How it will work
One staged schedule for the homeowner, split to every consultant
The planned flow
PlannedBuild the proposal
Choose your stages, add your fee for each one and add each consultant’s fee or allowance. It goes out on your letterhead.
Invite consultants
Each consultant confirms their fee and connects a payout account through the payments provider. Planned consultant access is free.
Client accepts online
The homeowner reads the proposal, accepts it and sets up payment. PayTo or direct debit is planned to be the default; card will also be offered.
Approve and release
When the client approves a drawing set, that stage’s payment request is released. Nothing is charged before the client approves.
Pay once, split automatically
The client makes one payment for the stage. The payments provider divides it and pays each party their share.
Invoices and reconciliation
Each payee gets a tax invoice in their own name. Planned accounting sync (Xero first) matches payments to invoices.
The demo uses fictional sample data in your browser. Nothing is sent or charged.
Illustrative example
Stage 4: working drawings and building permit
- Building designerWorking drawings · own tax invoiceA$5,500
- Structural engineerFooting and framing design · own tax invoiceA$1,800
- Energy rater7-star NatHERS assessment · own tax invoiceA$700
Built around how residential design jobs are staged
A typical Victorian new-home or extension job, and the consultants who usually come in at each stage. You set your own stages; this is a starting template.
| Stage | Consultants typically involved |
|---|---|
| Stage 0Pre-design and site informationLand surveyor (feature and level survey), arborist | Land surveyor (feature and level survey), arborist |
| Stage 1Concept designSoil tester (geotechnical report) | Soil tester (geotechnical report) |
| Stage 2Design developmentEnergy rater (early advice), bushfire attack level assessor | Energy rater (early advice), bushfire attack level assessor |
| Stage 3Town planningTown planner, where a planning permit is needed | Town planner, where a planning permit is needed |
| Stage 4Working drawings and building permitStructural engineer, energy rater (7-star NatHERS), building surveyor | Structural engineer, energy rater (7-star NatHERS), building surveyor |
| Stage 5Construction supportAs agreed in the proposal | As agreed in the proposal |
GST: who supplies what
How GST works depends on who is legally supplying each service. We plan to support the common arrangements so the invoices match the way your practice actually works.
Each consultant supplies the client directly
The consultant is the supplier of their own service. The tax invoice for their share is issued in the consultant’s name, and you are not treated as reselling their work. This matches the common arrangement where the client appoints each consultant.
You supply the whole package
Some practices include consultants in their own fee. In that case you invoice the full amount and pay consultants as your own costs. Any handling fee would be shown openly to the client.
We also plan to handle consultants who are not registered for GST, so their invoices show no GST. The ATO’s guidance on agency arrangements (GSTR 2000/37) is a useful starting point when talking to your accountant.
Where the money goes
- The software is planned never to hold client money. Payments are planned to be processed by an established, regulated payments provider.
- Each payee is planned to be paid directly by the provider into their own account.
- If a consultant has not finished setting up, the plan is to pay their share to you as a disbursement, so the job is not held up.
- Refunds and disputes are planned to be handled through the provider’s processes, with a clear record for everyone.
What it will not do
- Prepare or serve payment claims under security of payment laws.
- Draft or review your client agreement.
- Lodge with council portals or replace your CAD or BIM tools.
- Hold funds in trust, offer buy now pay later, or manage builder progress claims.
Help shape it before launch
We are looking for a small group of Australian design practices and consultants to pilot this on one or two real projects.