Accounting
Tradie Accountants.
Your Tradie Accounting Specialist
You didn’t get into the trade to spend evenings sorting receipts or chasing invoices. You’re running jobs, managing crews, and keeping clients happy. But tax time rolls around, and suddenly you’re buried in paperwork with no clear picture of where your money’s actually going.
Walker Hill works with trade businesses across Brisbane and Australia. We handle your accounting, bookkeeping, and tax planning so you can focus on the work that pays the bills. You’ll know exactly what you owe, when it’s due, and how to keep more of what you earn.
Types of Tradies We Provide Accounting Services For
Trade businesses aren’t all the same, and neither are their accounting needs. We work with tradies across a wide range of specialisations, each with its own financial complexities.
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Builders and carpenters
- Painters and decorators
- Concreters, tilers, and bricklayers
- HVAC technicians
- Roofers and guttering specialists
- Landscapers
Whether you’re a sole trader working solo or running a crew of ten, we set up systems that match how your specific trade operates. The financial challenges you face depend on your trade, your clients, and how you structure your jobs.
Accounting Services We Offer Tradies
Tax Returns and Compliance.
We lodge your Business Activity Statements (BAS), income tax returns, and superannuation payments on time. You won’t miss a deadline or pay a late fee because something slipped through the cracks.
Bookkeeping Services
Your transactions get recorded, categorised, and reconciled monthly. You’ll always know what’s in the bank, what’s owed to you, and what you owe suppliers. No more guessing or digging through shoeboxes at tax time. Our bookkeeping services for tradies are built specifically around how trade businesses operate, not generic retail accounting.
Payroll and Superannuation Assistance
We process your wages, handle PAYG withholding, and manage super contributions for your team. Everything stays compliant with tax laws and gets submitted to the ATO without you lifting a finger. If you’re managing employees, our superannuation advice ensures you’re meeting your obligations and setting up the right structure for your team.
Cash Flow Management
We track your accounts receivable and accounts payable so you know when money’s coming in and going out. You’ll spot problems early instead of realising too late that you can’t cover payroll.
Tax Planning and Minimisation
We identify every possible deduction you’re entitled to and structure your affairs to minimise tax legally. That means keeping more money in your pocket at the end of each year. Our approach to business tax planning goes beyond just lodging returns; we work with you throughout the year to reduce what you owe.
Business Advisory and Strategic Planning
You’ll get advice on when to hire, whether to buy that new ute, and how to price jobs for actual profit. We look at your financial data and tell you what it means for the decisions you need to make. Our business advisory services help tradies scale without losing control of their finances.
Business Structure Advice
We help you work out whether a sole trader setup still makes sense or if it’s time to move to a company or trust. The right structure protects your assets and reduces your tax bill as you grow. Our business structuring advice is tailored to where your trade business is headed, not just where it is now.
Why Do Tradies Need Specialist Accounting?
Trade businesses don’t run like retail shops or professional services. You’re dealing with job costing, materials that get ordered weeks before you invoice, subbies who need paying, and clients who take their time settling up. A generalist accountant might get the tax return done, but they won’t understand why your cash flow looks healthy one month and terrible the next.
Tradie accountants know how the industry works. We understand progress payments, retention amounts, warranty periods, and how to track profitability by job rather than just looking at your total revenue. That knowledge means better advice, fewer mistakes, and financial systems that actually fit your business.
Tax deductions work differently for tradies too. You’re claiming tools, vehicles, safety gear, licences, insurance, and sometimes workshop rent or storage. Get it wrong and you overpay tax. Leave out legitimate expenses and the ATO might come asking questions. We make sure everything’s documented properly and claimed correctly.
Common Accounting Challenges Tradies Face
Every trade business hits the same financial pain points as it grows. The ones that get ahead are the ones that solve these problems early.
Managing Cash Flow Between Jobs
You finish a job, send the invoice, and wait. Meanwhile, you’ve got materials to buy for the next project, wages to pay, and suppliers chasing payment. Money comes in lumps, but expenses happen weekly.
Walker Hill sets up cash flow forecasting that shows you what’s coming and when. You’ll know if you can take on that next job or if you need to hold off until outstanding invoices come in. We also help you set payment terms that keep cash moving instead of leaving you waiting 60 days for every invoice.
Tracking Job Profitability
You might be turning over good money, but if you’re not tracking costs by job, you won’t know which projects actually made profit and which ones cost you. Some tradies quote work, finish the job, and realise they barely broke even after accounting for all the hours and materials.
Walker Hill implements job costing systems through your accounting software so you see exactly what each project cost and what margin you made. That data helps you price future work properly and spot the jobs that aren’t worth taking.
Claiming All Available Tax Deductions
Tradies have more deduction opportunities than most business owners, but they’re also more likely to miss them. Receipts get lost, small purchases don’t get recorded, and by tax time you’ve forgotten half of what you spent.
