‘Last to be paid': Tradie dumps site grind in shock 24pc spike

An Aussie tradie has bucked the construction industry nightmare of being 'the last to be paid' during a high-risk time – amid a sharp 24pc spike in the suburbs. Construction contractor turned Concrete Taxi franchisee Tony Moussa is among those in high demand as big projects suck up tradies and resources – a situation he now refuses to return to. 'When you run your own business, you are the last one to get paid and there are so many overheads to cover before you can pay yourself, including the cost of materials, wages and administrative expenses,' Mr Moussa said. 'There are also times when the builder or the company you are supplying concrete to doesn't pay you right away, which means digging deep into your own pocket. Then it's weeks or sometimes even months before you receive the money you're owed.' The industry shift comes as firms like Concrete Taxi brace for a surge in demand across Australian suburbs, with cost-of-living pressures, construction woes and tax changes pushing everyday Aussies towards upgrading the homes they already have rather than buying new. In the one month period after the federal budget, small-batch jobs surged 24 per cent as homeowners flooded in for driveway extensions, shed slabs, retaining walls and fence footings, according to Concrete Taxi figures. Chief executive Paul Cherniakov said with traditional suppliers tied up on mega projects, suburban renovators face major traps and lengthy delays in a squeezed economic market. 'We expect a shift towards home renovations to increase demand from both homeowners and tradespeople looking for a cost-effective concrete solution, and with traditional concrete suppliers typically tied up on larger commercial jobs, there is potential for renovators seeking to engage a larger supplier to face quite lengthy delays,' Mr Cherniakov said. 'There are also environmental and financial concerns for households who may look to engage traditional concrete suppliers, as these suppliers often charge minimum order fees for small-batch deliveries that involve significant unnecessary expenses for households, and wasted concrete that needs to be disposed of at an extra cost.' It's seeing franchisees like Mr Moussa step in, delivering small batches of ready mixed concrete to home renovators in Canterbury-Bankstown – and he has never been more fulfilled. 'Often, I turn up to a job and let's say it's a couple who have no background in concreting and they just want to have a go at it, and at the start you see they are a bit uncomfortable or even panicking,' Mr Moussa said. 'Once I take the fear out of it and they see for themselves what needs to be done, they can actually enjoy the process and by the end of the day, they look back and feel really proud.' The son of hardworking Lebanese immigrants, Mr Moussa said 'now, every day I'm at a different location, seeing the best parts of Sydney and working with people at beautiful homes built near the beaches or in the mountains'. 'I've done jobs on barges; I've done jobs at Taronga Zoo in the gorilla enclosure – it's really varied and interesting work. The question I get asked most is, 'wow! How awesome is this concept and how does it work?'' Mr Moussa said now 'as a franchise owner, cashflow is never a problem'. 'The running costs are also obviously lower because I don't need any staff and it's just up to me to get the work done. Knowing what you need to spend upfront helps keep a tight rein on expenditures.'