# Trame

> Job management software for UK tradespeople. Take enquiries, send quotes, get digital sign-off, and invoice, all in one place. £29 a month, 30 days free, no card.

Trame is built for UK sole traders and small trade businesses: electricians, plumbers,
builders, heating engineers, roofers and the rest. The guides and calculators below are
free to use with no sign-up. Tax figures follow HMRC rules for the current UK tax year
and each page states the date it was last checked.

Every page listed below is also available as Markdown at the same URL. Send
`Accept: text/markdown`, or append `.md` to the path. The whole site as one
file is at https://trame.co.uk/llms-full.txt. See https://trame.co.uk/developers.

## Product

- [Trame](https://trame.co.uk): Job management for UK trades. Quotes, jobs and invoices in one place, one flat price, £29 a month
- [Enquiries](https://trame.co.uk/enquiries): Smart enquiry forms. Send a link, the client fills it in, you arrive knowing the scope and access
- [Quoting](https://trame.co.uk/quoting): The enquiry is linked to the job and your rates load automatically. Send, then get one-tap sign-off
- [Job management](https://trame.co.uk/job-management): Every job and every stage on one screen, from enquiry in to invoice paid
- [Invoicing](https://trame.co.uk/invoicing): Quote to invoice in one click, with deposit invoices issued automatically
- [Payments](https://trame.co.uk/payments): Customers pay by card or Pay by Bank from the invoice, money lands in your own account, Trame takes no cut
- [Recurring work](https://trame.co.uk/recurring): Set a recurring job once and Trame issues the invoice on your schedule. For servicing, cleans and maintenance plans
- [Reporting](https://trame.co.uk/reporting): Revenue in, expenses out, profit and margin worked out per job
- [For accountants](https://trame.co.uk/for-accountants): Tax-year and quarter exports with import files for Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent, categorised for CIS and SA103
- [Pricing](https://trame.co.uk/pricing): One plan, £29 a month. No tiers, no commission, 30 days free with no card

## Calculators and tools

- [Free tools for UK trades](https://trame.co.uk/tools): Plain-English tax guidance, sourced from HMRC, written for sole traders
- [Self-employed tax calculator](https://trame.co.uk/tools/self-employed-tax-calculator): Income tax and National Insurance on sole trader profit
- [CIS tax refund calculator](https://trame.co.uk/tools/cis-tax-refund-calculator): What a subcontractor is owed back after CIS deductions
- [VAT reverse charge checker](https://trame.co.uk/tools/reverse-charge-vat): Whether the domestic reverse charge applies to a construction job
- [Mileage claim calculator](https://trame.co.uk/tools/mileage): HMRC approved mileage rates for a van or car used for work
- [Letter before action generator](https://trame.co.uk/tools/letter-before-action): A formal letter chasing an unpaid invoice, ready to send
- [Day rate calculator](https://trame.co.uk/tools/day-rate-calculator): Typical UK day rates by trade, region and experience
- [Expenses A to Z](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses): What a UK sole trader tradesperson can claim, expense by expense

## Day rates by trade

- [Electrician day rate](https://trame.co.uk/tools/day-rate-calculator/electrician): Typical UK electrician day rates by region and experience, and what is left after tax and costs
- [Plumber day rate](https://trame.co.uk/tools/day-rate-calculator/plumber): Typical UK plumber day rates by region and experience, and what is left after tax and costs
- [Gas engineer day rate](https://trame.co.uk/tools/day-rate-calculator/gas-engineer): Typical UK gas engineer day rates by region and experience, and what is left after tax and costs
- [Carpenter day rate](https://trame.co.uk/tools/day-rate-calculator/carpenter): Typical UK carpenter day rates by region and experience, and what is left after tax and costs

