Company, trust or sole trader for a startup?

It depends on your plans, your co-founders and whether you'll raise. We'll recommend the right structure and explain the reasoning, rather than defaulting to one.

When do I need to register for GST and PAYG?

GST once turnover hits $75,000; PAYG once you have employees. We set both up at the right time - not too early, not too late.

Could we qualify for the R&D tax incentive?

If you're doing genuine, eligible R&D, quite possibly. We'll assess it honestly and prepare the financials the claim needs.

How do I know how much runway I have?

We build a simple cashflow and runway view so you always know how many months of cash you have - and can act while there's still time.

We're about to raise - can you get us investor-ready?

Yes - clean books, a sensible structure and the financials and projections investors expect. The time to sort it is before the raise, not during.

Accountants for Startups

The decisions you make in the first few months – your structure, your share setup, how you keep the books – shape your tax, your risk and your ability to raise money later. We help you get them right from day one, so you’re not paying to unwind them in two years.

Book a Chat Call (07) 5593 6060

How we help — at a glance

What we set up and handle for startups:

✓The right structure from day one — for tax, risk and investors

✓ABN, GST & business registrations — set up correctly

✓Bookkeeping foundations — Xero or MYOB, clean from the start

✓EOFY accounts & tax returns — for the company and founders

✓R&D tax incentive & grants — guidance where you qualify

✓Cashflow & runway — so you can see how long you’ve got

Book a chat (07) 5593 6060

Why the first decisions matter most

Startups are different from established businesses in one important way: the most consequential financial decisions get made at the very start, when there’s the least money and the least time to think about them. The structure you choose, the way you split shares, how you treat money the founders put in – these are cheap and easy to set up correctly on day one, and expensive and disruptive to fix once you have revenue, staff and maybe an investor on the cap table.

The other reality of a startup is that cash is the thing that kills you, not profit. Plenty of good ideas run out of runway before they find their feet. So beyond getting the structure right, the job is to keep the books clean enough that you always know your numbers, point you toward the R&D incentives and grants you may qualify for, and help you see how many months of runway you actually have – while there’s still time to do something about it.

What startups need to get right early

Structure. Company, trust or sole trader changes your tax, your asset protection and whether you can take on investors cleanly later. We help you choose with the whole picture in front of you – and set it up properly the first time.
Share structure and founders. If there’s more than one of you, or you plan to raise, how the shares and founder loans are set up matters enormously down the track. Get it clean now and the future round is simple.
Registrations. ABN, GST, PAYG, business name – registered at the right time and not before. We handle the setup so nothing’s missed and nothing’s triggered early.
Bookkeeping from day one. Clean books from the start cost almost nothing; reconstructing two years of shoebox later costs plenty. We set you up in Xero or MYOB so you’re never flying blind.
R&D and grants. If you’re building genuine technology or doing eligible R&D, the R&D tax incentive and various grants can be real money. We’ll tell you honestly whether you qualify and prepare what’s needed.
Cashflow and runway. The number that matters most early on is how many months of cash you have left. We build a simple runway view so you can plan, raise or adjust in time.

How we help founders

Setup & structure

The right entity, share structure and registrations to launch on – built to suit your plans and any investors.

Bookkeeping

Clean books in Xero or MYOB from day one, so you always know your numbers and your runway.

R&D & grants

Guidance on the R&D tax incentive and grants, and the financials they require, where you qualify.

Tax & compliance

Company and founder tax returns, BAS, payroll and the obligations that come as you grow.

Set it up right the first time

We help you launch on a structure that fits where you’re heading – entity, registrations, share setup and founder arrangements – so you’re not paying to unwind and rebuild it once you have revenue and investors.

Foundations that scale

We set up your bookkeeping, get you on top of GST and payroll before they bite, and keep an eye on runway – so the financial side is solid and visible while you focus on building the thing itself.

Who we work with

First-time founders. People going from idea to entity who want the setup done right without the jargon.

Tech and product startups. Businesses building software or technology, where R&D, structure and a future raise all come into play.

Co-founded businesses. Two or more founders who need shares, contributions and roles set up cleanly from the start.

Funded and scaling startups. Businesses that have raised or are about to, where clean numbers and investor-ready reporting matter.

How working with us goes

Chat

A free chat about the idea, the plan and where you’re heading.

Review

We look at your structure, share setup, books and runway, and tell you what we find.

Fixed-fee proposal

A clear scope and a fixed fee, agreed up front.

Deliver & check in

Setup, books and compliance handled, with an eye on your runway as you grow.

Questions founders ask us

Company, trust or sole trader for a startup?: It depends on your plans, your co-founders and whether you’ll raise. We’ll recommend the right structure and explain the reasoning, rather than defaulting to one.
When do I need to register for GST and PAYG?: GST once turnover hits $75,000; PAYG once you have employees. We set both up at the right time – not too early, not too late.
Could we qualify for the R&D tax incentive?: If you’re doing genuine, eligible R&D, quite possibly. We’ll assess it honestly and prepare the financials the claim needs.
How do I know how much runway I have?: We build a simple cashflow and runway view so you always know how many months of cash you have – and can act while there’s still time.
We’re about to raise – can you get us investor-ready?: Yes – clean books, a sensible structure and the financials and projections investors expect. The time to sort it is before the raise, not during.

Guides & resources

Plain-English help, written by our team.

General information only – not financial or legal advice. Thresholds and tax rules change; confirm current requirements or speak to us before acting on anything you read here.