Subcontractor Agreement (Construction Industry Australia)

Last updated 2 October 2026 · Reviewed by the Claim Done team · Not legal advice

A construction subcontractor agreement is the contract between a head contractor (builder) and a subcontractor (electrician, plumber, plasterer, tiler, roofer, etc.) for a defined scope of work on a construction project. The agreement covers the scope, pricing, progress payment schedule, variations process, defects liability, retention amounts, dispute resolution, and statutory obligations under each state's Security of Payment Act.

Why this document matters

A documented subcontractor agreement is the foundation of recovery rights under both contract law and state Security of Payment legislation.

How Claim Done can help

For straightforward sub-trade engagements, our Independent Contractor Agreement ($49) covers the core terms — scope, payment, IP, restraint, termination, and the contractor-vs-employee distinction (avoiding sham-contracting under the Fair Work Act).

Start your Independent Contractor Agreement ($49) →

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What changes when it is in writing

Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.

Before — doing it yourself

You agree the terms in a conversation.

Each person remembers it a little differently.

Something changes, and nobody can point to what was agreed.

Sorting it out later is harder than agreeing it now.

→

After — a signed Subcontractor Agreement

The terms are set out clearly, in one document.

Everyone who signs reads the same words.

A signature block for each person who signs.

You read it first and can change the wording before anyone signs.

Start mine — $97 →Drafted in about 5 minutes. You read and confirm it before it is final. Nothing is sent to anyone else.

Getting it drafted

Can I have a Trades Subcontractor Agreement drafted for me instead of writing it myself?

Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Trades Subcontractor Agreement from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $97 AUD. You read and confirm the draft, then the final PDF is emailed to you. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=trades-subcontractor. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.

How much does a Trades Subcontractor Agreement cost, and how long does it take?

$97 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. It covers every Australian state and territory.

Do I need a lawyer to send a Trades Subcontractor Agreement in Australia?

No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to write or send a Trades Subcontractor Agreement; many people send their own. Claim Done drafts it for you and you approve it before it is sent.