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Showing posts from August, 2025

What Are the Big 4 Criteria for Trust?

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Thinking of setting up a trust? Whether it's for your business, your family, or that investment property in Fitzroy, you’ll want to make sure you get the foundations right. Trusts can be powerful tools — but only if they’re legally sound. And that’s where the Big 4 criteria come in. In Australia, a trust isn’t just something you scribble on a napkin with a mate over a long black. For a trust legal structure to be legit, it has to meet four essential criteria. Let’s break them down. What Are the Big 4 Criteria for Trust? 1. Intention – You Have to Mean It The first (and arguably most important) ingredient: clear intention. There must be a clear intention by the settlor to create a trust. It’s not enough to casually hand something over and hope the other person does the right thing. You’ve got to clearly show you’re setting up a trust where one party (the trustee ) holds and manages assets for someone else’s benefit (the beneficiaries ). In plain speak? If you want to buil...

Company Tax Return Accountant Fees: What You’re Really Paying For

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 Let’s face it—no one gets excited about paying accountant fees. But when it comes to your company tax return, knowing what you’re getting (and what it costs) makes a huge difference. Whether you're running a Melbourne café or scaling a startup, understanding accountant fees helps you budget smarter—and avoid nasty surprises. Company Tax Return Accountant Fees: What You’re Really Paying For How Much Do Company Tax Return Accountant Fees Cost? In Australia, company tax return fees usually fall between $1,200 and $2,500+ . Why the range? Because no two companies are the same. Here’s what affects the price: Business complexity – More transactions, staff, or investments = more work. Your bookkeeping – Clean Xero files? Great. A year’s worth of receipts in a shoebox? That’ll cost extra. Included services – Do you just need lodgement, or also BAS, financials, tax planning , and advice? At Future Advisory, we offer fixed-fee pricing based on what your business actually ne...

Is MYOB or Xero Better for Australian Small Businesses?

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MYOB vs Xero: Which accounting software is better for Aussie businesses ? Compare features, pricing, and usability to help you choose the right fit. Choosing between MYOB and Xero? Both are big names in Australian accounting, but they cater to different business needs. Here’s how they stack up so you can pick the one that suits your setup best. Is MYOB or Xero Better for Australian Small Businesses? When it comes to accounting software in Australia, MYOB and Xero are two of the biggest names in the game. Both offer powerful tools for invoicing, payroll, BAS lodgement, and expense tracking—but each takes a slightly different approach. So which one is better for your business? It depends on what you need, how you work, and how tech-savvy you are. Xero is the newer, cloud-first player and has quickly become the go-to choice for many Australian sole traders and small businesses. It’s known for its clean interface, easy collaboration with bookkeepers and accountants, and strong ATO integrat...