Crest Accountants Services

Business Structuring

Business Structuring Gold Coast

Getting your business structure right from the start can save you significant time, money and stress down the track. At Crest Accountants on the Gold Coast, we work with business owners at every stage to ensure their structure suits their goals, protects their assets and minimises their tax obligations. Whether you are just starting out or reconsidering your current setup, our team provides tailored business structuring advice backed by over 50 years of experience.

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What Is a Business Structure?

A business structure is the legal framework under which your business operates. It determines how your business is taxed, who is personally liable for debts, how profits are distributed and what reporting obligations you have. Choosing the right structure from the start is one of the most important financial decisions a business owner can make, as it affects everything from your day-to-day operations to your long-term wealth strategy.

What Are the Different Business Structures in Australia?

There are four main business structures in Australia, each with different tax, liability and administrative implications:

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Sole trader

The simplest structure, where you operate as an individual. Easy to set up and low cost, but your personal assets are exposed to business liabilities.

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Partnership

Two or more people run a business together. Profits are shared and taxed in each partner's personal return, but partners are jointly liable for debts.

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Company

A separate legal entity owned by shareholders. Offers asset protection and access to the lower 25% company tax rate for eligible businesses, but involves more administration and setup costs.

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Trust

Commonly used for asset protection and tax flexibility. A trustee manages assets for the benefit of beneficiaries, with significant flexibility in how profits are distributed.

Each structure has advantages and disadvantages depending on your situation. Our team can walk you through the pros and cons of each and help you determine which is the right fit.

Which Business Structure Is Right for Me?

The right business structure depends on several factors including the size and nature of your business, your income level, your appetite for risk and your long-term goals. As a general guide:

  • Sole trader suits those just starting out with low risk and simple finances.
  • A company suits businesses with higher revenue, multiple stakeholders or a need for asset protection.
  • A trust suits those looking for flexibility in distributing income to family members or holding investment assets.
  • A partnership suits businesses with two or more operators who want a straightforward shared arrangement.

The best way to determine the right structure is to speak with an accountant who understands your full financial picture. At Crest Accountants, we take the time to understand your goals before making any recommendations.

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What Is the Most Tax Efficient Company Structure?

The most tax efficient company structure depends on your income level and circumstances. For businesses earning above a certain threshold, operating through a company can be more tax efficient as eligible companies are taxed at 25% rather than the individual marginal tax rate which can be as high as 45%. A discretionary trust can also be highly tax efficient as it allows income to be distributed to beneficiaries on lower tax rates. However tax efficiency is only one consideration and should always be weighed against liability, administration and your broader goals. Our accountants can model the tax implications of different structures for your specific situation.

business structuring

When Should I Change My Business Structure?

Many business owners start as a sole trader and outgrow that structure as their income grows and their risk exposure increases. It is worth reviewing your business structure when you are:

  • Experiencing significant growth in revenue or profit.
  • Taking on employees or contractors for the first time.
  • Entering into a business partnership.
  • Looking to protect personal assets from business liabilities.
  • Planning for succession or bringing on new stakeholders.
  • Restructuring for retirement or exit planning.

Changing your business structure involves tax and legal considerations so it is important to get professional advice before making any changes. Our team can assess your current situation and advise on the most appropriate path forward.

Why Choose Crest Accountants for Business Structuring Advice?

Crest Accountants has been helping Gold Coast businesses get their structure right since 1973. As a family-run business ourselves, we understand the decisions business owners face at every stage of growth. Our team takes the time to understand your goals, your risk profile and your long-term plans before making any recommendations — because the right structure today should still be working for you in ten years time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Structuring

The most tax effective structure depends on your income and circumstances. Companies pay a flat rate of 25% for eligible businesses, which can be significantly lower than the top individual marginal tax rate of 45%. Trusts offer flexibility in distributing income to minimise overall tax across a family group. A sole trader structure is simpler but offers less tax planning flexibility as income is taxed at your personal marginal rate.

The cost of setting up a company in Australia includes ASIC registration fees, which are currently around $576 for a standard company registration, plus accounting and legal fees for structuring advice, a shareholders agreement and any other documentation required. Ongoing costs include annual ASIC review fees and the additional accounting and compliance work involved in running a company compared to a sole trader. The total setup cost typically ranges from $1,500 to $3,000 depending on complexity.