## Expenses A to Z

- [Van insurance](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/van-insurance): Claimable in full
- [Fuel costs](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/fuel-costs): Claimable in full
- [Van purchase](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/van-purchase): Partly claimable
- [Vehicle repairs and servicing](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/vehicle-repairs): Claimable in full
- [Tools and equipment](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/tools-and-equipment): Claimable in full
- [Tool and equipment hire](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/tool-hire): Claimable in full
- [Protective clothing and workwear](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/protective-clothing): Partly claimable
- [Home office costs](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/home-office-costs): Partly claimable
- [Phone and internet costs](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/phone-and-internet): Partly claimable
- [Accountancy and bookkeeping fees](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/accountancy-fees): Claimable in full
- [Public liability insurance](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/public-liability-insurance): Claimable in full
- [Professional indemnity insurance](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/professional-indemnity-insurance): Claimable in full
- [Training and courses](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/training-courses): Partly claimable
- [Materials and supplies](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/materials-and-supplies): Claimable in full
- [Subcontractor costs](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/subcontractor-costs): Claimable in full
- [Bank charges and fees](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/bank-charges): Claimable in full
- [Advertising and marketing](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/advertising-and-marketing): Claimable in full
- [Meals and subsistence](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/subsistence-meals): Depends on the circumstances
- [Parking and tolls](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/parking-and-tolls): Claimable in full
- [Accommodation costs](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/accommodation): Claimable in full
- [Stationery and office supplies](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/stationery-and-office-supplies): Claimable in full
- [Trade and professional memberships](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/trade-memberships): Claimable in full
- [Pension contributions](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/pension-contributions): Not claimable
- [Vehicle leasing costs](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/vehicle-leasing): Depends on the circumstances
- [Mobile phone costs](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/mobile-phone): Partly claimable
- [Software subscriptions](https://trame.co.uk/tools/expenses/software-subscriptions): Claimable in full

## Guide topics

- [All guides](https://trame.co.uk/guides): Practical guides for running a UK trade business, by topic
- [Getting paid](https://trame.co.uk/guides/getting-paid): Late payments, cash flow, and getting what you are owed.
- [Pricing your work](https://trame.co.uk/guides/pricing): What to charge, day rates, and pricing a job so it actually pays.
- [Self-employed tax](https://trame.co.uk/guides/tax): Income Tax, National Insurance, and what to set aside as a sole trader.
- [CIS](https://trame.co.uk/guides/cis): Construction Industry Scheme deductions, refunds, and Self Assessment.
- [VAT for construction](https://trame.co.uk/guides/vat): The domestic reverse charge, and how VAT works on construction jobs.

## Guides

- [How to set your day rate as a self-employed tradesperson](https://trame.co.uk/guides/pricing/how-to-set-your-day-rate): How to work out a day rate that actually pays, why it is not your take-home, the billable days most people forget to count, and how to move your rate up over time.
- [How to claim a CIS tax refund](https://trame.co.uk/guides/cis/how-to-claim-a-cis-tax-refund): Why most CIS subcontractors are owed money back, how the refund is worked out, how your expenses raise it, and how to claim it through Self Assessment.
- [Self-employed tax explained: what a sole trader pays](https://trame.co.uk/guides/tax/self-employed-tax-explained): How Income Tax and National Insurance work for a UK sole trader, the rates and bands, why expenses cut your bill, and how much to set aside so it is never a shock.
- [The VAT domestic reverse charge for construction, explained](https://trame.co.uk/guides/vat/domestic-reverse-charge-for-construction): What the domestic reverse charge is, when it applies to your construction invoices, the end user rule that trips everyone up, and the exact wording HMRC wants on the invoice.
- [Why UK tradespeople get paid late, and how to stop it](https://trame.co.uk/guides/getting-paid/why-uk-tradespeople-get-paid-late): The five reasons UK trades get paid late, the fix for each, and the legal escalation path for when prevention fails.
- [How to write payment terms that actually get you paid](https://trame.co.uk/guides/getting-paid/how-to-write-payment-terms-that-actually-get-you-paid): The four clauses that get UK tradespeople paid on time: deposit, payment timeframe, late payment interest, and a stop-work clause. With sample wording and where the clauses need to live.
- [What to do when an invoice goes unpaid](https://trame.co.uk/guides/getting-paid/what-to-do-when-an-invoice-goes-unpaid): The chase sequence that gets UK tradespeople paid: the friendly nudge, the follow-up, the formal demand, and the legal escalation path with sample wording.
- [How to chase a friend or referral for payment](https://trame.co.uk/guides/getting-paid/how-to-chase-a-friend-or-referral-for-payment): How to chase a friend, family member, or word-of-mouth referral for an unpaid invoice without losing the relationship. How to separate the work from the relationship, the first message to send, and when to treat them like any other customer.
- [How to send a letter before action for an unpaid invoice](https://trame.co.uk/guides/getting-paid/letter-before-action-for-unpaid-invoices): What a letter before action must contain, when to send one, and the detail that changes everything: whether the customer is a private individual, a sole trader or a limited company. With the statutory interest you can claim.