Walker Hill connects your business accounting software to your bank accounts and matches transactions automatically. Everything gets categorised as it happens, not months later. When tax time arrives, we pull your deductions and lodge your return without needing you to remember every servo receipt from March. Our guide to tax deductions for small businesses covers what tradies can claim and how to document it properly.
Staying Compliant with Tax Obligations
Between BAS lodgements, PAYG instalments, super payments, and annual returns, there’s always something due. Miss a deadline and you’re paying penalties on top of what you already owe. Fall behind on super and you’re breaking the law.
Walker Hill lodges everything on your behalf and sends reminders before payments are due. You won’t miss a deadline because we’re tracking them for you.
Handling Bookkeeping While Running Jobs
You’re on tools all day or coordinating crews across multiple sites. Sitting down to update Xero or MYOB isn’t happening. Bookkeeping piles up, your financial data gets months out of date, and you lose visibility over where your business actually stands.
Walker Hill takes bookkeeping off your plate entirely. You send us receipts and invoices as they come in, and we handle the rest. Your books stay current, your reporting stays accurate, and you get back hours every week.
How Walker Hill Supports Tradies?
We don’t just lodge your tax return once a year and disappear. You get ongoing support that keeps your finances under control year-round.
Monthly Reviews and Practical Financial Oversight
Every month we reconcile your accounts, review your financial statements, and flag anything that needs attention. If your profit margin’s dropping, we’ll spot it and work out why. If you’re carrying too much debt or holding too much stock, we’ll tell you what to do about it.
Direct Access to Your Dedicated Accountant
You’ll have direct access to your accountant via phone or email. Got a question about whether you can claim that new tool? Need advice on hiring another employee? Want to know if you can afford to buy that truck? Ask, and you’ll get a straight answer.
Software Setup, Integration, and Training for Tradies
We also connect you with the right software for your trade business. Whether that’s Xero, MYOB, or something purpose-built for job management, we’ll set it up, integrate it with your bank, and train you on the parts you actually need to use. You won’t pay for features you’ll never touch.
Year-Round Tax Planning With No Surprises
Tax planning happens throughout the year, not just in June. We look at your income, identify deductions you should be claiming, and structure things to keep your tax bill down legally. You’ll know what you’re going to owe well before lodgement time, so there are no surprises.
Brisbane Based Accountants, Supporting Tradies Locally and Australia Wide
Find Us in Brisbane
We’re based in Petrie Terrace, just off Caxton Street. You can drop in for a meeting, call us, or email through your receipts and invoices.
Office Address: Level 2, 80 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane, QLD 4000
Phone: 07 3367 3155
Email: support@walkerhill.com.au
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am — 5:00pm
Appointments available outside business hours by arrangement if you need to meet after knock-off.
Virtual Accounting Services for Tradies Nationwide
You don’t need to be in Brisbane to work with us. We support tradies right across Australia using cloud accounting software and virtual meetings. You’ll upload receipts via app, we’ll handle the bookkeeping and compliance, and you’ll always know where you stand financially.
Everything happens online. No need to drop off paperwork or sit in an office. You run your business from the road, and we do the same with your accounting.
Book a Free Tradie Accounting Strategy Session
We’ll review your current setup, look at what’s working and what isn’t, and show you how we’d handle your accounting going forward. No obligation, no sales pitch. Just practical advice on getting your finances sorted.
Book your session by calling 07 3367 3155 or emailing support@walkerhill.com.au.
Xero Partner and Finalist.
Xero Accounting Partner of the Year Finalist FY22
FAQs About Tradie Accounting
What's the difference between a tradie accountant and a regular accountant?
A tradie accountant understands job costing, progress billing, subcontractor payments, and the specific tax deductions tradies can claim. A regular accountant might handle your tax return, but they won’t know how to set up systems that track profitability by project or manage cash flow around lumpy payment cycles.
Can I claim my ute and tools as tax deductions?
Yes, if you use them for work. You can claim depreciation on vehicles and tools, running costs like fuel and maintenance, and the full cost of items under $300 right away. If you use the vehicle for personal trips as well, you’ll need to keep a logbook to work out the work-related percentage.
Do I need an accountant if I'm just a sole trader?
You don’t legally need one, but you’ll save time and probably money by having one. Sole traders still need to lodge BAS, pay estimated tax, track deductions, and manage super if they have employees. An accountant handles all that and makes sure you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to.
How much does tradie accounting cost?
Pricing depends on what you need. Bookkeeping, BAS lodgement, and annual tax returns for a sole trader typically cost less than full advisory and payroll services for a business with employees. We quote based on your actual requirements after looking at your situation.
What records do I need to keep as a tradie?
You need receipts for business expenses, invoices for work you’ve done, bank statements, vehicle logbooks if you’re claiming car expenses, and payroll records if you have employees. Keep everything for five years. The easiest way is to use an app that lets you photograph receipts and store them digitally.
Let’s talk accounting.
Fill in the enquiry form below and one of our team members will be in touch shortly!
