Category

Business

9 articles from the BTMH team.

Director penalties: when a company's tax debt becomes yours

A company's debts are the company's – with three exceptions. Unpaid PAYG withholding, GST and super can be recovered from directors personally through a director penalty notice. What the notice is, how it arrives, and why the date on it matters more than the date you read it.

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Contractor sitting on a ute tailgate at a residential build site, checking his phone

Starting out as a contractor: what you actually need

If you are picking up contracting work on site, you do not need a company, a trust or a business plan. You need an ABN, a bank account and a handful of things nobody tells you about – super, insurance and the reason the ATO already knows what you were paid.

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Two advisers reviewing company documents in a city office

The company structure: is it right for you?

A company is a separate legal person that owns the business, signs the contracts and owes the debts. That line between the company and you is the whole reason most businesses end up in one – so it is worth knowing exactly where the line holds, and the three situations where it does not.

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A family going through paperwork together at the kitchen table

The trust structure: discretionary and unit trusts explained

A trust is not a thing that trades so much as a way of holding something. Understanding who the trustee is, what the deed says and why the income has to go out every year is most of what you need before deciding whether one belongs in your structure.

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Two business partners comparing documents across an office desk

Unit trust or company? What actually decides it

Both give every owner a defined, transferable stake, so both work between unrelated parties. The choice turns on two things that pull in opposite directions: whether profit can stay in the entity, and whether the character of income survives the trip out to the owners.

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10 essential points to consider in setting up a business in Australia

10 essential points to consider in setting up a business in Australia

Starting your own business in Australia is an exciting yet challenging journey. The key to success lies in careful planning and understanding the essential steps needed at the outset. In this article,

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Cafe owner running payroll on a laptop while staff set up for the day

What is Superannuation Guarantee?

Superannuation Guarantee is the super an employer must pay on top of wages. It is 12% of qualifying earnings, and since 1 July 2026 it has to reach the fund within seven business days of each payday rather than once a quarter.

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Partnership Structure Image

Is a partnership the right business structure for you?

If you’re thinking about going into business with a friend or family member, you’ll want to understand the partnership structure before you get too immersed in the other exciting aspects…

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BTMH Sole Trader Image

The sole trader structure: Is it right for you?

If you’re thinking of starting up the million-dollar business idea you’ve always dreamed of, you may want to prioritise structural business decisions before you get too carried away buying merch,…

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