Business accountants for founders who want more than a tax return
Most business owners only hear from their accountant at tax time. By then the year is over, the decisions are made, and the only thing left to do is report what happened.
New Wave’s business accountants work the other way around. We plan your tax before 30 June rather than after it, keep your lodgements on a set timetable, and tell you what we see while you can still act on it. Compliance is the floor, not the job.
We are a boutique firm based on the Gold Coast, working with founders right across Australia. Most of our clients turn over $1M or more and run businesses where the stakes of getting tax, structure and cash flow wrong are real. We also take on a select number of startups each year, where we can see a clear path to that point.
Who we work best with
We don’t work with everyone, and that’s deliberate. A smaller client list means a senior team who knows your business, not a different junior every year. We are the right fit if you:
- run an established business with a plan to grow, sell or step back
- have more than one entity, or know you have outgrown your current structure
- want someone to tell you what the numbers mean, not just send them to you
- are in one of the industries we know best: ecommerce and retail, trades and construction, medical and allied health, or property and real estate
If you are just starting out, our small business accounting and start-up services are the better place to begin.
What’s included
We use hybrid pricing, so you always know where you stand. Your core compliance sits on one fixed monthly package. Everything else is quoted upfront, in writing, before we start. No surprise bills, ever.
Your fixed monthly compliance package
- Tax returns. Company, trust, partnership and individual returns for the group, prepared, reviewed and lodged on a set timetable. See company tax returns.
- BAS and IAS. Prepared, reviewed and lodged on time, every quarter or month.
- Tax planning before 30 June. A planning session each year so the big decisions (bonuses, asset purchases, dividends, super) are made with the tax outcome known in advance.
- ASIC compliance. Annual company reviews, registered details, company changes, minutes and resolutions, all handled for you.
Extra work, priced upfront
When you need more, we quote it before we start, so the price you agree is the price you pay:
- Structure and asset protection reviews. See business structuring.
- Management reporting: profit by job, product or site, budget against actual, with commentary.
- Cash flow forecasting, so you can see tax bills, hiring and big purchases coming. See cash flow forecasts.
- Business advisory and virtual CFO support.
- Business valuations, due diligence and one-off projects.
How it works
- Free fit call (20 minutes). We learn about your business and tell you honestly whether we are the right firm.
- Review. We look at your last returns, structure and current setup, and flag what we would change.
- Your proposal. A fixed monthly package for your compliance, scoped to your entities, plus upfront quotes for anything else you want. No open-ended hourly billing, no surprise bills.
- Onboarding. We request clearance from your current accountant, connect your Xero or other software, and set your reporting and BAS calendar.
- Ongoing. Regular check-ins, a tax planning meeting before 30 June, and a team you can call.
What it costs
Your compliance package is one fixed monthly fee, set by how many entities you have and how complex your group is. There is no one-size price, because no two groups are the same, so we quote it after a free fit call and a review of your setup. Anything outside the package, like a restructure, a valuation or monthly reporting, is priced upfront and agreed in writing before we start. You will never get a surprise bill. You can leave with 30 days’ notice; we would rather earn your trust than lock you in.
How to choose a business accountant
Whoever you choose, check these five things:
- Qualifications. A Chartered Accountant or CPA, and a registered tax agent with the Tax Practitioners Board.
- Industry experience. Ask how many clients they have in your industry. Margins, GST and payroll differ a lot between an online store and a building company.
- Proactive advice. Ask when they will next contact you without being asked. If the answer is “at tax time”, keep looking.
- Pricing. Ask what is in the fixed fee and how extra work is charged. Fixed packages and upfront quotes keep costs predictable; open-ended hourly billing often penalises you for asking questions.
- Who does the work. Find out whether a senior accountant reviews your file, and whether you get the same people each year.
Real results for real businesses
Case study: construction company scaling up. Job costs were unclear, and BAS, super and payroll had fallen behind. We set up job tracking, put BAS lodgements on a schedule, fixed payroll compliance and added monthly cash flow reporting. The owner now sees profit by project every month, with no compliance stress.
“New Wave Accountants have been our accountants since we started our business and helped us get everything set up properly from the beginning… always friendly, helpful and easy to get in touch with.”
Brendan G., business owner
Business accounting and advisory services
- Company tax returns
- Business structuring
- Business asset protection
- Management reporting
- Cash flow forecasts
- Start-up services
- Business advisory
- SMSF accountants
- Financial planning
- Business insurance
Frequently asked questions
What does a business accountant do?
A business accountant looks after your business’s tax and compliance (tax returns, BAS, payroll obligations, ASIC) and helps you make better decisions with your numbers. A good one also plans your tax before year end, reviews your structure as you grow, and explains what your reports mean for cash flow and profit.
How much does a business accountant cost in Australia?
It depends on how many entities you have and how much support you want, which is why we don’t publish a set price. At New Wave, your core compliance (tax returns, BAS, tax planning and ASIC) is one fixed monthly package, quoted after a free call. Anything else is priced upfront before we start, so there are no surprise bills.
Do you only work with Gold Coast businesses?
No. We are based in Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast, but most of our work is done online with founders across Australia. You get the same team and the same pricing wherever you are.
Can you take over from my current accountant?
Yes. We contact your current accountant for a professional clearance and your records, then handle the handover. Most changeovers are completed within a few weeks, and we time them around your BAS and tax deadlines.
What size businesses do you work with?
Most of our clients turn over $1M or more, often with several entities. We also work with a select number of startups each year. If you are earlier on, see our small business accounting page.
Do you prepare individual tax returns?
Yes, for the owners and family members of the businesses we look after, as part of the group. We don’t take on individual-only tax returns.
Find out if we’re the right fit
Book a free 20-minute call with one of our business accountants.
