How to Pay Yourself as a Sole Trader
Sole traders take drawings, not wages — here’s how paying yourself really works, how you’re taxed on profit, super, and how much to set aside for tax. ATO-referenced.
Read article →From 1 July 2026 employers must pay super every pay run, not quarterly. What Payday Super is, what changes for payroll and cash flow, the penalties, and how to get ready. ATO-referenced.
Read article →Sole traders take drawings, not wages — here’s how paying yourself really works, how you’re taxed on profit, super, and how much to set aside for tax. ATO-referenced.
Read article →The current resident income tax rates and brackets for 2026-27, how marginal rates actually work, the Medicare levy, and what sole traders pay — in plain English.
Read article →The complete guide: what a bookkeeping service includes, basic vs full-service, how services are priced, what to look for in a provider, and online delivery across Victoria.
Read article →How we run Google advertising for small trades businesses — tight targeting, real call tracking, illustrative campaign examples, pricing, and why running ads and books together beats a generic agency.
Read article →What bookkeeping help actually includes, the signs you need it, DIY vs professional, what it costs, and how a Geelong Registered BAS Agent helps businesses across Victoria.
Read article →Everything we've written on BAS, payroll, margins, the ATO and building a business that answers to its goals. Searchable, jargon-free, and written for owners, not accountants.
145 articles
ATO effective lives for dental chairs, OPG machines, CBCT scanners and handpieces. Division 40 vs Division 43 fit-outs, instant asset write-off eligibility, and Xero fixed asset register setup.
Read article →HPSS Award 2020 classification levels and minimum pay rates for dental staff, the associate dentist super guarantee question, and STP Phase 2 pay item compliance in Xero Payroll.
Read article →Division 38-B exemptions for clinical dental treatment, taxable income streams, input tax credit entitlements, correct Xero tax codes, and a BAS preparation checklist for dental practices.
Read article →Medicare bulk billing reconciliation in Xero, GST on medicolegal work, allowable deductions including AHPRA and CPD, and personal services income rules for specialist medical practices.
Read article →Obstetric package deferred income treatment, theatre fee reconciliation, GST on medicolegal work, equipment depreciation, and PSI rules for gynaecology and obstetrics practices in Victoria.
Read article →The compliance requirements for loans between related entities, the Division 7A deemed dividend trap, minimum repayment rules, and how to record related party loans correctly in Xero.
Read article →The warning signs your accountant is doing compliance-only work when your business needs strategic advice, what proactive advisory accounting looks like, and how to change accountants without disruption.
Read article →The real cost of DIY bookkeeping, payroll compliance risks as your headcount grows, and the specific triggers that tell a growing business it is time to bring in a professional bookkeeper.
Read article →Consultancies, engineering and architecture firms sell time. Here's the bookkeeping that shows whether that time is actually profitable.
Read article →Retainers, projects and training days each carry a different margin. Here's how to see which is actually profitable.
Read article →Five KPIs that actually change decisions, and how to benchmark your practice against the industry once your books can produce the numbers.
Read article →What actually needs to be tracked once an SMSF holds commercial property. General information only, not financial or investment advice.
Read article →Retainer scope creep is the quiet margin killer in agency work. Here's how to see it before it becomes a loss-making relationship.
Read article →Commission structures, GST on your own service fee, and a Xero setup built around how a buyers agency actually earns.
Read article →Chart of accounts, tracking categories, NDIS and Medicare reconciliation, invoicing and payroll, set up properly in Xero.
Read article →One new website, one Google Ads campaign, and bookkeeping that finally showed which jobs were actually profitable.
Read article →Not the cheapest, not just the most qualified on paper. What actually makes a bookkeeper the right fit for a Geelong small business owner.
Read article →Where to look, what to ask, and how to compare. The complete checklist for finding the right bookkeeper in Geelong.
Read article →Real 2026 pricing for Geelong bookkeeping: hourly rates, fixed monthly packages, and what should be included.
Read article →Mixed GST, HICAPS batches and associate dentist payments. What dental bookkeeping needs to get right, and the growth number most practices never see.
Read article →NDIS, private rebates and direct fees. What OT bookkeeping needs to track, including the travel and report-writing time most practices give away.
