How we verify
Anyone can claim they're licensed and insured. We check what can be checked — against the official sources — and we're straight about where each check stops.
Here's exactly what every Sefi check proves, and what it doesn't
Identity
What we check
A government-issued photo ID, confirmed through Stripe Identity.
What it proves
The person behind the profile is who they say they are.
Where it stops
It confirms who someone is — not how good their work is. Verified identity, not endorsed character.
ABN
What we check
The ABN, checked in real time against the Australian Business Register — and, for sole traders, matched to the verified identity.
What it proves
The business is registered and active — and, for a sole trader, that it belongs to the verified person.
Where it stops
For sole traders we can match the ABN to the verified identity automatically. For companies and trusts, the register doesn’t list directors, so we rely on a manual sight-check during sign-up — strong, but not the same as an automated chain.
Trade licence
What we check
The licence number, cross-referenced with the issuing state regulator's register — NSW Fair Trading, QBCC, BPC and the rest.
What it proves
The licence is genuinely held and current with the authority that issued it.
Where it stops
Not every trade legally needs a licence. Where one isn't required we show that plainly — it's a fact about the trade, never a mark against the tradie.
Insurance
What we check
Their insurance. A tradie either uploads a Certificate of Currency — which we sight and keep on file — or types the details in by hand.
What it proves
That a certificate exists and what it states — insurer, cover amount, expiry. Profiles show either:
- “Certificate on file” — a document has been uploaded
- “Declared” — the details were entered manually
Where it stops
We confirm the certificate and record its details — we don't contact the insurer to confirm the policy is active or paid. It's evidence of cover, not a guarantee of it. We'll never tell you a tradie is “protected” — only what's on file.
Checked, not just claimed
Every badge on a Sefi profile is backed by a real check against an official source