Fencing Software for Per-Metre Quotes, Jobs & GST Invoicing

Fencing businesses in Australia run on the linear metre — and on the deposit. You measure a boundary, price the run by fence type and height, add gates, posts, footings and removal, and then you have to outlay real money on Colorbond, posts and concrete before a single panel goes up. Quote on a paper pad and key it into Xero later, chase deposits by text, and store before-and-after photos in your camera roll, and the admin quietly eats your evenings. Many contractors pay $35/month for Xero, $45–$49/month for ServiceM8 or Tradify, and still don't know their true margin per metre until the accountant untangles it months later.

OneBookPlus gives you one app for your whole fencing business. Build an itemised quote on your phone at the boundary with a per-linear-metre rate and separate lines for gates, posts, hard-dig footings, demolition and rubbish removal, with GST calculated automatically. When the customer accepts the quote link, request a deposit so your materials order is covered — and the job drops straight into your schedule. Run the fence, snap before, during and after photos onto the job, log your supplier and Bunnings receipts, then convert the job to a GST-compliant invoice with the deposit already credited — sent before you leave site. No more double-entry, no more chasing money from your own ute.

Quoting by the Metre

Set up your fence types once — Colorbond, timber paling, pool barrier, chain wire, post-and-rail, security — each with a per-linear-metre rate and a height variant. On the site measure you enter the run in metres and the line totals instantly, then add the extras: a single or double gate, additional posts for a sloping block, concrete footings, removal of an existing fence, and tip fees. The customer gets a clean, professional quote with your ABN and a one-tap accept, so you win the job at the boundary instead of going home to write it up.

Deposits, Materials & Margin

Because fencing ties up materials cash before the install, the deposit is central to the workflow. Request a fixed amount or a percentage on quote acceptance; the customer pays online and it's recorded against the job and credited on the final invoice. Log every Colorbond sheet, post, rail, bag of concrete, gate and tip fee against the job with a receipt photo, so OneBookPlus shows your real cost — and therefore your real margin per metre. Price your next quote on what the job actually cost, not a hopeful guess.

Photos, Records & Compliance

Fencing sits on boundaries, so documentation protects you. Snap before, during and after photos onto the job record — proof of the original condition, evidence the footings went in properly, and a portfolio shot for the next quote. Where a job is regulated — a swimming-pool safety barrier under AS 1926.1, a retaining wall above a set height, or work tied to a building permit — store your licence, certificate or permit references on the job so everything is in one place. OneBookPlus keeps the business record straight; pool-barrier certification, dividing-fence law and permit approvals still sit with certifiers, councils and your state's rules, so confirm your obligations there. And always call Dial Before You Dig (1100 / byda.com.au) before boring post holes near services.

Getting Started

Sign up free — no credit card, no lock-in. Select your business type and OneBookPlus pre-configures fencing service categories and invoice templates that carry your ABN. Set up your fence types and per-metre rates as quote templates, import your customer list via CSV from ServiceM8, Tradify or a spreadsheet, and connect your bank account through the secure bank-feed flow. Most contractors send their first per-metre quote within twenty minutes of signing up — and switching from a job app plus Xero typically takes a single evening.