Read article →Medicare settlements, equipment depreciation and contractor payments. What bookkeeping for a diagnostic imaging practice actually needs to track.
Read article →Cost recovery vs trust accounting, milestone billing vs WIP, how bookkeeping for Geelong defence subcontractors and law firms differs, and where it ov…
Read article →Cut software subscription costs without cutting corners. A practical guide for Geelong small businesses on auditing, consolidating and right-sizing th…
Read article →What records the ATO actually requires you to keep, for how long, and in what form, a practical guide for Geelong small business owners.
Read article →Geelong payroll bookkeeper handling STP Phase 2, superannuation, and award wage compliance. Xero-integrated payroll for local businesses. Call 0468 15…
Read article →What Victorian conveyancers need to get right with trust accounting, settlement funds, reconciliation timing, and the compliance regime that governs i…
Read article →The ATO's General Interest Charge (GIC) runs at ~11% annually on unpaid tax debt. Here's how it compounds, when you can ask for remission, and what th…
Read article →Expert bookkeeping guide for Geelong concreters. Learn GST on progress claims, equipment depreciation, subcontractor payments & cash flow management t…
Read article →How to tell when a Geelong or regional Victorian business has crossed from cash flow difficulty into legal insolvency — Director Penalty Notices, insolvent trading exposure, and your options explained.
Read article →Small Business Restructuring vs Voluntary Administration vs liquidation for Geelong businesses. The $1M debt cap, eligibility criteria, and what your Xero books must show before an SBRP can be appointed.
Read article →Chattel mortgage vs finance lease vs hire purchase: how each type affects your monthly cash flow, GST position, balance sheet and depreciation for Geelong and regional Victorian businesses.
Read article →Bookkeeping for bakeries, dairy farmers and food producers in Colac, Geelong and south-west Victoria. GST on food, COGS tracking, farm concessions and…
Read article →The numbers that actually matter for a law firm, WIP, lock-up days, and realisation rate, explained for Geelong firms.
Read article →The one page in your accounts that tells you whether your pricing works and where your profit is really coming from — key sections, gross vs net margin, declining margins and industry benchmarks.
Read article →Most small business owners skip proper goal setting. Here's a structured approach, revenue targets, profit goals, team milestones, and the quarterly r…
Read article →Trust accounting, WIP and time-based billing make law firm bookkeeping fundamentally different from standard small business bookkeeping in Geelong.
Read article →Expert bookkeeping tips for Geelong painters. Track materials, manage subcontractors, claim deductions correctly and stay ATO compliant.
Read article →Setting up Xero for a trades business in Geelong? This guide covers chart of accounts, job tracking, contractor payments, and getting BAS-ready. From …
Read article →If you've taken money out of your company and it wasn't formally recorded as salary or a dividend, it may be a Division 7A loan, with serious tax cons…
Read article →Cost-plus, value-based, competitive, here are the three pricing models for service businesses, which one suits yours, and how to calculate a price tha…
Read article →The numbers that actually matter for a marketing agency, retainer vs project mix, account profitability, and ad spend pass-through, for Geelong agenci…
Read article →The Small Business Restructuring (SBR) process lets viable businesses with debts under $1M restructure without losing control. Here's how it works, wh…
Read article →Practical bookkeeping setup for Geelong defence industry subcontractors, contract coding, milestone tracking, and cost recovery done properly from the…
Read article →Running a plumbing business in Geelong? Here's what a good bookkeeper does for trades, job costing, subcontractor payments, BAS lodgement, Xero and ca…
Read article →Behind on ATO debt, supplier invoices, or equipment finance? Here are the real restructuring options available to Australian trades businesses, from p…
Read article →Expert bookkeeping tips for Geelong plumbers. Learn job costing, GST for tradies, vehicle log books and BAS lodgement for your plumbing business.
Read article →EOFY isn't just about tax. Here's how to use June 30 as a planning milestone, prepay deductible expenses, review your structure, and set up the new fi…
Read article →How to set up Xero correctly for a Geelong dental practice, chart of accounts, HICAPS, associate tracking and equipment depreciation.
Read article →Income averaging, farm management deposits and other primary production concessions explained for Victorian farming operations.