## Help centre topics

- [Help centre](https://trame.co.uk/help): Answers on using Trame, step by step
- [Getting started](https://trame.co.uk/help/getting-started): Set up your account, your company details and your first job.
- [Enquiries and quotes](https://trame.co.uk/help/quotes): Send an enquiry form, build a quote, and get it signed off.
- [Jobs and diary](https://trame.co.uk/help/jobs): Track work through its stages and book it into your diary.
- [Clients](https://trame.co.uk/help/clients): Customer records, their history, and what they see from you.
- [Invoices](https://trame.co.uk/help/invoices): Issue invoices, take deposits, and chase what you are owed.
- [Payments](https://trame.co.uk/help/payments): Let customers pay by card or bank, and see where the money is.
- [Expenses and reports](https://trame.co.uk/help/money): Log costs, see profit per job, and get figures your accountant can read.
- [Integrations](https://trame.co.uk/help/integrations): Put your Trame diary in the calendar you already use.
- [Account, team and billing](https://trame.co.uk/help/account): Your subscription, your team, notifications and your data.

## Help centre articles

- [Adding your Trame diary to your calendar](https://trame.co.uk/help/integrations/adding-your-trame-diary-to-your-calendar): Subscribe to a read-only feed of your Trame appointments from your phone or computer's own calendar app, so your day shows up in one place.
- [How to add a client](https://trame.co.uk/help/clients/adding-a-client): Save a customer's contact details so every job, quote and invoice you create for them lands on one record.
- [How to connect Stripe and take card payments](https://trame.co.uk/help/payments/connecting-stripe-to-take-card-payments): Connect a Stripe account so customers can pay your invoices by card or Pay by Bank, with the money going straight to your own Stripe account.
- [How to create your Trame account](https://trame.co.uk/help/getting-started/creating-your-trame-account): Sign up with email or Google, confirm your address, and answer a couple of quick questions to set up your company.
- [How to issue an invoice from a quote](https://trame.co.uk/help/invoices/issuing-an-invoice-from-a-quote): Turn an accepted quote into an invoice without retyping the job, then issue it to lock the price and start the clock on payment.
- [How to log an expense and attach a receipt](https://trame.co.uk/help/money/logging-an-expense-and-attaching-a-receipt): Log a cost against your business or a specific job, and attach the receipt so it's on file when you need it.
- [How to send an enquiry form to a customer](https://trame.co.uk/help/quotes/sending-an-enquiry-form-to-a-customer): Share your enquiry link so a customer can describe the job themselves, and have it land in Trame ready to quote.
- [How to set up a recurring job](https://trame.co.uk/help/jobs/setting-up-a-recurring-job): Set a job to bill weekly, fortnightly or monthly, and have Trame issue each invoice on your schedule.
- [Your subscription and what it covers](https://trame.co.uk/help/account/your-subscription-and-what-it-covers): How Trame's 30-day free trial works, what the Monthly and Yearly plans cost, and what happens if you don't add a card in time.
- [Deposit invoices and how the balance works](https://trame.co.uk/help/invoices/deposit-invoices): A quote with a deposit produces two invoices, one for the deposit and one for the balance, and Trame keeps them from double-counting.
- [How to build a quote](https://trame.co.uk/help/quotes/building-a-quote): Add sections and line items to price a job, and see the total update as you go.
- [How to change or cancel your plan](https://trame.co.uk/help/account/changing-or-cancelling-your-plan): Switch between the Monthly and Yearly plan, cancel your Trame subscription, or reactivate one you've already cancelled.
- [How to create a job](https://trame.co.uk/help/jobs/creating-a-job): Add a one-off job with a client, a title and a starting status in under a minute, or switch to a recurring job if the work repeats.
- [How to let customers pay you by bank transfer](https://trame.co.uk/help/payments/letting-customers-pay-by-bank): Add your bank details once and they appear on every invoice automatically, alongside any online payment options you've connected.
- [How to set up a repeating expense](https://trame.co.uk/help/money/setting-up-a-repeating-expense): Log a cost once, monthly or yearly, van insurance, software, rent, and Trame logs each new occurrence for you.
- [How to set up your company details and logo](https://trame.co.uk/help/getting-started/setting-up-your-company-details-and-logo): Add your company name, trade, address and logo so they appear correctly on every quote and invoice you send.
- [What Trame connects to](https://trame.co.uk/help/integrations/what-trame-connects-to): A short, honest list of what Trame connects to today: your calendar app and Stripe for card payments. Nothing else yet.
- [What your customer sees when you send a quote](https://trame.co.uk/help/clients/what-your-customer-sees-when-you-send-a-quote): The email, the quote page, and how a customer accepts or declines it, exactly as they'll see it.
