Blog
7 November 2026Interim invoices: how to bill a construction job in stages
How to split a bigger job into stages, what goes on an interim invoice, how to deduct the deposit and how much to retain until handover. With a worked example.
7 November 20267 items tradespeople most often forget in an estimate
Waste removal, protecting the room, site visits, surface preparation, consumables, final cleaning and extra work. The items that eat your profit when they are missing from the estimate.
7 November 2026What an employee really costs you per hour
Gross pay is only the start: employer contributions, meals, travel, equipment and hours you can’t bill. How to work out the real cost per hour and the rate you must not go below.
6 November 2026How to price tiling work per m²
A step-by-step formula: area, tile waste, adhesive and grout, substrate preparation and labour per m². With a worked bathroom example.
5 November 2026What is an advance invoice and how do you issue one
Advance invoices explained simply: when to issue one, what it must contain, how the advance is deducted from the final invoice, and common mistakes.
November 4, 2026Excel or invoicing software - when is it time to switch?
Excel and Word are free and familiar, but they cost time, errors and missed payments. An honest comparison and seven signs that it is time to switch.
4 November 2026How much deposit to ask for materials (and how to tell the client)
Typical deposits by type of job, how to explain them to the client and how to collect them without awkward conversations. With example sentences.
3 November 2026Extra work: how to agree it and get paid without arguments
Extra work is the most common source of disputes with clients. How to agree it before you start, document it on site and invoice it clearly.
2 November 2026Bathroom renovation estimate: everything it must include
A complete list of items for a bathroom renovation estimate: strip-out, plumbing, waterproofing, tiling, sanitaryware and finishing work.
November 1, 2026E-invoicing in Europe - what small businesses need to know
Germany, Belgium, France, Poland, Croatia and the EU ViDA package: which deadlines apply, what Peppol and EN 16931 mean, and how to prepare your business.
1 November 2026How to write a reminder for an unpaid invoice (with example texts)
Friendly reminder, first, second and final reminder: when to send them and what to write. Ready-made example texts you can copy.
31 October 2026Estimate, pro forma and invoice: what is the difference
When to send an estimate, when a pro forma and when an invoice? A simple explanation of the differences, with examples from trade work.
30 October 2026How to track your workers’ hours on site
Paper timesheets, Excel or an app? How to record hours per worker and per job simply, and why that is the key to accurate estimates.
29 October 2026How to calculate your profit on every job
Revenue minus materials, labour and other costs: a simple formula for profit per job, with an example, and how to track it while the job is still running.
October 28, 2026How to get paid faster - 10 proven tips for small businesses
Late payments hurt cash flow more than low prices. Ten practical tips - from advance invoices to automatic reminders - to get your invoices paid on time.
28 October 2026How to send estimates and invoices via WhatsApp and Viber
Why clients answer WhatsApp and Viber faster than email, how to send an estimate as a link and how the client signs it on their phone.
October 24, 2026How to calculate your hourly rate as a tradesperson
A simple step-by-step formula to calculate an hourly rate that covers all costs, pays you a fair salary and leaves a profit - with a worked example.
October 20, 2026How to write an estimate for trade work that clients accept
What a professional estimate must include, how to price materials and labour, and how to send it so the client signs the same day - with a checklist for tradespeople.
July 14, 2026New in AdBooks - e-Invoices in Peppol UBL 2.1 (XML)
Generate invoices in the Peppol UBL 2.1 XML format required across Europe, with a default bank account and built-in validation before export.
February 3, 2026New in AdBooks - Projects Are Here
Group estimates and invoices by job, see each project's real-time financial status, and track who owes what - without adding anything up by hand.
December 4, 2024AdBooks Is Now Available in Slovenian
The AdBooks app and website now support Slovenian, alongside English, German, Bosnian and French - with a matching knowledge base in every language.
November 14, 2024When Will Your Business Become Profitable?
What "profitable" actually means, and how a break-even analysis and a pro forma balance sheet help you plan the road there.
November 14, 2024Three Practical Ways to Get More Done Each Day
New tools, real breaks, and doing work you actually care about - three habits that move the needle more than working longer hours.
November 14, 2024Stop Tying Yourself to Your Desk - Run Your Accounting from Anywhere
Send invoices, track payments, and manage clients from your phone - what a cloud accounting app actually changes for a business on the move.
November 14, 2024Five Ways to Turn First-Time Buyers into Loyal Clients
Being genuinely reachable, showing up for your community, and rewarding existing clients matter more than chasing every new lead.
November 14, 2024Five Reasons to Store Your Business Data in the Cloud
Human error, weak security, disasters, manual mistakes, and access control - five practical reasons cloud accounting beats a folder on your desktop.
November 14, 2024Eight Things to Prepare Now for Your Business's Next Stage of Growth
Mindset, market research, financing, tools, brand, an employee handbook, a living business plan, and knowing when to expand.
November 14, 2024Common Mistakes New Businesses Make (and How to Avoid Them)
The planning trap, chasing quick money, and other common early mistakes that quietly slow new businesses down - and how to sidestep each one.