Trade business costs · QLD · 2026-27
About $324 a year in 2026-27, annualised across renewal periods. QBCC plumbing contractor licence (SC1, lowest band) annual renewal $324.14. Current 2025-26; 1 July 2026 indexation not published at review. Source: regulator
The licence is the cost everyone googles - it's rarely the one that hurts. Here's the rest of the fixed-cost picture for plumbers in Queensland, all 2026-27 figures:
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | $324/yr | Annualised across renewal periods |
| Vehicle rego | $849/yr | Includes CTP (choice of insurer). 4-cylinder rate. No business surcharge. |
| WorkCover | 3.06% of wages | Only if you employ anyone. WIC 323109 Plumbing Services, Column 3 rate per $100 wages, FY2025-26 gazette (WorkCover Qld Notice No.1 of 2025). 2026-27 gazette not published at review. |
| Long service levy | 0.35% of pay | 0.35% of project cost for works ≥$150K. Part of combined QLD levy (0.575% total incl WH&S + CSQ). Construction only. |
| Public liability | ~$1,000/yr | Sole-trader plumber public liability, ~$5-20M cover: typical ~$900-1,200/yr. VIC plumbers must hold compulsory plumber's warranty/consumer-protection cover, usually bundled into the policy - not a separate charge. |
| State | Annualised licence cost |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | $260/yr |
| Victoria | $369/yr |
| Queensland | $324/yr |
| Western Australia | $269/yr |
| South Australia | $598/yr |
| Tasmania | $500/yr |
| ACT | $160/yr |
| Northern Territory | $500/yr |
Other trades: electricians in QLD · builders in QLD · mechanics in QLD
Every dollar above has to come out of the jobs you do - before you've paid yourself a cent. If your charge-out rate was set by asking around, odds are it doesn't carry these costs plus the vehicle, tools, fuel and the quiet weeks.
Two minutes in our free hourly rate calculator shows what you're actually keeping per hour. figrd then does that thinking on every quote - your real costs, built into every price.
Get set up with figrdFigures are for the 2026-27 financial year, last reviewed 2026-06-28. Annualised licence costs spread multi-year renewals across each year. Where a regulator had not yet published its 2026-27 fees at that review, the current fee is shown. WorkCover rates are base or suggested rates - your actual premium depends on claims history - and insurance figures are market estimates, not official rates. Always confirm current figures with your state regulator before relying on them. This is general information, not financial advice.