Most trade business owners don’t struggle to make money.
They struggle to keep it, use it well, and turn it into long-term value.
In this 482nd episode of The Site Shed Podcast, Matt Jones is joined by Claudio Gambin, a US-based tax strategist who works exclusively with construction and home service businesses.
Together, they break down why most tradies overpay tax, make panic decisions at EOFY, and miss the bigger opportunity: using tax strategy as a growth lever, not just a compliance exercise.
Why “Buying Stuff to Save Tax” Is Costing You More Than You Think
One of the biggest mistakes Claudio sees across trade businesses is panic spending.
Purchasing equipment that you don’t actually require is another common mistake.
Spending $1 only results in a tax savings of 30 cents.
As Claudio puts it, that’s often the most expensive tax you’ll ever pay.
Instead of asking, “How do I reduce tax right now?”, smarter business owners ask:
“Will this decision make me more money next year?”
If the answer is no, it’s probably not strategy.
It’s fear.
The Real Investment Most Tradies Avoid
According to Claudio, the best investment for most trade businesses isn’t the stock market, crypto, or random assets.
It’s their own business.
That means:
Hiring people to cover your weaknesses
Building systems that don’t rely on you
Creating structure that allows the business to scale
Many tradies stay stuck because they try to do everything themselves. Without the right support, they struggle to run jobs, manage staff, handle admin, and make financial decisions.
Growth only happens when profits are reinvested into capacity and infrastructure, not just written off at tax time.
Why Proactive Tax Planning Beats EOFY Scrambling
Another major takeaway from the episode is the importance of proactive tax planning.
Too many business owners only speak to their accountant after the year is over (when it’s already too late to change anything).
Claudio recommends:
Regular planning conversations throughout the year
Clear visibility on projected income
Strategic decisions made before deadlines, not after
When you know what your numbers look like in advance, tax planning becomes deliberate, not reactive.
The Goal Isn’t Zero Tax, It’s the Right Tax
A powerful insight from this conversation is that driving your tax bill to zero can actually hurt your business.
Why?
Because reported income affects:
Lending capacity
Business valuation
Exit opportunities
Claudio suggests an effective tax rate that’s low enough to stay efficient but high enough to keep your business financially viable and credible.
The real win isn’t just saving tax.
It’s what you do with the savings.
Reinvested properly, those dollars can fund new hires, improve systems, increase business value, and create smoother exits down the track.
Why Most Trade Businesses Are Hard to Sell
Many trade businesses are unsellable (even if they’re profitable).
Common red flags for buyers include:
Lifestyle expenses running through the business
Owner dependency
Poor systems and inconsistent performance
Businesses with clean numbers, strong teams, and repeatable systems attract far higher multiples, sometimes more than double similar-sized competitors.
If you ever want the option to sell, structure matters now, not later.
Build the Right Financial Team
One final key message from the episode:
You can’t do this alone.
High-performing trade businesses have a team that includes:
A proactive accountant
A strong banker
An insurance broker
Legal support
A strategist or advisor to coordinate it all
Without alignment, business owners end up translating between professionals, wasting time and missing opportunities.
get your taxes in order in 2026
This episode makes one thing clear:
Smart tax strategy isn’t about shortcuts or tricks.
It’s about clarity, structure, and intentional decisions.
When trade business owners stop reacting and start planning, tax becomes a tool, not a burden, and might supercharge your business in 2026.
📚 Resources from this Episode
Get in touch with Claudio Gambin:
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