- [How CIS deductions work on an invoice](https://trame.co.uk/help/invoices/cis-deductions-on-an-invoice): Switch on the CIS deduction to withhold tax from what your customer pays, without changing the invoice's recorded revenue.
- [How to add someone to your team](https://trame.co.uk/help/account/adding-someone-to-your-team): Invite someone to your Trame account, set them as a Member or Owner, and manage who has access.
- [How to add your VAT and CIS settings](https://trame.co.uk/help/getting-started/adding-your-vat-and-cis-settings): Add your VAT number if you're registered, and turn on CIS if you work as a subcontractor, so your invoices apply the right deductions.
- [How to move a job through its stages](https://trame.co.uk/help/jobs/moving-a-job-through-its-stages): See what each job status means, how Trame advances most of them for you, and when you need to change one yourself.
- [How to record a payment you took yourself](https://trame.co.uk/help/payments/recording-a-payment-you-took-yourself): Mark an invoice as paid when a customer pays you by bank transfer, cash or cheque, so your records match what actually happened.
- [How to see profit and margin on a job](https://trame.co.uk/help/money/seeing-profit-and-margin-on-a-job): Every job has a Money card showing what's been invoiced, what it's cost you, and the profit and margin left over.
- [How to set up your price book](https://trame.co.uk/help/quotes/setting-up-your-price-book): Save the rates you use again and again, so quotes fill themselves in as you type.
- [What your customer sees on an invoice](https://trame.co.uk/help/clients/what-your-customer-sees-on-an-invoice): The email, the invoice page, how they pay, and the confirmation once they have, exactly as your customer sees it.
- [How to add markup and see your margin](https://trame.co.uk/help/quotes/adding-markup-and-seeing-your-margin): Mark up a line item over cost, and see what the job is worth to you before you send the quote.
- [How to apply the VAT domestic reverse charge on an invoice](https://trame.co.uk/help/invoices/vat-domestic-reverse-charge): Switch on the domestic reverse charge to remove VAT from what you charge, while stating what your customer must account for to HMRC.
- [How to book appointments and use the diary](https://trame.co.uk/help/jobs/booking-appointments-and-using-the-diary): Book, move and cancel appointments from the Schedule page or from the job itself, and read what each colour on the diary means.
- [How to edit or delete a client](https://trame.co.uk/help/clients/editing-or-deleting-a-client): Update a client's contact details, add internal notes only your team sees, or remove a client record.
- [How to export or delete your data](https://trame.co.uk/help/account/exporting-or-deleting-your-data): Download a copy of everything in your Trame account, or permanently delete your account and all its data.
- [How to export your records for your accountant](https://trame.co.uk/help/money/exporting-for-your-accountant): Download a tax-period pack of invoices and expenses as CSV, or a single expenses file formatted for Xero, FreeAgent or QuickBooks import.
- [How to import your customers and past work](https://trame.co.uk/help/getting-started/importing-your-customers-and-past-work): Bring your customer list in from a CSV, and build your price book from past invoices, quotes, or quotes you've already built in Trame.
- [When does the money reach my account](https://trame.co.uk/help/payments/when-the-money-reaches-your-account): How payout timing works for card, Pay by Bank and bank transfer, and where to check the status of a payment.
- [Finding your way around Trame](https://trame.co.uk/help/getting-started/finding-your-way-around-trame): A map of the sidebar, your Home screen, the quick-add button, and where Settings lives.
- [How to chase an unpaid invoice with reminders](https://trame.co.uk/help/invoices/chasing-an-unpaid-invoice): Send a payment reminder yourself once an invoice is overdue, or let Trame nudge the customer automatically on a schedule.
- [How to take a deposit on a quote](https://trame.co.uk/help/quotes/taking-a-deposit-on-a-quote): Set a deposit percentage on a quote and Trame issues the deposit invoice automatically the moment it's accepted.
- [How to get a quote signed off](https://trame.co.uk/help/quotes/getting-a-quote-signed-off): Share a quote for the client to accept online with a signature, or mark it accepted yourself if they said yes another way.

## For developers and agents

- [Developer and agent resources](https://trame.co.uk/developers): Machine-readable resources, Markdown content negotiation, export formats, integrations
- [Full text](https://trame.co.uk/llms-full.txt): The Markdown text of every public page, in one file
- [Sitemap](https://trame.co.uk/sitemap.xml): Every public URL with its last-modified date
- [Robots and content signals](https://trame.co.uk/robots.txt): Crawler policy, with a Content-Signal directive

## Optional

- [About Trame](https://trame.co.uk/about): Who builds Trame and why
- [Changelog](https://trame.co.uk/changelog): What shipped, most recent first
- [Contact](https://trame.co.uk/contact): How to reach us
- [Sign up](https://trame.co.uk/signup): Start a 30 day free trial, no card
- [Privacy](https://trame.co.uk/privacy): Privacy policy
- [Terms](https://trame.co.uk/terms): Terms of service