Know which jobs make money.
Before the job's finished.
Get the system: $199 NZDOne-off. Instant download. Needs Xero Ultimate.
| Job | Cost | Charge | Invoiced | Profit | Profit % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith kitchen reno | 35,600.00 | 48,000.00 | 48,000.00 | 12,400.00 | 25.8% |
| Hill Rd extension | 78,100.00 | 100,000.00 | 100,000.00 | 21,900.00 | 21.9% |
| Oak St bathroom | 9,800.00 | 13,000.00 | 12,000.00 | 2,200.00 | 18.3% |
| Total | 123,500.00 | 161,000.00 | 160,000.00 | 36,500.00 | 22.8% |
Profit is what's really left after every cost.
What's the real profit after paying your staff?
Pay is only part of it. Leave, KiwiSaver or super, ACC or workers comp, insurance and allowances all sit on top.
The calculators work it out for every person. One for New Zealand, one for Australia.
Four stages. Every job.
Set up
Know what every person really costs you.
Run your jobs
Quote and track every job the same way.
Get paid
Invoice straight from the job. Nothing missed.
See what you made
Spot the jobs that lose money while you can still fix them.
The full contents list: every file in the download, in order.
A real guide, page one: how to duplicate a project in Xero.
Three steps. No guesswork.
Buy and download
Instant. Yours to keep.
Start with Read This First
Then pick the guide you need.
One guide per job
Hand any guide to a new starter.
Built by someone who's run the jobs.
I'm Jaynie Ball, founder of Illuminate Co.
I looked at Xero Projects years ago and wrote it off. When I came back to it, I was surprised. For basic job management it's really good.
But Xero's own setup guidance leaves gaps if you want to run it the way construction actually works. This system fills them, step by step.
Who this is for.
- Trades businesses in New Zealand or Australia, already on Xero
- On, or happy to move to, Xero's Ultimate plan
- You want every job quoted, tracked and invoiced the same way
- You want new starters to follow the steps without hand-holding
Who it's not for.
- Anyone not using Xero
- Anyone after general Xero support. Xero's own team covers that
- Anyone who wants training delivered live. The guides do the training
Xero Projects for Australian tradies.
Same steps
Xero Projects works the same way in Australia as in New Zealand.
Australian calculator
Super and workers comp go in at your state's rates.
One price
$199 NZD, one-off. Instant download.
Want it set up for you?
I offer a one-off setup session, subject to availability. It is setup only, not team training. The guides cover the training.
Ask about a setup session
What Xero plan do I need?
Xero's Ultimate plan. It's the plan that includes Xero Projects.
Does it work in Australia?
Yes. Xero Projects works the same way in both countries, and you get a separate staff cost rate calculator for Australia as well as New Zealand.
Does my whole team need to be tech savvy?
No. Simple steps with screenshots, for the office and the site. Even the biggest dinosaur on your team will get it.
Xero changed its menus. Is this still current?
Yes. Updated October 2026. The steps haven't changed, only where some buttons sit, and the guides show you where everything moved.
How do I get it?
You get a download link straight after you pay. Everything is yours to keep.
What if I get stuck?
The guides cover the construction side: how to set up and run your jobs. For general Xero questions, Xero's own support team can help.
Can you set it up for me instead?
I offer a one-off setup session, subject to availability. That's setup only, not team training. The guides cover the training.
Same steps. Every job.
Whoever's doing it.
New starter? Hand them the guide. Once you're using them, the guides become your business's own step-by-step playbook.
50+ guides, 10 videos, and staff cost rate calculators for New Zealand and Australia. $199 NZD one-off. Instant download. Yours to keep.
Get the system: $199 NZDOne missed variation can cost you more than $199. Needs Xero's Ultimate plan.