How to Switch from Fergus to TradeDesk — Step-by-Step Guide
BLUF: Switching from Fergus to TradeDesk takes about 30 minutes. Export your customer and supplier data, import into TradeDesk, and save $577+/year while gaining Australian plumbing compliance features Fergus doesn't have.
Why Plumbers Switch from Fergus
- Cost: $53+/user/month is expensive for a sole trader ($636/year)
- Overkill: Purchase orders and advanced cost reports aren't needed by one-man operations
- NZ-first: Built for New Zealand, Australian compliance is an afterthought
- No compliance: No Form 7/9, no AS/NZS standards, no pipe sizing
Step 1: Export Your Data from Fergus
- Customers: Go to Contacts → Customers → Export to CSV
- Suppliers: Export your supplier list if you want to keep it
- Job history: Export completed jobs for your records
- Price lists: If you've imported supplier price lists, save copies
Step 2: Sign Up for TradeDesk
Create your free account — 21 days, no credit card, full features.
Step 3: Import and Set Up
- Import your customer CSV into TradeDesk
- Set up your business details and QBCC licence
- Select your council area for compliance
- Enable Form 7/9 auto-generation
Step 4: Explore What Fergus Couldn't Do
This is where TradeDesk shines over Fergus:
- Ask the AI: "What's the minimum fall for 100mm sewer pipe?" — instant answer with clause reference
- Generate a Form 7: Complete a job → auto-generate the compliance form → lodge with council
- Pipe sizing: Add fixtures → get the required pipe size for water, sewer, or gas
- Photo analysis: Upload a photo of your installation → AI checks it against standards
Step 5: Cancel Fergus
- Go to Settings → Subscription → Cancel
- Fergus is month-to-month — no exit penalties
- Keep your exported data as backup
What You'll Miss from Fergus
In the interest of honesty:
- Detailed per-job cost tracking and profitability reports
- Purchase order management
- Supplier price list integration
If these are critical to your operation (usually for teams of 5+), Fergus may still be worth it. But for sole traders who need plumbing compliance tools more than granular cost reports — TradeDesk is the better fit, with a flat annual price instead of per-user monthly billing.