Bookkeeping for West Melbourne Trades and Small Business
West Melbourne and the inner western suburbs — Footscray, Sunshine, Maribyrnong, Braybrook — have a high concentration of trades businesses and light commercial operators. Most are sole traders or small companies turning over $300k–$2M without an in-house bookkeeper.
True Tally specialises in exactly this type of business. We understand what plumbers, electricians, builders, and carpenters actually need from their bookkeeping — and we deliver it.
Trades Businesses in West Melbourne
Trades bookkeeping has specific complexity that a generalist bookkeeper regularly misses. For West Melbourne trades businesses, the issues we deal with every day include:
- TPAR (Taxable Payments Annual Report) — required annually for construction and trade businesses paying subcontractors. Due 28 August each year. We prepare and lodge it.
- Job costing — tracking labour, materials, and subcontractor costs against individual jobs so you know your actual margin per job, not just your total revenue
- Equipment finance coding — hire purchase and chattel mortgage payments must be split between principal (balance sheet) and interest (expense) in Xero. Most DIY Xero files get this wrong.
- Vehicle expenses — log book method vs cents-per-kilometre, FBT on company vehicles. We make sure the right method is applied and recorded correctly.
- Subcontractor ABN verification — no-ABN withholding at 47% if a subcontractor can't provide an ABN. Must be reported on your BAS (W4 field).
Why West Melbourne Trades Need a Specialist Bookkeeper
The cash flow reality for a West Melbourne trades business is different to a professional services firm. Large jobs create a mismatch between when costs are incurred and when payment arrives:
Progress claims
Invoicing in stages as work progresses means your revenue recognition is spread across weeks or months. Xero must be set up to track this correctly, or your BAS figures won't reflect your actual GST liability.
Retention amounts
Retention withheld by head contractors creates a timing gap between work completed and payment received. This needs to be tracked as a receivable, not ignored until the cheque arrives.
Materials before payment
You buy materials today and invoice the client in six weeks. A cash flow report that only shows bank balance misses this entirely. We track it so you always know your real position.
Services for West Melbourne Businesses
- BAS lodgement — prepared correctly, lodged on time each quarter with agent extension dates
- Xero setup — chart of accounts for trades, bank feeds, GST codes, job management integration
- Payroll & STP — Construction Award rates, STP Phase 2, super lodged before deadlines
- TPAR preparation & lodgement — annual report for subcontractor payments, lodged by 28 August
Book a Free Review of Your Current Setup
We'll look at your Xero file, check your BAS position, and tell you exactly what needs attention. No obligation, no sales pitch.
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Frequently Asked Questions — West Melbourne Bookkeeper
Do you work with trades businesses in West Melbourne and Footscray?
Yes. We work with plumbers, electricians, builders, carpenters, and other trades across West Melbourne, Footscray, Sunshine, Maribyrnong, Braybrook, and surrounding suburbs — entirely remotely via Xero.
What is TPAR and do trades businesses need to lodge it?
TPAR (Taxable Payments Annual Report) is required if your business is in construction, cleaning, courier, IT, or security and pays subcontractors. It reports gross amounts paid to each subcontractor and must be lodged with the ATO by 28 August each year. We handle TPAR preparation and lodgement.
How does job costing work in Xero for a trades business?
Job costing tracks labour, materials, and subcontractor costs against individual jobs, giving you a true margin per job. We connect Xero to job management software like Fergus, ServiceM8, or Tradify so costs flow in automatically — no double entry.
How do I handle cash flow on large jobs?
Large jobs create timing gaps — materials and labour before payment, progress claims over weeks, retention held until completion. Good bookkeeping tracks these in real time so your cash position is always accurate. We manage this through Xero with monthly cash flow reporting.
Do you handle BAS lodgement for Footscray and Sunshine businesses?
Yes. We lodge BAS for businesses across Footscray, Sunshine, Maribyrnong, Braybrook, Altona North, Laverton, and Williamstown — all remotely. As a registered BAS agent, we are legally authorised to lodge on your behalf with agent extension dates.
Ready for a West Melbourne Bookkeeper Who Knows Trades?
Book a free 20-minute call. We'll review your setup and give you a fixed monthly quote. No pressure.
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