Accounting For Marketing
& Creative Agencies. Freelancers. Specialists.
Marketing moves fast. Your accountant should too. GRIT works with creative and digital agencies across Brisbane to provide tax, structure and financial clarity without slowing you down or talking in circles.
No confusion, no cookie-cutter advice. Just smart financial support that lets you do your best creative work.
We’re not just business accountants
We’re partners in your business journey
At Grit, we don’t just lodge your tax and disappear, we stay in your corner year-round. Whether you’re registering your first ABN or restructuring a multi-entity setup, we bring clarity, strategy and straight-up advice when it matters most.
Our Services
How We Help Agencies with their Accounting
Structure That Supports Growth
We help agencies move from sole trader to company, or company to trust, at the right time and in the right way with long-term thinking baked in.
Clean, Useful Bookkeeping
See your margins clearly, track project profitability, and stay on top of every dollar. No mess. No headaches.
BAS, Payroll & ATO Sorted
We handle the tax, BAS, GST, and single touch payroll. Everything’s done right and done on time — no last-minute panic.
Real Strategic Advice
We go beyond the numbers to help you price properly, build cash reserves, manage contractors, and plan for growth.
Industries We Help
Tailored Accounting for the Way You Work
From your first ABN to hiring a team, we help you build a business that works on paper and in real life. Whether you run a design studio, content agency, media company or digital marketing firm, we help you make smarter decisions with advice that actually fits your model.
Graphic Designers
From ABN setup to quarterly BAS, we help you manage project income and stay on top of expenses.
Copywriters & Content Creators
Support for income planning, software subscriptions, and quarterly forecasting — so you can write without the worry.
Photographers & Videographers
We help you track job deposits, gear costs, and tax-deductible travel — so you can focus on the creative.
Web Designers & Developers
We help freelancers and small studios get clear on cash flow, client payments and growth-friendly structuring.
Social Media Managers
Structure, GST, invoicing and contractor payments made simple — we’ll help you stay compliant while scaling up.
Artists & Makers
Support with creative grants, online sales (Etsy, Shopify) and tracking studio expenses the smart way.
FAQ for
Creative & Marketing Agencies
What’s the best structure for a creative agency, sole trader, company or trust?
There’s no one-size-fits-all structure, especially in creative business. The right choice depends on your growth plans, level of risk, whether you have business partners, and what kind of clients you work with. Sole trader is simple and suits freelancers getting started, but as soon as you’re earning consistently or building a team, it’s usually worth moving to a company or trust for tax, liability and flexibility. Agencies with multiple directors or contractors often benefit from hybrid setups — like a discretionary trust operating through a company. We don’t just register your ABN and send you on your way. We look at your cash flow, IP ownership, personal goals, and exit strategy before recommending a structure. That means no unexpected tax bills and a setup you won’t have to untangle later.
How do I handle GST, especially when billing internationally?
If you’re running a creative agency, chances are you’re juggling a mix of local and overseas clients, software subscriptions, and digital products. GST rules can get murky fast especially if you’re using platforms like Stripe, Upwork, or selling templates on Gumroad. Here’s the core: if you’re registered for GST in Australia (which you must be if you earn over $75,000), you charge GST to Australian clients but generally not to overseas ones. However, there are nuances like whether the client is a business or individual, or how they consume your service. Some agencies end up overpaying GST or missing credits they’re entitled to. We walk you through it clearly, handle BAS on your behalf, and make sure your invoicing, Xero setup, and international transactions are compliant and working in your favour.
Can you help me plan for hiring creatives or contractors?
Absolutely. Whether you’re thinking of hiring your first full-time designer or managing a team of remote freelancers, the structure behind how you pay people matters. Employee wages, super, leave entitlements and PAYG are treated differently to contractor invoices. It’s easy to get this wrong and the ATO takes a dim view of “disguised employment” arrangements. We help you determine the best hiring path for your business model, build a payroll system that keeps you compliant, and forecast the cash flow implications of growing your team. For many agencies, we also advise on contractor agreements, payment schedules, and even how to price your work to absorb new staffing costs. Hiring should feel like a step forward, not a financial risk. We make sure it is.
My agency income fluctuates how do I plan for tax?
Irregular income is normal in creative and digital businesses. One month you might land a $40K campaign, the next you’re waiting on overdue invoices. That doesn’t mean your tax has to feel unpredictable. The key is cash flow visibility and proactive planning. We don’t wait until EOFY to tell you what you owe. Instead, we run quarterly or even monthly reviews that factor in your actual revenue, projected pipeline, and upcoming expenses. We help you smooth out income highs and lows, set aside the right amount for tax, and identify deductions you may be missing like equipment, subscriptions, travel or content production. Tax planning isn’t just about paying less (although that helps). It’s about reducing surprises so you can focus on scaling your creative output with confidence.
Can you help with pricing and profitability?
Yes, and we do it in plain English. Many creative agency owners undercharge without realising it. You price a project, pay a freelancer, cover software and revisions… and wonder where the margin went. We help you dig into the real costs behind your services, understand your breakeven point, and identify where you’re leaking profit. That might mean restructuring retainers, introducing minimum project fees, or rethinking how you scope work. We also look at your pricing through the lens of tax making sure your business model supports things like super, GST, and future growth. Our goal isn’t to turn you into a spreadsheet person. It’s to give you clarity, control and a pricing model that supports the creative work you’re best at. No fluff, no jargon just advice that sticks.