Sound Familiar?
You started this for more time, more money, less stress. Here's what you actually got.
You Are the Business
Residential homeowners watch YouTube and tile their bathrooms. Your quotes get used as price benchmarks. You're competing with amateurs on price. Nobody asks about quality.
The Money's There But It's Not Yours
Large-format tiles (600x600 and bigger) require substrate preparation you're not budgeting for. Waterproofing to spec is complex. You're doing rework because your quote didn't account for it.
The Busy Trap
Commercial tiling work is steadier but the margin is tight. You're racing apartment builders on time. One mistake and you're back on site fixing it unpaid.
Staff Headaches Without a Playbook
Waterproofing compliance (AS 3740) is critical but not understood by customers. You're explaining it on site after quoting low. Profit disappears.