Restructuring a business involves changing the legal entity under which it operates. This can include transferring assets, updating contracts, applying for new ABNs or TFNs, considering capital gains tax implications and updating your accounting systems. It is not a simple process and requires careful planning to avoid unexpected tax liabilities. Our team can manage the process from start to finish.

Yes, you can change your business structure at any point. However there are tax and legal implications involved, including potential capital gains tax on asset transfers and stamp duty in some states. It is important to get professional advice before making any changes to ensure the transition is handled correctly and any tax concessions available are applied.

News about Business Structuring

See What Our Clients Have To Say About Our Business Structuring Services

Crest Accountants | Gold Coast Business Accountants
Crest Accountants | Gold Coast Business Accountants
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4.8134 Google reviews
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stefan kubler profile picture
stefan kubler
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I have been dealing with the Crest Team for over a year now. I have found their knowledge with all aspects from Bookkeeping to Tax Guidance, ATO Regulations and obligations to be Over 100%. Very friendly and Helpful Team. Highly recommend their Services
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Valeria Davidov profile picture
Valeria Davidov
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Craig Pearson has been my accountant for more than 6 years now and I can only say that he is highly professional.
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Stephen Childs profile picture
Stephen Childs
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Crest Accountants have provided great service towards our accounting needs for our family business and SMSF. A special mention to our personal accountant Nicole Amaya for all her support and direction over the years and we would certainly recommend Crest Accountants.
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Serena Keeffe profile picture
Serena Keeffe
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I’ve had a great experience working with the Crest team. Their clarity in explaining financial matters makes everything easy to understand, even when things get complex. They consistently provide proactive advice that helps me stay ahead rather than just reacting at tax time, which has been incredibly valuable. What really stands out is their focus on long-term support—they genuinely care about helping you grow and make better financial decisions over time. A special mention to Ange, who is always so helpful, responsive, and approachable. She goes above and beyond to make sure everything runs smoothly and no question goes unanswered. Highly recommend to anyone looking for reliable, forward-thinking accounting support.
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Marco Ruas profile picture
Marco Ruas
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I couldn’t be happier with the service I’ve received from Angela at Crest Accountants. She is incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and always takes the time to explain things clearly so I feel confident about my finances. Her attention to detail and proactive approach has saved me both time and money, and she consistently goes above and beyond to make sure everything is handled perfectly. Communication is always prompt and friendly, and nothing ever feels like too much trouble. It’s rare to find someone so trustworthy and genuinely invested in their clients’ success. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for an outstanding accountant.
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Terrie Watson profile picture
Terrie Watson
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Crest accountants have been our accountants for over 20 years during that time Angela and Wes have supported our businesses with clarity and efficiency They have always been proactive in advising us of changes in the taxation realm and attending to all our accountancy needs in a timely manner I would not hesitate in recommending them to anyone looking for a honest reliable accountancy service
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Toby Sydney
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As a doctor with very little financial knowledge, Crest accountants have been incredibly helpful and supportive in helping me set up my Telehealth business and sort out my accounting needs
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Jarvis Archer profile picture
Jarvis Archer
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Wes at Crest Accountants is great to deal with. Really helpful and works closely to understand and solve challenges.
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Christie Lambert profile picture
Christie Lambert
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I recently undertook a complex property transaction. Wes and the team at Crest made it so easy for me. Highly recommend Crest for any property/tax related advice. Thank you!
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Aaron Larkin profile picture
Aaron Larkin
13 days ago
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UPDATE - 1 September 2026 After my initial experience, Crest followed up and explained that my original email had unfortunately been caught by their spam filtering. They took the time to investigate what happened and get everything back on track. I have since met with Wesley, and the experience was excellent. He was straightforward, knowledgeable and refreshingly honest about what I actually need rather than trying to sell me services unnecessarily. He gave me practical advice around setting up my contracting business and was very generous with his time. I particularly appreciated Wesley’s practical and transparent approach. He focused on what would genuinely be useful for me rather than trying to push unnecessary services, and that level of honesty goes a long way. Overall, the initial communication issue was disappointing, but the way it was handled afterwards, particularly my experience with Wesley, has significantly changed my impression of Crest. Around a 4.5/5 experience overall and I would happily recommend Wesley. UPDATE – 21 August 2026 Crest Accountants have since contacted me and I now have a meeting booked with them for next Friday. My original review was based on having sent an email directly to their general info email address and receiving no response or acknowledgement for around three weeks. It appears there may have been an issue with my original enquiry reaching the right person, although I'm still not sure exactly what happened. Once contact was established, they got back to me promptly by phone and were helpful in arranging a meeting. I've updated my rating from 1 to 3 stars to reflect this and will update the review again after I've had the opportunity to meet with them and experience their service properly. ORIGINAL REVIEW Extremely disappointing experience with Crest Accountants. I contacted them three weeks ago and received absolutely no response — not even a basic acknowledgement that my email was received. I understand businesses get busy, but three weeks of complete silence from a professional accounting firm is simply poor customer service. If they were unable to assist, a short email saying so would have been perfectly acceptable. Based on my experience at the time, I couldn't recommend them to anyone looking for responsive or reliable communication.

