Start and register a business
Choose the structure, check the name and work through the registrations.
Start with: Questions to answer before you startFree, independent guides for Australian small business
Run your small business with confidence
Plain-English help with the things that actually trip up Australian business owners — tax and BAS, choosing software, business structures, cash flow and getting customers.
100% free to read Written for Australia No jargon, no waffle
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Find your next step
What are you working on today?
Choose the task in front of you. Each reading guide puts the useful checks and worked examples in order.
Organise the books and BAS
Build a bookkeeping routine, sort out a transaction or find registered help.
Start with: Set up an everyday bookkeeping routineGet paid and plan your cash
Remove invoice delays and check what the bank balance needs to cover.
Start with: Build a cash-flow forecastUnderstand costs and profit
Cost the sale, explain a margin change and compare the next operating decision.
Start with: Read your profit and loss statementChoose accounting software
Compare tools around the work, access and budget your business needs.
Start with: Compare accounting softwareHire and look after your team
Work through roles, pay, paperwork and the first day with a new employee.
Start with: Use the first-employee checklistWork it out
Free calculators for everyday decisions
Check GST, test a price and see how many sales will cover your costs.
Australian GST Calculator: Add or Remove 10% GST
Work out the GST-exclusive price, GST amount and total for an ordinary taxable sale in Australia. Choose whether your starting figure already includes GST.
Calculate nowBreak-Even Calculator for Small Business
Find how many sales you need each month to cover operating costs, then test a profit target. Use one product, one service or a realistic average sale.
Calculate nowProfit Margin & Markup Calculator
See what you keep from each sale before overheads. Compare margin with markup, or work backwards from the margin you want to a selling price.
Calculate nowHourly Rate Calculator for Sole Traders & Freelancers
Build a rate from the income you need and the hours you can actually invoice. Adjust time off and unpaid admin to see their effect on your pricing floor.
Calculate nowNew on the site
Recently published guides
The latest additions to our library. For a suggested reading order, choose a task above.
Build a 30-day learning plan for a new employee
Build a practical 30-day employee learning plan with a four-week matrix, observed tasks and named support. Adjust the pace without turning it into probation.
Choose and brief an onboarding buddy
Set up an onboarding buddy in a small team with a clear brief, time allowance and backup. Separate everyday help from supervision and management decisions.
Create a useful handover when an employee is leaving
Create an employee handover that preserves live jobs, deadlines and decision context. Use a simple board and test whether the replacement can find what matters.
Explain workplace policies so new employees can use them
Introduce workplace policies through everyday situations and short finding exercises. Check understanding, keep versions clear and avoid treating a signature as proof.
Onboard several new employees without losing individual support
Onboard several employees with shared orientation, individual practice and named supervisors. Use a cohort timetable that leaves room for catch-ups and different needs.
Plan a first day that helps a new employee start useful work
Plan a new employee’s first day with a practical agenda, one supported task and a clear check-in. Includes an editable timeline and preparation checklist.
Why this site
Advice that fits how Australia actually works
Our guides cover the Australian registrations, records and everyday decisions you need to work through, including the ATO, GST, ASIC, awards and super.
- Australian-specific. BAS, GST, ABNs, STP — the acronyms you actually deal with, explained without assuming prior knowledge.
- Practical first. Every guide ends with clear next steps, not theory. Checklists, comparisons and worked examples throughout.
- Dates and sources. Guides show when they were published and link to sources so you can check rules and figures before acting.
- Free and independent. No paywalls. Where we compare products we say what's good and what isn't.
New to business? Don't start with guesswork.
Get your structure, registrations and plan right the first time — it's far cheaper than fixing them later.
Read the starting-out guides