Read article →The specific GST reporting patterns that draw ATO scrutiny, and how Geelong businesses can avoid them through accurate, consistent BAS reporting.
Read article →Set up Xero correctly in Geelong with the right chart of accounts, live bank feeds and compliant payroll. Expert Xero Certified Advisor guide for smal…
Read article →How Geelong consultants can smooth out feast-and-famine cash flow with better forecasting and bookkeeping habits.
Read article →Most businesses that fail had warning signs months earlier. Here are 10 financial red flags that tell you something needs to change, and the actions t…
Read article →Geelong electricians face BAS, TPAR and cashflow headaches. True Tally Bookkeeping handles compliance so you can focus on the tools.
Read article →Most tradies focus on winning jobs, not planning profit. Here's how to set a target profit, reverse-engineer your pricing and costs, and actually keep…
Read article →Geelong small businesses waste thousands on duplicate SaaS tools. Our bookkeeping review reveals 7 common offenders and how to cut costs fast.
Read article →Stop drowning in paper receipts. Learn how Geelong business owners use Xero, Hubdoc & receipt automation to cut admin hours and stay ATO-compliant.
Read article →Which medical services are actually GST-free, which aren't, and how Geelong medical practices should code them correctly for BAS.
Read article →Geelong health clinic bookkeeping for Medicare, NDIS and mixed billing. BAS-registered, Xero-certified. Accurate GST, payroll and compliance, call 046…
Read article →How to set up Xero to handle associate dentist pay splits correctly, GST, super, and contractor vs employee arrangements, for Geelong practices.
Read article →How Geelong small business owners can have an honest, productive conversation with their bank and suppliers when trade slows down.
Read article →Directors who allow a company to trade when it can't pay its debts can be personally liable for losses incurred. Here's what insolvent trading means i…
Read article →How ATO payment plans actually work, what the ATO expects before approving one, and why negotiating early gives Geelong businesses far better outcomes…
Read article →Learn how Xero bank rules can automate transaction coding for your Geelong business, saving hours each month and keeping your books ATO-compliant.
Read article →How Geelong consultants should track retainer and project income separately in Xero, and why the mix matters more than total revenue.
Read article →Your P&L tells you more than just profit. Here's how to read it properly, what each line means, what good ratios look like for Australian small busine…
Read article →Most trades businesses quote jobs and then never find out if they made money. Here's how to set up job costing properly so you know your actual margin…
Read article →A plain-English guide to trust account compliance for Geelong law firms, and why it's kept entirely separate from operating account bookkeeping.
Read article →The numbers that actually matter for an IT agency or managed services provider, utilisation, recurring revenue, and project margin, explained for Geel…
Read article →Xero's built-in payroll works well until it doesn't. Here's what it covers, where it starts to strain for Geelong businesses, and how Deputy and Emplo…
Read article →Service businesses have unique cash flow patterns, project deposits, 30-day invoices, seasonal slowdowns. Here's how to plan for them so you're never …
Read article →What a Director Penalty Notice is, how it makes directors personally liable for PAYG, super guarantee and GST debts, and how Geelong business owners c…
Read article →Pay.com.au lets Geelong small businesses accept payments instantly without merchant accounts or lock-in contracts. Here's how it works and why your bo…
Read article →The deductions independent consultants in Geelong commonly overlook, home office, professional development, and vehicle costs.
Read article →Revenue is not a KPI. Here are the 8 financial and operational KPIs that actually tell you whether a service business is healthy, and how to track the…
Read article →Expert bookkeeping for Geelong builders. Manage progress claims, subcontractor payments, QBCC compliance and cash flow for your construction business.
Read article →An educational comparison of company and trust structures for Geelong small business owners, what each actually protects against, and what it doesn't.
