BAS and bookkeeping for cleaners, without the Sunday-night spreadsheet
A cleaning business runs on volume: a dozen small jobs a week, some paid in cash, some by transfer three weeks late, some through an agency that takes a cut before it lands. On the spending side it is Woolworths and Bunnings for consumables, a chemical supplier every month, fuel between jobs, and the occasional subbie when two bond cleans land on the same day.
FlowFi reads the statement, sorts every line, works out the GST on supplies, and builds the quarterly BAS. Cash jobs go in with a tap. At the end of the quarter you review the figures and copy them into ATO Online.
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
What FlowFi does for cleaners
Categorises chemicals, consumables and equipment
Supermarket runs, chemical suppliers and that new vacuum are sorted into the right categories without you touching them.
Flags GST on supplies and agency fees
FlowFi checks which purchases carry GST you can claim back, including the commission an agency or platform takes out of your pay.
Tracks travel between clients
Log the drive from one client to the next and FlowFi applies the current ATO cents-per-kilometre rate to your deductions.
Invoices with automatic reminders
Send a clean invoice straight after the job. Reminders chase the late payers so you do not have to.
Builds the BAS from your statement
Upload the quarter, review the pre-filled G1, 1A and 1B labels, and copy them into ATO Online in a few minutes.
How it works
Upload your bank statement
Export a CSV or PDF from your bank (CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ, Macquarie and most others) and drop it into FlowFi. No bank login, ever.
AI sorts every transaction
Income, expenses, equipment and transfers are categorised, GST is worked out on each line and likely deductions are flagged for you to confirm.
Review and lodge your BAS
Check the pre-filled labels, copy them into ATO Online in about five minutes, or export the pack for your accountant. FlowFi does not lodge for you.
Common deductions for cleaners
Expenses cleaners often claim. FlowFi flags these categories as they appear in your statement so you can confirm each one.
- Cleaning chemicals, consumables, cloths and bin liners
- Vacuums, mops, steam cleaners, ladders and other equipment
- Vehicle costs for travel between jobs (not from home to your first regular job)
- Public liability and equipment insurance
- Gloves, safety boots, sun protection and branded uniforms
- Laundering of uniforms and protective clothing
- Subcontractor payments, with invoices and ABNs kept
- Phone, booking apps, software and a share of your home office
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
Email me the quarterly BAS checklist
The checklist now, then a few short notes on getting your BAS done. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
Pricing
Flat monthly pricing. No percentage of your income, no lock-in, cancel any time. Every account starts with 14 days of Pro free, no card needed.
Pro
or $290 a year (two months free). 14-day free trial, no card.
- Unlimited transactions and uploads
- Unlimited invoices with automatic reminders
- Full AI categorisation and deduction flags
- BAS preparation with a copy-guide for ATO Online
- Receipt scanning, mileage and cash-flow forecast
- One-click accountant export
Business
or $590 a year (two months free). For anyone with a bookkeeper or partner in the books.
- Everything in Pro
- Unlimited bank accounts
- Up to 5 users with role-based access
- Advanced AI insights
- AI support and API access
Questions cleaners ask
Lots of my jobs are paid in cash. How do I keep that straight?
Cash income is still income and still counts toward the $75,000 GST threshold. Add cash jobs manually in FlowFi as they happen, or bank the cash so it flows through your statement like any other deposit. Either way it lands in your G1 figure.
Do cleaners have to lodge a TPAR?
Cleaning is one of the industries covered by the Taxable Payments Annual Report. If you pay contractors for cleaning services and those services make up 10% or more of your business income, you generally need to report those payments by 28 August. FlowFi flags subbie payments so the totals are ready.
Can I claim the drive from home to my first job?
Usually not. Travel from home to a regular place of work is private. Travel between clients during the day is generally deductible, and so is travel to carry bulky equipment in some cases. Log the between-job kilometres in FlowFi and leave the first trip out unless your accountant says otherwise.
An agency takes its fee before paying me. What do I report?
Check your statement from the agency. In most arrangements you report the gross amount you earned as income and claim the agency fee as an expense, rather than only reporting the net deposit. FlowFi lets you record both sides so the BAS matches the paperwork.
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
Keep reading
FlowFi for related trades
Sort a quarter of cleaning jobs in minutes
Upload one bank statement and see your chemicals, gear, fuel and GST already categorised.
Start 14-day free trial14 days of Pro free. No credit card. Then $29 a month or $290 a year.