BAS and bookkeeping for photographers, without the Sunday-night spreadsheet
A photographer’s statement swings between big and small. A $6,000 lens or camera body one month, then Adobe, cloud storage and a print lab the next. Income is lumpy too: a wedding deposit in March, the balance in October, a commercial job paid on 30-day terms, print sales trickling through a gallery. Add studio hire, a second shooter paid per job, and the drive to a vineyard two hours away.
FlowFi reads the statement, flags the gear as equipment, sorts the subscriptions and lab fees, treats deposits as income on the date they land, and builds the quarterly BAS. You check 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 photographers
Flags cameras, lenses and lighting as equipment
Big-ticket gear is separated from day-to-day costs so you and your accountant can decide between writing it off and depreciating it.
Sorts software, storage and lab fees
Adobe, cloud backup, gallery hosting and print labs are categorised and checked for GST, including overseas subscriptions that may not carry GST.
Deposit and balance invoices with reminders
Send a booking deposit invoice, then the balance invoice closer to the date. Reminders go out automatically.
Tracks travel to shoots
Log the drive to a venue or location and FlowFi applies the current ATO cents-per-kilometre rate.
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 photographers
Expenses photographers often claim. FlowFi flags these categories as they appear in your statement so you can confirm each one.
- Cameras, lenses, lighting, tripods and drones (written off or depreciated)
- Editing software, cloud storage and client gallery hosting
- Memory cards, batteries, backdrops and props
- Studio hire, location fees and permits
- Second shooters and assistants paid per job
- Print lab costs, albums and packaging for client orders
- Travel to shoots, including accommodation for destination jobs
- Website, portfolio hosting, advertising 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 photographers ask
A wedding deposit came in this quarter but the wedding is next year. When do I report it?
On a cash basis the deposit is income in the quarter you received it, and so is the GST on it if you are registered. FlowFi records it on the date it landed in your account.
Overseas software like Adobe: can I claim GST on it?
Only if the invoice shows Australian GST was charged. Many overseas providers do charge GST to Australian customers; some do not. FlowFi flags subscriptions so you can confirm from the invoice, and the expense itself is still deductible either way.
Do I use the instant asset write-off for a new camera body?
If the asset costs less than the current instant asset write-off threshold and you are eligible, you can generally deduct the business-use portion in full in the year you start using it. Larger purchases are depreciated. Check the current threshold on the ATO site or ask your accountant before you buy.
I also sell prints through an online gallery. Is that different?
Print sales are income like any other. If the platform takes a commission, record the gross sale as income and the commission as an expense so your G1 figure matches what the platform reports.
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
Keep reading
FlowFi for related trades
Edit the photos, not the spreadsheet
Upload one bank statement and see gear, software, deposits and GST already categorised.
Start 14-day free trial14 days of Pro free. No credit card. Then $29 a month or $290 a year.