Read article →If your business stops when you stop, you don't own a business, you own a job. Here's how to build systems, document processes, and use your financial…
Read article →Most small businesses run cash flow by feel. Here's how to set up a simple 13-week cash flow forecast that tells you what's coming before it arrives, …
Read article →All 2025–26 BAS lodgement deadlines for Australian small businesses, quarterly due dates, agent extension dates, and what happens if you miss one. Upd…
Read article →Practical cash flow tactics for Geelong small business owners when trade slows, debtor management, payment terms, and what to do before it becomes a c…
Read article →What insolvent trading actually means under Australian law, the warning signs, and how Geelong directors can avoid becoming personally liable for comp…
Read article →Geelong small business owners: learn how to audit your software stack, eliminate waste and cut costs fast with this practical step-by-step guide from …
Read article →A business can have great gross margins and terrible net margins, or vice versa. Here's what each one means, why they move differently, and how to use…
Read article →Why HICAPS reconciliation trips up so many Geelong dental practices, and how to set Xero up so health fund payments actually match patient invoices.
Read article →Liquidation doesn't mean you can never run a business again. But there are restrictions, timeframes and risks to understand before you start over. Her…
Read article →What actually makes a Geelong small business resilient in a downturn, diversification, margin, cash buffers, and the planning that matters more than t…
Read article →Fixed monthly bookkeeping for Leopold Geelong trades and small businesses, BAS lodgement, Xero setup and payroll from a registered BAS agent serving t…
Read article →How NDIS providers keep portal claims, plan-manager invoices and participant billing reconciled, run SCHADS payroll correctly and stay permanently aud…
Read article →Why optometry practice cash flow is harder to read than it looks, and how Geelong practices can get a clearer picture using Xero.
Read article →Expert bookkeeping tips for Geelong carpenters. Maximise tool deductions, manage subcontractor payments, and stay ATO-compliant with our local guide.
Read article →Affordable bookkeeping for Geelong sole traders. Fixed monthly plans, BAS lodgement, Xero setup & GST compliance from a Registered BAS Agent. Call tod…
Read article →The ATO doesn't pick audit targets at random. Here's how data matching and risk indicators actually work, and what increases a Geelong business's audi…
Read article →How optometry practices in Geelong should reconcile Medicare optometry rebates and HICAPS health fund payments correctly in Xero.
Read article →How to reconcile PEXA electronic settlements against trust ledgers accurately, and the common errors that catch Geelong conveyancing practices out.
Read article →Expert bookkeeping tips for Geelong pest control businesses. Track chemical costs, manage vehicle expenses, and stay ATO-compliant with True Tally.
Read article →Not paying super on time triggers the Superannuation Guarantee Charge, which costs more than super itself. Here's what the SGC is, what it costs, and …
Read article →Discover how business process mapping helps Geelong small businesses uncover hidden inefficiencies, cut costs and streamline operations. Practical gui…
Read article →A quarterly business review doesn't need to take a full day. Here's a 90-minute format that reviews your financial performance, updates your plan, and…
Read article →Stop chasing invoices. Learn how Geelong businesses can automate accounts receivable using Xero to get paid faster and improve cash flow. Practical gu…
Read article →Seasonal income, livestock trading accounts and primary production concessions make agribusiness bookkeeping genuinely different from standard small b…
Read article →Fixed monthly bookkeeping for Geelong West's cafes, boutiques and professional services, BAS lodgement, Xero setup and payroll from a registered BAS a…
Read article →Revenue growing but profit isn't? Here's how to find where your margins are leaking, and the practical changes that actually move the needle for Austr…
Read article →Hostinger gives Geelong small businesses fast, reliable website hosting at a fraction of the cost of traditional providers, with free SSL, 24/7 suppor…
Read article →Stop wasting hours on manual data entry. Learn how Geelong small businesses automate bookkeeping with Xero, bank feeds and smart rules to save time an…
Read article →Dext captures receipts and invoices the moment you get them and pushes them straight into Xero. Why Geelong small businesses are switching to it, and …
Read article →Most service businesses undercharge. Here's how to calculate your minimum viable rate, check it against market rates, and raise prices without losing …
Read article →Six months behind on Xero reconciliation? Here's exactly how to catch up, what to prioritise, and when to get a bookkeeper to sort it out faster than …
Read article →Start with the profit you want, not the revenue you hope for. Here's how to reverse-engineer your pricing, capacity, and costs from a target net profi…
Read article →A business budget isn't a spreadsheet you ignore, it's a monthly roadmap for revenue, costs, and profit. Here's how to build one that's actually usefu…
Read article →Trust accounting gets all the attention, but operating account bookkeeping for Geelong law firms needs just as much discipline. Here's what to focus o…
Read article →Why farm succession planning depends on accurate, well-organised books, and what records need to be in order before the conversation even starts.
