Do Tradies Need an Accountant? What They Cost and What They Do

Most tradies know they probably should have an accountant. Far fewer actually understand what a good tradie accountant does, what they should cost, and whether the fee is worth it. Short answer: for most self-employed tradies, a good accountant saves more than they charge.

What Does a Tradie Accountant Actually Do?

A good tradie accountant does a lot more than lodge your tax return once a year. Here's what they typically handle:

• Tax return preparation and lodgement — ensuring all your deductions are claimed correctly
• BAS preparation and lodgement — quarterly or as needed
• Tax planning — strategies to legally minimise your tax throughout the year, not just at June 30
• ATO correspondence — dealing with audits, payment arrangements, amended returns
• Business structure advice — when to move from sole trader to company
• Super strategy — how much to contribute and when for maximum tax benefit

What Does a Tradie Accountant Cost?

These are fees for a quality accountant who specialises in tradies and small business. Bargain accountants exist, but a $200 tax return is rarely a bargain — you often miss thousands in deductions they didn't know to ask about.

Is It Worth It?

Run the numbers. A tradie earning $100,000 with a marginal tax rate of 32.5% — every $1,000 in additional deductions saves $325 in tax. A good accountant who finds an extra $3,000 in legitimate deductions pays for themselves. Finding an extra $10,000 (a reasonable vehicle logbook deduction alone can be worth this) saves $3,250 — many times the account fee.

Additionally, accountant fees are themselves fully tax deductible.

How to Find a Good Tradie Accountant

• Ask other tradies — personal recommendations from someone in your industry are gold. They'll know if the accountant actually understands trade businesses.
• Look for trade/small business specialists — a firm that works mainly with doctors and lawyers won't know tradie-specific deductions as well as one that focuses on trades and construction.
• Check they're a CPA or CA — Certified Practising Accountant or Chartered Accountant qualifications are the gold standard. Check the CPA Australia or Chartered Accountants ANZ directories.
• Have a 15-minute chat first — most good accountants offer a free initial consultation. Use it to see if they understand your business and ask what deductions they'd look for for a tradie in your situation.

Accountant vs Bookkeeper — What's the Difference?

A bookkeeper keeps your day-to-day records in order — reconciling your bank account in Xero, coding transactions, preparing your BAS. They're typically cheaper ($50–$80/hr) and handle the routine work.

An accountant does the strategic and compliance work — tax returns, tax planning, business structure advice, dealing with the ATO. They typically charge $150–$350/hr.

Many tradies use both: a bookkeeper for the monthly grind and an accountant for the annual return and advice. Using Xero or Rounded reduces the time a bookkeeper needs — cleaner records mean lower fees from both.