Get your structure right before your first invoice.
Sole trader, company or trust? When to register for GST? What to set aside for tax? Get clear answers and a set-up that works from day one, so your first tax return doesn't bring a nasty surprise.
Where are you starting from?
"I have a job and a side hustle"
Whether you need an ABN, how side income is taxed on top of your salary, and what you can claim.
"I'm going out on my own"
Choosing a structure, registering for GST and PAYG, paying yourself, and setting aside enough for tax and super.
"We're building a start-up"
Company set-up, founder shares, employee share schemes, and how the new CGT rules may affect founders when you sell.
First-year mistakes I fix most often
Each one is cheap to avoid at the start and expensive to fix later.
- Missing the GST threshold. Registration is compulsory once turnover reaches, or is expected to reach, $75,000.
- No money set aside for the first tax bill. Your first return and PAYG instalments can land together.
- Taking money out of a company the wrong way. Loans to yourself can be taxed as dividends under Division 7A.
- Paying super late. Since 1 July 2026, Payday Super means employers pay super with each pay run, not quarterly.
- Mixing personal and business spending. A separate account and Xero from day one makes deductions easy to prove.
Start Right
Getting set up properly from day one.
- Structure advice in writing: sole trader, company, trust or partnership
- ABN, TFN, GST and PAYG registrations
- Xero set up with your bank feeds and chart of accounts
- First-year tax plan: what to set aside each month
- A 30-minute handover so you know your deadlines
Grow
Ongoing support once you're trading.
- Quarterly BAS prepared and lodged
- Business and personal tax returns
- Quarterly check-in on profit and tax
- Planning meeting before 30 June
- Your questions answered by email or phone
Free: the first-year business tax checklist
Every registration, deadline and record you need in your first 12 months, on one page.
Common questions
Should I be a sole trader or a company?
It depends on your expected profit, risk, whether you'll take on investors and how you want to pay yourself. A sole trader is simpler and cheaper to run; a company costs more but can offer a lower tax rate on profits you keep in the business and more protection.
When do I need to register for GST?
When your annual turnover reaches or is expected to reach $75,000. Taxi and ride-share drivers must register from their first dollar.
I'm a start-up founder. Do the 2027 CGT changes affect me?
The 50% CGT discount is replaced from 1 July 2027. The government has proposed a separate concession for eligible start-up shares, but it isn't law yet. It's worth planning your share structure with this in mind.
Can you help if I've already started?
Yes. Many clients come to me after their first year. I'll review what you've set up and fix anything that needs it.
Thinking of starting? Talk it through first.
A free 15-minute call to map out your structure and registrations, followed by a written quote.