Read article →A garnishee notice lets the ATO collect a tax debt directly from your bank account or debtors. Here's how it works and what Geelong businesses should …
Read article →The ATO uses data matching and benchmarking to identify businesses that look out of line. Here are the real triggers that increase your audit risk, an…
Read article →Specialist bookkeeping for Geelong electricians. BAS lodgement, TPAR, subcontractor payments, job costing in Xero, handled by a Registered BAS Agent. …
Read article →Cost recovery, milestone billing and security-cleared payroll make bookkeeping for Geelong and Avalon defence contractors fundamentally different from…
Read article →A practical guide to bookkeeping for NDIS registered and unregistered providers in Victoria. Covers GST treatment, price guide compliance, PRODA recon…
Read article →A Director Penalty Notice makes you personally liable for your company's PAYG and unpaid super. You have 21 days to act. Here's exactly what a DPN mea…
Read article →How Geelong small business owners can reduce costs in a downturn without damaging the quality or service that keeps clients coming back.
Read article →Why frame stock is so often wrong on the balance sheet for optometry practices, and how to track it properly in Xero, for Geelong practices.
Read article →Expert bookkeeping tips for Geelong fencing contractors. Learn job costing, materials tracking, BAS compliance and cash flow strategies for your trade…
Read article →How taking money out of a company without proper documentation can turn into an unfranked deemed dividend under Division 7A, and how Geelong business …
Read article →Missing a super guarantee payment triggers the SGC, a more expensive, non-deductible liability than the super itself. Here's how it works and how to a…
Read article →A registered BAS agent is the only person legally allowed to prepare and lodge your BAS in Australia. Learn what they do, why it matters, and how to f…
Read article →What actually happens in an ATO audit, what directors can be personally liable for, and why accurate bookkeeping is the single biggest protection a Ge…
Read article →Learn how Geelong businesses can automate supplier payments and accounts payable in Xero to save time, reduce errors and improve cash flow management.
Read article →GST debt is one of the most common forms of ATO debt for small businesses. Here's what happens if you can't pay your BAS, your options, and the one mi…
Read article →Why BAS late lodgement penalties are being applied more consistently than they used to be, what they actually cost, and how Geelong businesses can avo…
Read article →Why manufacturers outgrow generic bookkeeping first: inventory and WIP tracking, job costing, shift-loaded payroll and GST-free exports, explained in …
Read article →Fuel tax credits, Farm Management Deposits, livestock trading accounts and seasonal cash flow. What proper farm bookkeeping looks like, and what to as…
Read article →Expert bookkeeping tips for Geelong landscapers. GST, equipment deductions, subcontractor payments and cash flow management for landscaping businesses…
Read article →Why True Tally recommends GoHighLevel to Geelong service businesses, client onboarding automation, social posting calendars, pipeline management, and …
Read article →A practical 10-point checklist for Geelong small business owners worried about a downturn, cash flow, pricing, debtors, costs and what to fix first.
Read article →Hiring feels like growth but it adds 20-25% to the cost of a salary before they do a day's work. Here's the financial checklist to run before you comm…
Read article →Bookkeeping for Armstrong Creek's fast-growing trades and small business scene, BAS lodgement, Xero setup and payroll from a registered BAS agent.
Read article →Why Medicare bulk billing and patient billing reconciliation is so often wrong in GP clinics, and how to set Xero up to fix it, for Geelong practices.
Read article →Before you hire, you need PAYG withholding, super, STP, payroll tax and workers comp sorted. Here's every obligation a small business owner must set u…
Read article →NDIS claims, Medicare batches, health fund payments and mixed GST. How growing allied health practices keep four revenue streams reconciled and every …
Read article →Discover what to automate first in your Geelong small business, invoicing, payroll, BAS prep and more. Save hours weekly with Xero and smart workflows…
Read article →Local bookkeeping for Newtown Geelong small businesses and allied health practices, BAS lodgement, Xero setup and payroll from a registered BAS agent.