Owner's reply
Hi Aaron, Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear about your experience. We take client service seriously and have reviewed our recent enquiry records. Based on the information available to us, we have not been able to identify an enquiry matching the details outlined in your review. It is possible there may have been a misunderstanding, or that an enquiry was submitted under a different name, such as by a spouse, partner or family member, in which case correspondence may have been sent to that individual. We would genuinely appreciate the opportunity to investigate this further and clarify what has occurred. Please contact our office on (07) 5538 0999 and leave your contact details, requesting that they be passed on to Nigel. I will personally review the matter and follow up with you directly. Kind regards, Crest Accountants
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Sarah Greenwold
63 days ago
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My partner and I moved from NZ to Aus and we were looking around for an accountant that would help my partner transition his business from a sole trader in NZ to now a company set up in Aus. We came across Crest Accountant's and honestly it’s been amazing. We have Sarah as my partners accountant and she is so awesome, so lovely and always helps, she explains things clearly to us and we are quite new to all the ‘accounting terms’ as such… But Crest accountants have made the transition so easy for us and as something we would think would be stressful, it hasn’t at all because they’ve been so helpful and onto it. If you are looking for an accountant, I can’t recommend Crest enough! We are so happy with our decision and will recommend them to anyone! Thank you Crest!

Owner's reply
Thank you for your kind words and for trusting Crest Accountants with your move from New Zealand to Australia. We're thrilled to hear Sarah helped make the transition from sole trader to company structure simple and stress-free. Providing clear accounting, tax and business advice for small business owners is what we're all about. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to supporting your business growth for years to come!
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Ada Skopljak profile picture
Ada Skopljak
75 days ago
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I can’t recommend Sarah Fleming from Crest Accountants highly enough. She has been absolutely fantastic throughout my accounting and tax matters. Sarah is incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and thorough. She took the time to explain everything clearly, answered all of my questions with patience, and made what initially felt like a stressful situation much easier to understand and manage. Her attention to detail and genuine commitment to achieving the best outcome for her clients really stood out. I truly felt supported throughout the entire process, and it gave me great confidence knowing my finances were in such capable hands. If you’re looking for an accountant who is honest, reliable, approachable, and exceptionally good at what she does, I would highly recommend Sarah Fleming and the team at Crest Accountants. Thank you, Sarah, for all your hard work and outstanding service!

Owner's reply
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful review, Ada. We’re delighted that Sarah made your tax and accounting matters feel clear and manageable — she genuinely cares about getting the best result for every client, and we’ll be sure to pass on your kind words. It’s a pleasure having you with Crest Accountants, and we’re always here whenever you need us.
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Joanne Roberts profile picture
Joanne Roberts
83 days ago
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I recently worked with Wesley on a mutual client's finance application and found him to be highly professional, responsive, and easy to work with. He was quick to provide the information required and helped ensure the process progressed smoothly from start to finish. It's always a pleasure working with professionals who are proactive and focused on achieving great outcomes for their clients. I would happily recommend Wesley and Crest Accountants team.

