Stage payments for tradies and homeowners in Australia
See everydollar move.
Each stage is securely held by our licensed payment partner, then released to the tradie when the client approves the work. The client pays a 1% fee on top.
Payments are held in an account with Zai Australia Pty Ltd (AFSL 527370), the licensed payment provider Trustrade uses, and are released only as the job's terms allow. Not a bank account.
Demo job, fictional data: Sarah has $7,500 of an $11,000 job securely held by our licensed payment partner. Each stage goes to Kelly Building when it is released.
How stage payments work
One stage, three steps.
- Sarah · step 1
Fund this stage
Sarah funds the Waterproofing & tiling stage, plus the 1% Trustrade fee on top. The stage is securely held by our licensed payment partner.
$3,535 paid in, incl. the 1% fee on top
- Kelly Building · step 2
Ask for release
Kelly Building finishes the tiling and asks for release. Nothing moves yet.
$3,500 still held
- Sarah · step 3
Release funds
Sarah checks the work and taps Release funds. Nothing moves until she does.
$3,500 to Kelly Building: the full stage
Demo job · fictional data
If something’s wrong
Put the stage on hold.
If the work isn’t right, the client pauses the release. The money stays where it is while you sort it out together in the job chat, and nothing moves until you both agree.
Questions people ask
Stage payments, explained.
How deposits and progress payments work when you pay a tradie or builder stage by stage on a home renovation.
What is Trustrade?
Trustrade is a stage payment platform for residential trade jobs in Australia: renovations, bathrooms, kitchens, decks, driveways, landscaping and more. Each stage is securely held by our licensed payment partner and released to the tradie when the client approves the work. The client funds a deposit before work starts. Each later stage is funded either before it starts or once the tradie finishes it and claims it, depending on the state and the job.
How do staged payments work for building and renovation jobs?
The tradie sets the job up in stages, each with its own amount, and the client agrees to it. The client funds a deposit before work starts. Each later stage is funded either before it starts or once the tradie finishes it and claims it, depending on the state and the job. When the tradie finishes a stage, they ask to be paid. The client checks the work and approves it, and the stage is released. Nothing is released automatically.
Who holds the money?
Payments are held in an account with Zai Australia Pty Ltd (AFSL 527370), the licensed payment provider Trustrade uses, and are released only as the job's terms allow. Zai provides its payment service to Trustrade as the platform, not to customers directly. Trustrade only instructs a release when the client approves the work, or the client and the tradie agree otherwise.
When does the tradie get paid?
When the client releases a stage, it's paid to the tradie's bank account, usually within a couple of business days. The money for a stage is held before it can be released, so the tradie can see it's there.
What if I'm not happy with the work?
Put the stage on hold. The money stays where it is while you and your tradie sort it out in the job chat, and nothing moves until you both agree, or a court or tribunal decides. You keep every right you have at your state's building dispute service or tribunal.
Is Trustrade a bank?
No. Trustrade isn't a bank. Payments are held in an account with Zai Australia Pty Ltd (AFSL 527370), the licensed payment provider Trustrade uses, and are released only as the job's terms allow. Money held for a stage isn't a bank account and isn't covered by the Financial Claims Scheme. Trustrade sets out each stage and records who approved what.
How much does Trustrade cost?
The client pays a 1% Trustrade fee on top of each stage, per payment, when they fund it, and the tradie receives the full stage amount. Some tradies are on a plan that waives it (founding tradies, or a first job free), and the client then sees "waived". The fee is shown before a stage is funded, and it never changes for that stage afterwards. If a stage is refunded before it's released, its fee is refunded too. Questions about a fee or an invoice? Email accounts@trustrade.co.
Where can I use Trustrade?
Trustrade is for residential trade jobs in Australia. We're based in Melbourne, Victoria.
Try it on a demo job.
Step in as the client or the tradie and release a stage yourself. Every name and figure in it is fictional.