BAS and bookkeeping for copywriters, without the Sunday-night spreadsheet
A copywriter’s statement is lots of medium-sized payments from lots of clients: a $600 landing page here, a $2,500 website there, a monthly content retainer, an agency that pays on 45 days and a platform that pays weekly minus its fee. The costs are modest and recurring: a writing tool, a grammar checker, a stock image site, a course, a co-working day pass, a website, and the laptop every few years.
FlowFi reads the statement, matches income to invoices, sorts the subscriptions, flags the home office and equipment deductions, and builds the quarterly BAS. Review it, copy the labels into ATO Online, and get back to the draft.
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
What FlowFi does for copywriters
Matches many small payments to clients
Payments from a dozen clients are recognised as income and matched to invoices, with platform fees captured as expenses.
Sorts writing tools and subscriptions
Writing, grammar, research and image subscriptions are categorised and checked for GST.
Retainer and project invoicing with reminders
Recurring retainers, project invoices and 50% deposits, each with automatic follow-up.
Home office made simple
Record your working-from-home hours and FlowFi keeps the figure ready for your return, or claim actual costs if that suits you better.
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 copywriters
Expenses copywriters often claim. FlowFi flags these categories as they appear in your statement so you can confirm each one.
- Writing, editing, grammar and research software
- Laptop, monitor and headphones (written off or depreciated)
- Website, domain, hosting and portfolio costs
- Courses, books and memberships that maintain your writing skills
- Co-working day passes or a share of your home office
- Stock images, fonts and design tools used in client work
- Bank and platform fees on client payments
- Phone and internet 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 copywriters ask
A platform pays me weekly after taking a fee. What do I report?
Usually the gross amount you earned is income and the platform fee is an expense, so record both rather than just the net deposit. If the platform is overseas, the fee may not carry GST. FlowFi lets you record both sides against the one payout.
Do I need an ABN and do I need GST?
You need an ABN to invoice as a business, and without one clients may have to withhold tax at the top rate. You only need GST registration once your turnover reaches $75,000 a year, or if you choose to register earlier.
Can I claim my home office?
Yes, on the hours you work from home. The ATO’s fixed rate method needs a record of your hours for the whole year; the actual cost method needs receipts and a floor-area calculation. See our home office guide for the detail.
What about books and courses?
Books and courses that maintain or improve the skills you already use in your writing business are generally deductible. A course to change careers is not.
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
Keep reading
FlowFi for related trades
Write the copy, not the BAS
Upload one bank statement and see client payments, subscriptions, home office and GST already categorised.
Start 14-day free trial14 days of Pro free. No credit card. Then $29 a month or $290 a year.