Straight answers to the money questions.

The questions owners actually type into Google, answered plainly and checked against the ATO and other primary sources.

BAS due dates for 2026-27

Every quarterly, monthly and annual date for 2026-27, including agent dates and the ones that land on a weekend.

Updated 14 October 2026

Cost of sales percentage: the formula, and what’s normal

The formula with a worked example, the ATO’s rule on wages, and what the ATO says is normal for cafés, shops and trades.

Updated 14 October 2026

How many members does a gym need to be profitable?

Your break-even membership number in three steps, what churn does to it, and the ATO’s ranges for fitness centres.

Updated 14 October 2026

Can I afford to hire someone? The real cost of an employee

What an employee really costs in 2026-27, and how much extra you need to sell before the hire pays for itself.

Updated 14 October 2026

Cash flow forecast template, free, with a worked example

A free 12-month template that does its own totals, how to fill it in, and the mistakes that make a forecast lie.

Updated 14 October 2026

AI for small business finances: what it can and can’t do

What AI can do with your books, where it falls short, and five questions to ask before you connect Xero or QuickBooks.

Updated 14 October 2026

Gross profit margin: the formula, margin versus markup, and a calculator

The formula, why markup and margin aren’t the same number, pricing for a target margin, and a calculator.

Updated 14 October 2026

Profit and loss explained, simply

Each line in plain English, a worked café example, and why a profitable business can still run short of cash.

Updated 14 October 2026

How to read a balance sheet

Assets, liabilities and equity in plain English, and the checks that tell you whether the bank balance is really yours.

Updated 14 October 2026

ATO benchmarks by industry

The ATO’s 2023-24 cost ranges for 100 industries, with a checker for your own numbers.