debt collection Christchurch guide for tradies and subbies: payment claims, adjudication, choosing an agency, and the Disputes Tribunal - recover unpaid invoices fast.
Read guide →Debt collection Hamilton: recover unpaid invoices across the Waikato
Debt collection Hamilton guide from a Hamilton-based team: how recovery works in the Waikato, rural debtors, choosing an agency, and the Disputes Tribunal.
Read guide →Debt collection Tauranga: recover unpaid invoices in the Bay of Plenty
Debt collection Tauranga guide for tradies: recovering invoices amid the Bay of Plenty building boom, subcontract debt, choosing an agency, and the Disputes Tribunal.
Read guide →Tradie insurance NZ: the cover you actually need in 2026
A plain-English guide to insurance for NZ tradies - public liability, contract works, tools and more. What each cover does, when you need it, and how to buy the right policy.
Read guide →Public liability insurance NZ: what it covers and what it costs
Public liability insurance NZ guide for tradies: what it covers and excludes, whether you legally need it, how much cover to choose, and typical costs.
Read guide →Contract works insurance NZ: a tradie and builder guide
Contract works insurance NZ guide: what it covers, who pays under the building contract, new build vs renovation, and how long cover runs.
Read guide →Tool insurance NZ: cover for stolen or damaged tools
Tool insurance NZ guide for tradies: what tools of trade cover protects, the exclusions that catch people out, and how to value your kit.
Read guide →Builders insurance NZ: what cover a building business needs
Builders insurance NZ guide: the package of covers a building business needs - public liability, contract works, tools - plus how insurance differs from build guarantees.
Read guide →Best job management software for NZ tradies (2026)
Compare the best job management software NZ tradies use in 2026 - Tradify, ServiceM8, Fergus and Simpro - by price, platform, features and who each suits.
Read guide →Tradify vs ServiceM8 (2026): which suits NZ tradies?
Tradify vs ServiceM8 compared for NZ tradies: per-user vs per-job pricing, Apple-only vs cross-platform, features and who each is best for.
Read guide →Fergus vs Tradify (2026): NZ job management compared
Fergus vs Tradify for NZ trade businesses: two NZ-built apps compared on pricing, job costing vs simplicity, features and who each suits.
Read guide →Tradify review (NZ): pricing, features, pros and cons
An independent Tradify review for NZ tradies: 2026 pricing, key features, pros and cons, and who this NZ-built job management app is best for.
Read guide →Professional indemnity insurance NZ: who needs it and what it covers
Professional indemnity insurance NZ guide: what PI covers for trades and consultants, who actually needs it, how it differs from public liability, and what it costs.
Read guide →Public liability insurance for sole traders NZ: do you really need it?
Public liability insurance for sole traders in NZ: why one-person trades still need cover, how sole-trader and company cover differ, and what it costs.
Read guide →Electrician insurance NZ: the cover a sparkie actually needs
Electrician insurance NZ guide: the public liability, professional indemnity, tool and vehicle cover a sparkie needs, plus the electrical-specific risks to watch.
Read guide →Plumber insurance NZ: cover for plumbers and gasfitters
Plumber insurance NZ guide: the public liability, professional indemnity, tool and vehicle cover plumbers and gasfitters need, plus water-damage and gas risks.
Read guide →Painter insurance NZ: cover for painters and decorators
Painter insurance NZ guide: the public liability, tool and vehicle cover painters and decorators need, plus overspray, property-damage and working-at-height risks.
Read guide →ServiceM8 review (NZ): pricing, features, pros and cons
An independent ServiceM8 review for NZ tradies: 2026 pricing, key features, the iOS-only caveat, pros and cons, and who this Apple-first job management app suits.
Read guide →ServiceM8 pricing (NZ): plans, tiers and costs explained
A detailed look at ServiceM8 pricing for NZ tradies in 2026: every plan tier, what each includes, add-on costs, and a value analysis for a small NZ trade business.
Read guide →ServiceM8 alternatives (NZ): 4 options for tradies in 2026
The best ServiceM8 alternatives for NZ tradies in 2026 - Tradify, Fergus, Simpro and Jobber - with honest when-to-switch reasons, especially for Android users.
Read guide →ServiceM8 vs Fergus (2026): which suits NZ tradies?
ServiceM8 vs Fergus compared for NZ tradies: per-job vs per-user pricing, Apple-only vs cross-platform, automation vs job costing, and who each suits.
Read guide →ServiceM8 vs Simpro (2026): small trades vs big jobs
ServiceM8 vs Simpro for NZ tradies: a simple Apple-first app for small service trades versus a quote-based platform built for larger, complex commercial jobs.
