BAS and bookkeeping for consultants, without the Sunday-night spreadsheet
A consultant’s statement is a few large client payments a month, often on 30-day terms, with travel woven through it: flights, hotels, taxis, a coffee meeting that is deductible and a lunch that mostly is not. Around that are professional indemnity insurance, a membership body, a research subscription, LinkedIn or a CRM, and a co-working space.
FlowFi reads the statement, records the fees and GST, sorts the travel from the entertainment, flags the deductions, and builds the quarterly BAS. You review it and copy the labels 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 consultants
Records client fees and GST collected
Large, irregular payments are recognised as income and the GST goes to 1A automatically.
Separates travel from entertainment
Flights, hotels and taxis for client work are flagged as deductions. Meals and entertainment are flagged for review because most of them are not.
Proposal, retainer and milestone invoicing
Send an invoice with the engagement reference and PO number, then let reminders follow up the accounts team.
Cash-flow forecast for 30-day terms
See what is invoiced, what is overdue and what lands in the next 90 days.
Builds the BAS from your statement
Upload the quarter, review the pre-filled figures and copy them into ATO Online.
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 consultants
Expenses consultants often claim. FlowFi flags these categories as they appear in your statement so you can confirm each one.
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Membership of professional bodies and industry associations
- Travel for client work: flights, accommodation, taxis and rideshare
- Co-working membership or a share of your home office
- Research, data and software subscriptions
- Marketing, website and professional profile costs
- Courses and conferences that maintain your current expertise
- Phone, internet, laptop and other equipment on the business-use portion
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 consultants ask
Can I claim client lunches?
Generally not. Meals and entertainment are usually not deductible for sole traders, and GST cannot be claimed on them either. A coffee bought while travelling overnight for work is treated differently from a lunch to win a client. FlowFi flags these for review rather than claiming them automatically.
How does GST work on a large overseas engagement?
Consulting supplied to a business outside Australia, for use outside Australia, is often GST-free, but the conditions are specific. Confirm with your accountant. FlowFi lets you mark the income as GST-free so it stays in G1 without inflating 1A.
Do the PSI rules apply to me?
If most of your income is for your own skills and effort, the personal services income rules may apply and can limit some deductions. Ask your accountant about the results test and the 80% rule.
Should I pay myself a wage?
As a sole trader you cannot pay yourself a wage. You take drawings from the business and pay tax on the profit, not on what you draw. See our guide on how to pay yourself as a sole trader.
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
Keep reading
FlowFi for related trades
Bill the client, not the bookkeeper
Upload one bank statement and see fees, travel, insurance and GST already categorised.
Start 14-day free trial14 days of Pro free. No credit card. Then $29 a month or $290 a year.