BAS and bookkeeping for graphic designers, without the Sunday-night spreadsheet
A designer’s statement is subscriptions all the way down: Adobe, Figma, a font licence, a stock image site, Dropbox, a portfolio host, plus the occasional big spend on a laptop or tablet. Income is a handful of clients paying invoices on 14 or 30 days, a retainer that lands on the first of the month, and now and then an overseas client paying in US dollars with a conversion fee taken out.
FlowFi reads the statement, sorts every subscription and hardware purchase, handles GST on the ones that charge it, records the foreign payments at what actually landed, and builds the quarterly BAS. You review 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 graphic designers
Sorts subscriptions and hardware
Every monthly design tool is categorised as software; the new MacBook or tablet is flagged as equipment.
Checks GST on Australian and overseas tools
Some providers charge Australian GST and some do not. FlowFi flags each subscription so you claim the right amount.
Invoices with retainers and reminders
Set up a monthly retainer invoice once and let it recur. Reminders follow up the rest.
Cash-flow forecast for lumpy months
See what is invoiced, what is overdue and what the next 90 days look like so a quiet month is not a surprise.
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 graphic designers
Expenses graphic designers often claim. FlowFi flags these categories as they appear in your statement so you can confirm each one.
- Design software and creative cloud subscriptions
- Font licences, stock images, templates and mockups
- Computer, tablet, monitor and drawing hardware (written off or depreciated)
- Portfolio website, domain and hosting
- Printing of proofs, samples and client presentations
- Professional development courses and design conference tickets
- Professional indemnity insurance and industry memberships
- Phone, internet 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 graphic designers ask
An overseas client paid me in US dollars. What do I record?
Record the Australian dollar amount that landed in your account, and treat any conversion or transfer fee as a bank fee expense. Services supplied to a client outside Australia are often GST-free exports, but the conditions matter, so confirm with your accountant. FlowFi lets you mark that income as GST-free.
Can I claim the whole cost of a new laptop?
If it is under the current instant asset write-off threshold and you are eligible, you can generally deduct the business-use percentage in full. If you use it 80% for work and 20% for Netflix, claim 80%. Check the current threshold before you buy.
Do I charge GST on a retainer?
If you are registered for GST, yes, on each retainer invoice to an Australian client. If you are not registered, you cannot charge GST and your invoices should not mention it.
What if I am under $75,000 and not registered?
FlowFi still categorises your income and expenses and keeps your records tidy for your tax return. When you cross the threshold and register, the BAS figures are ready.
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
Keep reading
FlowFi for related trades
Kern the type, not the tax
Upload one bank statement and see subscriptions, hardware, client payments and GST already categorised.
Start 14-day free trial14 days of Pro free. No credit card. Then $29 a month or $290 a year.