The short answer
Homeowners are told to check your licence or registration, your insurance, your business details and that your quote is in writing. If you make each of those easy to see, you are the safe choice before they have compared a single price.
What regulators tell your customers
Consumer Affairs Victoria and Energy Safe Victoria tell homeowners to:
- compare at least three written quotes
- check electricians and plumbers are licensed, and builders are registered for work over $10,000
- ask for a certificate of currency for public liability insurance
- be wary of tradies with no fixed address or registered business name
- not pay in advance, and keep deposits within the legal limit
- get every change in writing before the work goes ahead
Make each check easy to pass
Put your business name, address and licence or registration number on every quote and on your website. Keep a PDF of your insurance certificate ready to send. Explain your payment terms in one clear paragraph.
Show it, do not just say it
Tell customers how you handle changes: written, priced and signed before extra work starts. Tell them how you handle deposits: small, tied to a start date, within the legal limit. Customers who have been warned about rogue operators notice this.
Why this wins work
Rogue operators make homeowners wary. A tradie who answers the checklist before it is asked is easy to trust, and trust wins more quotes than a lower price.
Common questions
Do painters need a licence in Victoria?
Consumer Affairs Victoria says painting does not require registration. Show your insurance and your past work instead.
What insurance should I show?
Consumer Affairs Victoria tells homeowners to ask for a certificate of currency for public liability insurance. Have it ready to send.
How do I show I can be trusted?
Use a complete quote, a real business address, clear payment terms and reviews from real customers.
Sources
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: getting quotes, checked 11 November 2026
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: protecting homeowners from dodgy builders and tradespeople, checked 11 November 2026
- Energy Safe Victoria: electrical work isn't a DIY job, checked 11 November 2026