Stagex for carpenters

Frame it, fix it, get paid for it — guaranteed.

Framing, decks, pergolas and fit-outs: the customer funds each stage into a regulated Australian trust account before you cut a single length of timber — and it releases the moment the stage is signed off.

Start free for 14 days See how escrow works

No credit card. No lock-in. Funds held by a licensed Australian trustee.

The payment problem

Why carpenters carry the payment risk

Chippies carry the timber and hardware bill up front, then span a job over days or weeks — and the payment usually waits until the very last board is fixed.

You buy the timber, then wait

Framing timber, sheet goods and fixings get paid for by you well before the client settles. Escrow flips that — the stage is funded before you outlay a cent of labour.

Multi-day jobs, one payment at the end

A deck or a fit-out runs across framing, decking and finishing. Staged escrow releases each section as you complete it, not all at handover.

Custom work, nervous clients

On bespoke joinery and fit-outs, clients hesitate to pay up front for work they can’t yet see. Escrow protects their money too — held by a licensed trustee until the stage is genuinely done.

The fix

The money’s funded before you start — released stage by stage.

Your customer funds each stage into a regulated Australian trust account (Zai Pty Ltd, AFSL 461841) before you pick up a tool. You do the work, capture the evidence, and the money releases the moment the stage is signed off — typically 1–2 business days via NPP. That’s the difference between getting paid faster and getting paid, full stop.

Staged, not chased

Example: hardwood deck and pergola

Each stage is funded before it starts and releases on sign-off. Here’s how a typical job breaks down.

1
Deposit / materials
Timber, hardware and footing materials ordered and on site.
2
Substructure
Footings, bearers and joists set out, levelled and fixed.
3
Decking & frame
Decking laid, pergola posts and beams framed up.
4
Finishing & sign-off
Balustrade, trims, final sand or oil and customer sign-off.

Why it fits carpenters

Milestones map cleanly to substructure, decking and finishing
Timber-heavy stages are funded before you outlay
Photo evidence at each stage settles “is it finished” questions
Works for decks, pergolas, framing and fit-out work alike

Trustee-held escrow

Zai Pty Ltd · AFSL 461841

7-day payouts

After milestone sign-off

Dispute cover

Funds already set aside

No lock-in

Month-to-month, cancel anytime

FAQ

Stagex for carpenters — your questions

Does escrow work for custom joinery and fit-outs?

Yes — bespoke work is exactly where clients hesitate to pay up front and where your outlay on materials is highest. Each stage is funded into the regulated trust account before you start it, so you’re not floating custom materials out of your own pocket, and the client’s money is protected until the stage is done.

Can I use it for smaller repair jobs too?

You can, though escrow shines on staged work — decks, pergolas, framing and fit-outs — where the job runs over days and waiting to invoice is a real cash-flow risk. For quick repairs an on-the-spot payment may suit better; Stagex is built for the jobs where getting paid is the actual risk.

How fast do I get paid?

A milestone releases within 7 days of the customer signing off — typically 1–2 business days via NPP. Because the stage was pre-funded, there’s no invoice to chase after the work.

What does it cost?

Stagex Professional is $59/mo. The first $30,000 funded into escrow per job is fee-free; above that a flat 1.6% escrow fee applies only to the amount over $30,000. No lock-in.

Try Stagex free for 14 days.

Bring one staged job through Stagex this week and see what guaranteed, chase-free payment feels like.

Start free for 14 days See full pricing

Stage by stage. Always paid.