Owning an investment property in Brisbane can be a powerful way to build long term wealth. The key to strong returns is not just buying well. It is managing your accounting and tax strategy correctly from day one. Many Brisbane property investors simply want reassurance that they are claiming the right deductions, structuring their loans properly and staying compliant with the ATO. Below are the most important tax and accounting areas every investment property owner should un

Choosing the right ownership structure for your property investment is one of the most important decisions you will make. It affects how much tax you pay, how well your assets are protected, and how flexible you are as your portfolio grows.  Many investors buy their first property in their personal name because it feels simple. Others are told to use a trust or company without fully understanding why. Getting this wrong can be costly and difficult to unwind later.  Buying Pro

What Is Rental Yield?   Rental yield measures the annual rental income of a property as a percentage of its purchase price or current market value.  In Australia, rental yield is commonly used to compare:  Capital city properties versus regional areas  Houses versus units  Established homes versus new builds  It provides a quick indication of income performance, but it does not reflect the full financial outcome of owning the property.  How to Calculate Rental Yield   Gross R

Why It Matters   At Rise Accountants, we regularly work with property investors who are surprised by how much depreciation can reduce the tax they pay each year. Many clients come to us after years of owning an investment property, only to realise they have been missing out on thousands of dollars in legitimate deductions.  Depreciation is not about spending more money. It is a non cash tax deduction that recognises the natural wear and tear of your property and its assets ov

Many property investors believe they are doing well because their property shows a profit on paper. Others panic because their bank balance feels tight even though their numbers look healthy. This confusion often comes from not understanding the difference between cash flow and profit.    Cash flow refers to the real money moving in and out of your bank account, while profit reflects taxable performance after accounting adjustments What is Cash-flow in Property Investing? Cas

Many medical practices feel constantly busy, yet their profits do not always reflect the workload. While others worry that they are overstaffed and carrying unnecessary wage costs.   Getting staffing levels right is essential in the medical profession as it helps protect cash flow, improve patient experience, and support sustainable growth.  Common issues we see include:  Practices hiring reactively due to workload pressure  Overstaffing admin roles without reviewing efficien

Buying new medical equipment is often a necessary step as your practice grows. Whether it is diagnostic tools, treatment equipment or technology upgrades. These purchases can significantly impact your cash flow and tax position.  One of the most common questions we hear is whether it is better to pay in cash or use finance. The answer depends on your numbers, your growth plans and your risk tolerance.  Common issues we see include: • Practices draining cash reserves to avoid

Many medical practices hire because the clinic feels busy or patients are waiting longer for appointments. While the intention is good, hiring without proper financial planning can lead to higher stress, tighter cash flow and unexpected compliance issues.  Doing the right financial checks helps you:  Hire with confidence rather than urgency  Protect cash flow and profitability  Plan sustainable growth instead of short term fixes  Avoid payroll and tax surprises  A common misc

Many medical practice owners only review their finances at tax time. By then, it’s often too late to fix cash flow issues and rising business costs.  Regularly reviewing your financial reports helps you:  Identify problems early before they become costly  Understand where your money is really going  Plan for growth, staffing and equipment purchases  Stay compliant and avoid unexpected tax or cash flow shocks  A common misconception is that as long as the bank balance looks g

At Rise Accountants, we work closely with GP clinics and medical professionals across Brisbane, helping them set up business structures and build sustainable practices from the ground up.  This guide below outlines the things you need to know before opening a GP clinic in Australia.    1. Choose the right business structure   One of the first and most important decisions is how your GP clinic will be structured.  Common structures include:  Company  Trust (often with a corpor

QuickBooks Desktop allows you to automate payment reminders so your customers receive timely prompts without you needing to manually follow up every week.  Why Payment Reminders Matter for Business Owners   Automated reminders free up hours of admin work and create a smoother payment experience for both you and your customers.   Other benefits include:  More consistent cash flow  Fewer overdue invoices  Faster payments without awkward follow ups  Better financial visibility 

Xero has a built in invoice reminder feature that helps you follow up on unpaid invoices automatically. Once set up, Xero sends gentle email nudges to your customers, so you get paid faster without chasing anyone manually.  If you want to free up your time, improve your cashflow and keep your invoicing process organised, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.    Chasing unpaid invoices is one of the most time consuming parts of running a small business.

MYOB gives you a simple tool that helps you get paid faster without awkward follow ups. Invoice reminders take care of the chasing for you, so you can focus on growing your business instead of managing overdue invoices.  Let us walk through how it works and why every business owner should set this up.    Why Business Owners Should Care About MYOB Invoice Reminders   Late payments hurt your cash flow   For many business owners, delayed payments are not just annoying. They impa

1. Reconnect with Your Purpose and Vision   It is easy to get swept up in deadlines, client requests, staffing issues and day to day operations. When this happens, the deeper purpose behind your business can fade into the background.  Take time to reconnect with the reason you started the business in the first place. Ask yourself:  What impact do I want this business to create  What makes my approach different and valuable  What kind of team, client relationships and culture

Starting an IT consulting business can be exciting, especially if you already have strong technical skills and a desire to help businesses streamline their systems, improve security and work smarter with technology. But while the tech side may feel easy, the business and accounting side often catches new IT consultants off guard.    Many IT professionals move into consulting because of their expertise, but running a business requires a whole different skill set. Without the r

1. What is a BAS and who needs to lodge it   A Business Activity Statement or BAS is the regular report that businesses registered for GST send to the Australian Taxation Office. It tells the ATO how much GST you collected from customers, how much GST you paid on expenses and any other amounts you are required to report.  Most small businesses lodge BAS every quarter. Some lodge monthly if the ATO requires it.  If you miss a BAS deadline or make mistakes, the ATO may apply pe

When your training directly relates to the work you do and helps you maintain or improve your skills, the ATO often allows you to claim a deduction.  This includes:  Seminars, conferences and training courses  Registration costs  Fares to attend the event such as flights or transport  Accommodation and meals if you need to stay away from home overnight to attend  Keep in mind, you cannot claim the private part of a trip if your travel includes both work and leisure.    What h

If you are a company director in Australia, you now need a Director Identification Number, often called a Director ID. Director IDs bring all company records together under one system, which makes it easier for regulators to confirm who is responsible for managing a company.    What Is a Director ID   A Director ID is a 15 digit number issued by the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS).  You only ever receive one number and it remains the same even if you:  Move to a

1. Tax Planning and Flexibility   Sole Trader   Income is taxed at individual tax rates.  If your consulting income is high, you may find yourself in the upper tax brackets.  Simpler tax filings, but fewer planning tools.  Company   Income is taxed at the company tax rate (currently lower than the top individual brackets).  You can pay yourself through wages or dividends.  Offers more options for structured cash flow planning.    2. Personal Liability   Sole Trader   You and

1. Review Where Your Business Stands Today   Before you can improve your cash flow, you need a clear picture of your current financial position.  Review the following:  Revenue sources and expected payment dates  Recurring expenses and once off holiday costs  Current bank balances  Updated cash flow forecast based on December spending    2. Follow Up on Outstanding Payments Immediately   January is one of the worst months for late payments because many clients are also recov