Read guide →Job management software for Xero (NZ, 2026)
The best job management software for NZ tradies on Xero - Tradify, Fergus, ServiceM8 and Simpro compared on how they sync quotes, invoices and timesheets to Xero.
Read guide →Electrician job management software (NZ, 2026)
The best job management software for electricians in NZ - compared on certificates of compliance, test records, scheduling and prescribed electrical work, with the apps that fit sparkies best.
Read guide →Job management software for plumbers (NZ, 2026)
The best job management software for plumbers and gasfitters in NZ - compared on gas certificates, PGDB records, maintenance callouts and merchant integration, with the apps that fit best.
Read guide →Job management software for builders (NZ, 2026)
The best job management software for builders in NZ - compared on quotes and variations, progress claims, subcontractors and longer projects, with why Fergus and Simpro often suit builders more than ServiceM8.
Read guide →Adjudication for unpaid invoices: the fast-track tool NZ tradies aren't using
Adjudication under the Construction Contracts Act 2002 is a fast, low-cost way for NZ tradies to recover unpaid invoices - often in weeks, no lawyer needed. Here is exactly how it works.
Read guide →Seeking help when you're a tradie: where to turn for cashflow, getting paid, and your own headspace
Tradies are great at fixing everything except asking for help. Whether it's cashflow, chasing invoices, or your own headspace, here is where NZ tradies can get real support - including from blue-collar cashflow specialist Mel Curwood.
Read guide →Small business debt recovery in NZ: how to get paid without going to court
Small business debt recovery in NZ: a practical escalation ladder to get unpaid invoices paid - reminders, calls, demand letters, agencies - without going to court.
Read guide →Debt recovery agency: what they do, fees, and when to use one (NZ)
Debt recovery agency NZ guide: what they do, how debt recovery companies charge, what to look for, and when to use one to recover unpaid invoices.
Read guide →Debt collection NZ: how it works, your rights, and what it costs
Debt collection NZ explained in plain English: what an agency does, the legal rules, the process, and what it costs to recover unpaid invoices.
Read guide →Best debt collection agency NZ: how to choose one in 2026
Choosing the best debt collection agency NZ in 2026: a clear checklist on fees, recovery rates, compliance, reputation, and protecting your customers.
Read guide →Debt collection Auckland: how to recover unpaid invoices fast
Debt collection Auckland guide for NZ tradies: find a reputable agency, understand the process, and recover unpaid invoices fast across the country.
Read guide →Debt recovery letter sample: free NZ letter of demand template
A free debt recovery letter sample for NZ tradies: copy-paste letter of demand template, what to include, and when legal recovery follows.
Read guide →Debt collection laws NZ: what creditors and debtors need to know
A plain-English guide to debt collection laws NZ - your rights, the Fair Trading Act, the 6-year limit, the Disputes Tribunal and credit ratings.
Read guide →How to collect unpaid invoices in NZ: a step-by-step guide
Learn how to collect unpaid invoices in NZ - a step-by-step playbook from polite reminder to letter of demand and the Disputes Tribunal.
Read guide →Overdue invoice reminder email: templates that get you paid (NZ)
Copy-paste overdue invoice reminder email templates for NZ tradies - a friendly-to-firm sequence that gets unpaid invoices paid faster.
Read guide →Overdue invoice interest in NZ: can you charge it, and how much?
Overdue invoice interest in NZ explained: when you can charge it, reasonable rates, how to word your terms, and a worked calculation.
Read guide →The real cost of chasing invoices yourself
Chasing invoices yourself is never free. Most NZ tradies lose 3-5 hours a week to it - billable time off the tools, plus the cash you have already earned arriving late.
Read guide →Setting payment terms that protect your trade business
The right payment terms don't just help you get paid - they protect your business and filter out bad clients.
Read guide →5 invoicing mistakes that are costing NZ tradies money
Small invoicing mistakes add up to thousands in lost revenue every year. Here are the five most common.
Read guide →Your legal rights when chasing unpaid invoices in NZ
You're owed money. But what can you actually do about it? Here's what NZ law says.
Read guide →Managing cashflow as a tradie: a practical guide
Running out of cash between jobs is the number one killer of trade businesses. Here's how to stay ahead of it.
Read guide →What to do when a client refuses to pay in NZ
A client is ignoring your invoice. Here's exactly what to do - step by step - before you write it off.
Read guide →How to write invoices that actually get paid
Most tradies send invoices and hope for the best. Here's how to write one that gets paid - and fast.
Read guide →Free tools
Work out the number, then read up.
GST, charge-out rates, take-home pay and late-payment interest — free calculators built for NZ rules.
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