Arborist Invoice Template Australia: Crew Rates, Removal, Stump Grinding and GST

An arborist invoice in Australia should include your business name, ABN, arborist qualifications (AQF Level 3 minimum for most insurance), invoice number, date, customer details, job address, crew rates, service line items (removal, pruning, stump grinding, chipping, disposal), equipment hire, tip fees, and GST if registered.

This guide gives arborists and tree services a practical invoice structure, then shows how SMASH for arborists generates the full invoice from a voice description in under 60 seconds.

The basic arborist invoice format

1. Your business name, ABN, arborist qualification level.
2. Customer name and job address.
3. Invoice number, invoice date, payment due date.
4. Job description: tree species, height estimate, location, access.
5. Crew line items: number of crew, hours or days, rate per person or crew rate.
6. Service line items: removal, pruning, stump grind, chipping, green waste disposal.
7. Equipment hire: crane, EWP (elevated work platform), chipper hire.
8. Tip fees: council or private tip, estimated weight or volume.
9. GST if registered.
10. Payment terms and payment link.

Example arborist invoice line items

For a tree removal:

Labour — 2 crew, full day @ $400/crew-day = $800.00.

Tree removal — large eucalyptus, section removal, 15m.

Stump grind — to ground level, 500mm diameter.

Green waste chipping — on site, all material.

Tip disposal — green waste, estimated 1.2T @ $90/T.

For an emergency storm job:

Labour — 2 crew, 4 hours @ $120/hr per person (emergency rate).

Emergency debris removal — 2 trees on fence, section removal.

Tip disposal — mixed debris.

Council and body corporate invoicing

For council or strata work:

• Include your ABN, arborist qualifications, and insurance details on file
• Reference the council work order or purchase order number
• Item descriptions should match the scope of work approved in the council permit
• Payment terms are typically NET 30 for council clients

Set council clients as a saved client profile in SMASH with NET 30 terms. Every invoice for that client applies the right terms automatically.

Using voice invoicing for arborists

With SMASH:

"Large eucalyptus removal at the property in Wahroonga. 15-metre tree, section removal, full chipping on site, stump grind, green waste taken away. Two crew, full day."

Invoice sent with all line items from a single voice note.

Frequently asked questions:

What should an arborist invoice include? ABN, arborist qualifications, crew rates, service items (removal, pruning, stump grind, disposal), equipment hire, tip fees, and GST.

Can I invoice a two-person crew? Yes. Set a crew day rate or per-person hourly rate. Mention crew size and hours — SMASH multiplies correctly.

Can I charge emergency rates? Yes. Set an emergency rate in SMASH. Mention it in your voice description and SMASH applies it.

Do councils accept SMASH invoices? Yes. SMASH generates ATO-compliant tax invoices with ABN and line items — accepted by councils and commercial clients.