The question usually starts as arithmetic: a trader pays less than spot, so why not keep the difference? Sometimes that is the right answer. Often it is not, once you price everything the trader was doing.
What you save
A trader’s rate sits below the spot market because it covers risk, admin and its own margin. If spot is about $39 and a trader pays $1 under, a 45-STC job leaves about $45 on the table. Over 400 jobs that is $18,000. That figure is the entire prize, and the comparison is against what you would spend to capture it.
What you take on
Fees. A registered person account costs about $20 one-off and creation costs about 47 cents per STC after the first 250 free, at the time of writing. See what registering costs.
Admin. Photo and serial checks, registry lodging, status chasing, buyer invoices (RCTI, ABN and GST handling) and reconciliation. Someone has to own it, every day.
Compliance risk. You, as creator, sign the declaration. An error means invalidated certificates or clawback and the money returns to the CER. A trader’s compliance team catches problems before lodgement. See how STC audits work.
Cash flow. After lodging you wait for validation, then find a buyer and wait for payment, or sell to the clearing house at $40 and wait in a queue. See self-registering and cash flow.
Market risk. Until sold, you hold price risk.
Self-register or use a trader
| Self-register | Trader | |
|---|---|---|
| Margin kept | Yes | No |
| Registry fees | You pay | Trader handles |
| Admin | You | Trader |
| Compliance review | You | Pre-check by desk |
| Cash timing | Slower, variable | Often 1 to 3 days |
| Price risk | You | Locked on lodgement |
When self-registering can work
You install enough volume to justify a part-time admin role, you have a buyer on terms, you hold cash to wait weeks, and your claims are clean. Many installers who start self-registering move back once a failed batch or a stuck month hits.
What this means for installers
Run the numbers on a realistic month: jobs, STCs, trader margin saved, fees, hours, delay cost. If the saving is thin, the trader wins. If you use a trader, choose one with a published rate, a locked price, short settlement and no fees: ours is on pricing, explained in how it works. Read the wider STC trading pillar, the existing answer on self-registering, and the switching guide.