Read article →Bookkeeping for Drysdale and Clifton Springs small businesses, BAS lodgement, Xero setup and payroll from a registered BAS agent serving the Bellarine…
Read article →An educational guide to director duties under the Corporations Act for Geelong business owners, what you're responsible for, and what can happen if th…
Read article →Fixed monthly bookkeeping for Corio trades and small businesses, BAS lodgement, Xero setup and payroll from a registered BAS agent serving Geelong's n…
Read article →Expert bookkeeping guide for Geelong glaziers. Learn job costing, materials tracking, GST on glass installations & trade-specific tax deductions.
Read article →If your business debt has gone past a payment plan, you have options, but liquidation and restructuring are very different paths. Here's how to tell w…
Read article →The ATO offers payment arrangements for businesses with tax debt, but there are rules, interest charges and conditions. Here's how to apply, what to e…
Read article →Bookkeeping for North Geelong's industrial, logistics and trades businesses, BAS lodgement, Xero setup and payroll from a registered BAS agent.
Read article →Sole trader or company director, here's how to pay yourself correctly, what structure affects your take-home, super obligations, and how to avoid the …
Read article →How GP clinics in Geelong should classify doctors correctly, contractor vs employee, payroll tax exposure, and what regulators look at.
Read article →Discover the top ATO audit triggers for Geelong tradies. Learn what red flags attract ATO attention and how to protect your trade business from audits…
Read article →Bookkeeper vs accountant, what's the difference for Australian small businesses? Learn who does what, which one you need, and how the two roles work t…
Read article →NDIS registered providers in Geelong need specialist bookkeeping. True Tally handles NDIS billing, payroll, BAS lodgement and Xero setup. Call 0468 15…
Read article →Bookkeeping for allied health practices in Victoria, Medicare, HICAPS, NDIS, Cliniko and PowerDiary integrations. What your practice management softwa…
Read article →Voluntary administration gives a business breathing space to find a solution. Liquidation is the end. Here's how to tell which one applies to your sit…
Read article →Expert bookkeeping tips for HVAC technicians in Geelong. Learn about job costing, vehicle expenses, tool deductions and BAS obligations for your trade…
Read article →How cost recovery actually works under a defence contract, what counts as a recoverable cost, and how Geelong subcontractors get reporting right.
Read article →When a company is liquidated, employees become creditors, but they have priority over most other creditors. Here's what employees are entitled to and …
Read article →Geelong small business BAS lodgement made easy. Registered BAS Agent handles your GST, IAS and BAS on time, every quarter. Call 0468 159 950.
Read article →Job costing, payroll & BAS for Geelong builders. True Tally is a Registered BAS Agent & Xero Certified Advisor helping construction businesses stay co…
Read article →Looking for a bookkeeper in Geelong? What to check before you hire, what bookkeeping really costs, and the questions that separate a great bookkeeper …
Read article →Fixed monthly bookkeeping for Belmont Geelong trades, allied health and professional services, BAS lodgement, Xero setup and payroll from a registered…
Read article →Expert bookkeeping for Geelong tilers. Learn about trade-specific tax deductions, BAS obligations, job costing and cash flow management for your tilin…
Read article →Expert bookkeeping for Geelong roof plumbers. BAS, job costing, contractor payments and cash flow management for roofing trades businesses.
Read article →Bookkeeping for Lara's growing trades, logistics and allied health businesses, BAS lodgement, Xero setup and payroll from a registered BAS agent near …
Read article →Why work in progress figures are so often inaccurate for Geelong law firms, and what better time billing discipline actually looks like.
Read article →What receivable management services actually include, what they cost in Australia, how they differ from debt collection, and the escalation ladder tha…
Read article →Learn how Geelong small businesses can automate invoicing in Xero, get paid faster and cut admin time, set it up once and let it run.
Read article →Bookkeeping for Portarlington and St Leonards small businesses, BAS lodgement, Xero setup and payroll from a registered BAS agent serving the Bellarin…
Read article →If your business is behind on BAS, PAYG or income tax, the ATO has more flexibility than most people think, but only if you act first. Here's exactly …
Read article →Expert bookkeeping for Geelong solar installers. Manage STCs, rebate tracking, job costing and BAS compliance. Free consultation available.
Read article →