The Library · Frameworks & Downloads
Financial Obligations Map
for sole-director companies
Everything a one-person Pty Ltd in civil, earthmoving or landscaping in NSW typically owes, when it's due, and how to build it into your rate. Tick what applies to your business, then take it to your accountant and turn it into your plan.
General information only, current at October 2026, not tax, legal or insurance advice. Your accountant and insurer can confirm what applies to you.
Tax and the ATO
| Obligation | Applies if | When | Build it in by | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GST and BAS | Registered for GST (required from $75,000 turnover) | Usually quarterly | Moving the GST you collect (1/11 of GST-inclusive income) into a separate account as you're paid | |
| PAYG withholding | The company pays wages, including to you as director | Withheld each payday, paid with your BAS | Setting aside the tax withheld from every pay run | |
| Single Touch Payroll | The company pays wages | Each payday | Payroll software cost in your overheads | |
| Super guarantee (Payday Super) | The company pays wages, including to you | Received by the fund within 7 business days of each payday | Adding 12% of ordinary earnings to your labour cost | |
| Company income tax return | Every company | Yearly, plus PAYG instalments once the ATO sets them | A tax account, and a profit margin in your rate | |
| Taxable payments annual report | You pay subcontractors for building and construction services | By 28 August each year | Keeping each subbie's ABN and payments as you go | |
| Director penalty risk | Every director | Whenever PAYG, super or GST goes unpaid | Paying these first. Unpaid amounts can become your personal debt |
The company and ASIC
| Obligation | Applies if | When | Build it in by | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASIC annual review fee | Every company | Yearly, on the company's review date | Yearly overheads | |
| Director ID | Every director | Once | Free, just make sure you have one | |
| Accountant and bookkeeping | Almost everyone | Monthly or yearly | Yearly overheads |
NSW and insurance
| Obligation | Applies if | When | Build it in by | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| icare workers compensation | The company pays more than $7,500 a year in wages, including your wages, directors' fees and super | Yearly premium (instalments available); declare actual wages after each policy period | Adding your industry rate to every hour of labour. Check your classification is right | |
| Public and products liability | Usually required by head contractors and councils | Yearly or monthly | Yearly overheads. Your contracts set the cover amount | |
| Plant and vehicle insurance | You own or finance plant, trucks or utes | Yearly or monthly | Spreading it across billable machine hours | |
| Registration and CTP green slips | Registered vehicles, trucks and trailers | Yearly per vehicle | Spreading it across billable hours | |
| Income protection or personal accident cover | Worth considering for every operator. Ask your adviser how it sits with workers compensation | Monthly or yearly | Your labour cost | |
| Payroll tax | Only once total wages pass the NSW threshold. Rarely a sole operator | Monthly and yearly | Watching it as you grow |
Licences, compliance and the time it takes
| Obligation | Applies if | When | Build it in by | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licences and tickets | High risk work licences, contractor licences, inductions | High risk work licences renew every 5 years | Yearly overheads, plus the day off the tools | |
| Prequalification and compliance portals | Head contractors require them | Yearly subscriptions and renewals | Yearly overheads, plus admin hours | |
| SWMS, silica plans and WHS records | High risk construction work, such as trenches over 1.5 m, work near powerlines or with mobile plant | Before the work starts, and kept current | Admin hours in your rate | |
| Plant and vehicle finance | Financed equipment. Check whether you've signed a personal guarantee | Monthly | Spreading it across billable machine hours |
Building a true rate
Your hourly rate has to pay for the whole business, not just the hours in the seat. Add up a year of:
- Your wage
- Super on that wage
- icare on your wages and super
- The days you can't bill: public holidays, sick days, rain days, leave
- The hours you can't bill: quoting, travel, maintenance, paperwork, compliance
- Every yearly overhead on this map
- Plant costs: finance, insurance, servicing, fuel
- A margin for profit and growth
Divide the total by the hours you can actually bill in a year. That's the floor for your rate, not the operator down the road.
Accounts that keep the peace
- GST account: the GST you collect, set aside as you're paid
- Tax and super account: PAYG withholding, super and company tax
- Insurance and renewals account: a monthly amount for icare, insurance, rego, ASIC and licences
Where to get help
- Service NSW Small Business Advisory: up to 4 free hours of one-on-one advice a year (service.nsw.gov.au/business)
- NSW Small Business Commissioner: 1300 795 534
- icare: 13 44 22 · SIRA: 13 74 72
- Beyond Blue NewAccess for Small Business Owners: free coaching, no GP referral
- MATES in Construction: 1300 642 111, any time
Champion Business Builder · Read: The Sole Operator in the Corner of the Room · craig@champbizbuild.au