Owner's reply
Thank you, Joanne — it was a pleasure working alongside you. Wesley and the team really value collaborating with professionals who share our focus on great outcomes for clients, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
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stefan kubler profile picture
stefan kubler
154 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I have been dealing with the Crest Team for over a year now. I have found their knowledge with all aspects from Bookkeeping to Tax Guidance, ATO Regulations and obligations to be Over 100%. Very friendly and Helpful Team. Highly recommend their Services

Owner's reply
Thank you Stefan, for your kind review and for being a valued client of Crest Accountants. We’re glad you’ve found our support across bookkeeping, tax advice, and ATO compliance helpful. Providing clear, reliable guidance with a friendly and professional approach is important to us, and we appreciate your recommendation. We look forward to continuing to support you.
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Valeria Davidov profile picture
Valeria Davidov
154 days ago
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Craig Pearson has been my accountant for more than 6 years now and I can only say that he is highly professional.

Owner's reply
Thank you so much for your kind words and continued trust over the past 6+ years. Craig takes great pride in delivering a high level of professionalism and service, and feedback like yours is truly appreciated. We look forward to continuing to support you in the years ahead.
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Stephen Childs profile picture
Stephen Childs
157 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Crest Accountants have provided great service towards our accounting needs for our family business and SMSF. A special mention to our personal accountant Nicole Amaya for all her support and direction over the years and we would certainly recommend Crest Accountants.

Owner's reply
Thank you so much Stephen, for your kind words and recommendation. We’re delighted to hear that Crest Accountants has been able to support your family business and SMSF over the years. We will certainly pass on your special mention to Nicole Amaya, who will be thrilled to know her guidance and support have made a positive difference. We truly appreciate your trust and look forward to continuing to work with you into the future.
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Serena Keeffe profile picture
Serena Keeffe
157 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I’ve had a great experience working with the Crest team. Their clarity in explaining financial matters makes everything easy to understand, even when things get complex. They consistently provide proactive advice that helps me stay ahead rather than just reacting at tax time, which has been incredibly valuable. What really stands out is their focus on long-term support—they genuinely care about helping you grow and make better financial decisions over time. A special mention to Ange, who is always so helpful, responsive, and approachable. She goes above and beyond to make sure everything runs smoothly and no question goes unanswered. Highly recommend to anyone looking for reliable, forward-thinking accounting support.

Owner's reply
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review — we really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We’re pleased to hear that our clear explanations and proactive advice have helped you stay ahead and feel confident with your financial decisions. Long‑term support is very important to us, so it’s great to know that’s come through in your experience. Your feedback will be shared with Ange as recognition of the care and dedication she brings to her work. Thank you again for your recommendation and for trusting Crest Accountants as your accounting partner.
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Marco Ruas profile picture
Marco Ruas
158 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I couldn’t be happier with the service I’ve received from Angela at Crest Accountants. She is incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and always takes the time to explain things clearly so I feel confident about my finances. Her attention to detail and proactive approach has saved me both time and money, and she consistently goes above and beyond to make sure everything is handled perfectly. Communication is always prompt and friendly, and nothing ever feels like too much trouble. It’s rare to find someone so trustworthy and genuinely invested in their clients’ success. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for an outstanding accountant.

Owner's reply
Thank you for your wonderful feedback Marco. We’re thrilled to hear about your experience with Angela and appreciate your kind words regarding her professionalism, attention to detail, and clear, proactive communication. Providing trusted advice and ensuring our clients feel confident in their financial decisions is always our priority. Thank you for your recommendation and we look forward to continuing to support you.
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Terrie Watson profile picture
Terrie Watson
158 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Crest accountants have been our accountants for over 20 years during that time Angela and Wes have supported our businesses with clarity and efficiency They have always been proactive in advising us of changes in the taxation realm and attending to all our accountancy needs in a timely manner I would not hesitate in recommending them to anyone looking for a honest reliable accountancy service

Owner's reply
Thank you Terrie, for your continued trust and for taking the time to share your experience. Supporting your businesses for over 20 years has been a privilege, and we truly appreciate your kind words. We are pleased to know that our commitment to providing timely, proactive advice has delivered meaningful value for you. We sincerely value the long-standing relationship we’ve built and appreciate your recommendation, and we look forward to continuing to support your businesses into the future.

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