Vendor Due Diligence Checklist for Trades & Construction
Free, customisable vendor due diligence checklist designed specifically for Australian trades & construction businesses. Copy, customise, and automate - built by Harvard-educated experts.
Setup Time
20 minutes
Complexity
intermediate
Tools
Notion, Airtable
Template
Copy this template and customise it for your business.
# Vendor Due Diligence Checklist - Trades & Construction ## Purpose Complete before engaging any new vendor or supplier to reduce risk and set the foundation for a successful relationship. ## When to Use A thorough due diligence checklist for evaluating new vendors covering financial stability, references, insurance, compliance, and service level agreements. ## Instructions 1. Review the template below and familiarise yourself with the structure 2. Replace all [bracketed placeholders] with your trades & construction business details 3. Customise the tone and formatting to match your brand 4. Save in your preferred tool (Notion or Airtable) --- ## Vendor Due Diligence Checklist ### Business Verification (Owner: Procurement Manager) - [ ] ABN verified on the Australian Business Register (abr.business.gov.au) - [ ] Business name and trading name confirmed - [ ] GST registration status confirmed - [ ] Company registration verified with ASIC (ACN if applicable) - [ ] Years in operation confirmed (minimum 2 years preferred for critical vendors) - [ ] Physical business address verified (not just a PO Box) - [ ] Key personnel identified (owner, account manager, escalation contact) ### Financial Stability (Owner: Finance Manager) - [ ] Credit check completed (Dun & Bradstreet or similar) - [ ] Financial statements reviewed for the last 2 years (if significant contract value) - [ ] Payment terms reviewed and acceptable (30-day terms standard) - [ ] Pricing structure transparent with no hidden fees - [ ] Volume discounts or long-term pricing commitments discussed ### Insurance & Risk (Owner: Procurement Manager) - [ ] Certificate of currency for public liability insurance obtained (minimum $10M) - [ ] Professional indemnity insurance confirmed (if providing advisory services) - [ ] Workers compensation insurance current for all their employees - [ ] Adequate product liability insurance (if supplying physical goods) - [ ] Cyber liability insurance confirmed (if handling your data) ### References & Reputation (Owner: Procurement Manager) - [ ] Minimum 3 client references requested and contacted - [ ] Online reviews checked (Google, industry forums, social media) - [ ] No significant complaints with Fair Trading, ACCC, or industry bodies - [ ] Industry certifications or memberships verified - [ ] Case studies or examples of similar work reviewed ### Compliance & Security (Owner: Compliance Officer) - [ ] Privacy policy reviewed for compliance with Australian Privacy Principles - [ ] Data handling practices assessed (where is data stored, who has access) - [ ] Modern slavery statement provided (if revenue over $100M or requested) - [ ] Environmental and sustainability practices reviewed (if relevant) - [ ] Subcontractor policies reviewed (do they subcontract, and if so, to whom) ### Contract & Terms (Owner: Legal / Procurement Manager) - [ ] Service level agreement (SLA) defined with measurable performance metrics - [ ] Termination clauses reviewed: notice period, exit costs, data return - [ ] Intellectual property ownership clarified for any work produced - [ ] Confidentiality or NDA executed before sharing sensitive information - [ ] Dispute resolution process agreed (mediation before litigation) - [ ] Contract reviewed by solicitor before signing (for contracts over $50K) --- **Complexity:** intermediate | **Setup time:** 20 minutes | **Tools:** Notion, Airtable Note: This template has been tailored for trades & construction businesses in Australia. Adjust terminology and compliance references to match your specific context.
How to Use This Template
Follow these steps to get the most out of this template.
Customise the placeholder fields (marked in [brackets]) with your trades & construction specific business details
Test the vendor due diligence checklist with a small group or internal team before full rollout
Train your trades & construction team on when and how to use this template in their daily workflow
Schedule a quarterly review to update the template based on feedback and changing requirements
Copy the vendor due diligence checklist template below and paste it into your trades & construction preferred tool or document
Customisation Tips
Make this template your own with these recommendations.
Create multiple versions for different customer segments or use cases
Remove any sections of the vendor due diligence checklist that do not apply to your specific use case
Replace all placeholder text in [brackets] with your trades & construction actual business information
Add industry-specific terminology and compliance language relevant to your trades & construction sector
Related Templates
Browse more templates that complement this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Every section of this vendor due diligence checklist is editable. Start by replacing the placeholder fields, then adjust the formatting, add your branding, and tailor the content to your audience. Most businesses have it fully customised within 15 minutes.
This vendor due diligence checklist works perfectly as part of an automated workflow. Connect it to your business tools so dynamic fields populate automatically, send it based on triggers, and track opens and responses - all without manual effort.
You can use this vendor due diligence checklist in any tool that accepts text or markdown - email clients, document editors, CRM systems, or automation platforms. We support over 150+ integrations for automated workflows.
This vendor due diligence checklist is free with no strings attached. Copy it, customise it, and use it in your business today. If you need help connecting it to your automation tools or want a custom version built, we offer a free assessment to discuss your needs.
This vendor due diligence checklist has been tailored for trades & construction businesses with industry-specific language, compliance considerations, and best practices. The structure, terminology, and examples reflect real-world usage in your sector.
Need This Template Automated?
Let our Harvard-educated team build this into a fully automated workflow for your business. 50+ Australian businesses already trust Clever Ops.