Property Developer

Bookkeeping for Sydney property developers

You manage a build worth millions. The bookkeeping behind it should not be held together with spreadsheets and hope.

Sound familiar?

If any of these describe your week, you are not alone — and you do not have to keep doing it yourself.

Development costs are scattered

DA fees, site costs, consultant invoices, builder progress claims — they come from everywhere and need to be tracked against budget, not just recorded.

GST on property is a minefield

Margin scheme vs non-margin scheme. Going concern exemptions. Input tax credits on pre-construction costs. One mistake and the ATO assessment wipes your margin.

Progress claims need verification

Builders invoice on percentage complete. If you do not track what has actually been done versus what has been invoiced, you overpay — and your cash flow model is fiction.

What we handle for you

Every item below is done by our team and reviewed by your CPA. You do not touch any of it.

  • Development cost tracking against budget
  • Progress claim verification and coding
  • GST compliance — margin scheme, input credits, going concern
  • Consultant and contractor payment management
  • BAS preparation from development-specific accounting
  • Monthly cost report against feasibility budget

The outcome

Every dollar of development cost is tracked against budget. GST is correct from day one. Progress claims are verified. And your monthly report tells you whether the project is on track or drifting.

They caught a $47K overcharge on a progress claim in the first month. That alone justified the engagement.

Small-scale developer, Inner West

Common questions from property developers

What is the GST margin scheme and should I use it?

The margin scheme calculates GST on the margin (sale price minus acquisition cost) rather than the full sale price. It can dramatically reduce GST liability on residential property sales — but eligibility depends on how and when you acquired the land. We assess eligibility and document the election properly.

Should I develop in a trust or a company?

It depends on your asset protection needs, income distribution preferences, and whether you plan to hold or sell. A unit trust is common for JV structures. A discretionary trust offers distribution flexibility. A company offers limited liability but less distribution flexibility. We model all options.

How do I track costs against budget during a build?

We set up a development-specific chart of accounts that mirrors your feasibility. Every invoice is coded against a budget line item, and we deliver a monthly cost report showing actual vs budget with variance commentary.

Need tax and advisory too?

Tax structuring, advisory, and strategic planning for your industry — from the same team.

Ready to talk?

15 minutes. No obligation. We assess whether our specialisations match your situation. If they don't, we'll tell you straight.

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