Accounting for Real Estate Agents

As you would know, being the Principal in charge of a real estate agency is no picnic in the park. You experience the highs and lows associated with a variable property market and have to contend with ever increasing REIV and government regulations, ethical standards, weekend work, long hours and difficult vendors. That aside, you also have compliance issues with your trust account and continuing professional development plus the usual small business compliance burden associated with GST, BAS, PAYG and superannuation.

Here at Suntax we understand the real estate business. Over the years, our team of accountants have mentored dozens of real estate agents through the various stages of their business life cycle, from start up right through to sale. The team offer you experience and an intimate understanding of your industry.

Thinking of Starting or Buying into a Real Estate Agency?

As a business start-up specialist we can provide you with a comprehensive range of accounting, tax and business coaching services. To help you make the right opening moves in your real estate agency we have created a number of practical tools including a comprehensive start up expense checklist. This tool is designed to help you identify all your potential start up costs broken down into categories including leasehold improvements, IT, marketing, equipment, furniture & fittings, professional services, licenses and working capital. These figures then automatically feed into an integrated cash flow budget to help you identify any finance requirements and they can also tuck neatly into a business plan.

We are recognised by our clients and peers as a business start-up specialist and can offer you advice on a range of issues including site selection, tax registrations, insurances, HR matters, payroll and the preparation of a business plan. On an operational level, we understand what is required for a successful opening and we can even assist you in executing the successful launch of your real estate agency.

Our brief includes helping you save money and it starts with the right tax structure and accounting software. We’ll factor in tax considerations, asset protection and future discount capital gains tax concessions because we believe you need to start with ‘the end in mind’. Next, we will help you select the most appropriate accounting software for your real estate business and factor in your business needs and level of accounting skill. Through our affiliate partners we can help you source funding to finance your purchase, fit out, equipment and motor vehicle.

For a real estate agent your motor vehicle is generally a significant cost and you can download our Motor Vehicle Tax Guide from the resources section of our website that lists the alternative methods of claiming your car expenses. Through one of our affiliate business partners we can assist you to obtain vehicle finance (chattel mortgage, lease, hire purchase etc.) and even get you a fleet discount on your new car that could save you thousands of dollars.

That’s really just the beginning because as accountants we can offer you advice regarding business insurances and prepare some ‘what if’ financial scenarios so you know your business’ best and worst case scenarios. 

Marketing Your Business

For a real estate agency, marketing could be the difference between success and failure. It all starts with branding and we can help you with the development of your business name, logo and slogan. Next we’ll offer you advice regarding your website’s colour scheme, skin, functionality and content. We have worked with dozens of clients and liaised with graphic artists and our preferred website development team to create inexpensive but quality websites for clients. If you need help with your corporate brochure, newsletter or want to harness the power of social media we can also provide advice and direction. We believe our marketing skills set us apart from other accounting firms.

Grow Your Profits

All real estate agents want to grow their business, their profits and their wealth. For that reason we strive to help you ‘know your numbers’ and that includes understanding the 4 Ways to Grow Your Business. If you understand the key profit drivers in your business we can talk you through profit improvement strategies and quantify the profit improvement potential in your business. Using industry benchmarks we can analyse the performance of your agency and compare it against your competitors so you understand what is working in the business and what needs working on.

Our unique Business Accelerator Process is all about fast tracking your business success and the team of specialists at Suntax offer real estate agents the full range of accounting, taxation and business coaching services including:

• Start-Up Business Advice for Real Estate Agents and Principals
• Advice regarding the Purchase or Sale of an Agency
• Spreadsheets and Tools including a Start-Up Expense Checklist, Business Plan Template and Cash Flow Budget
• Provide Advice and Assistance with the Establishment of Your Business Structure (sole trader, company, trust, partnership etc.) taking into account issues like Asset Protection and discount Capital Gains Tax Concessions
• Registrations for Business Name, ABN, TFN, GST, WorkCover etc.
• Preparation of Business Plans, Cash Flow Forecasts and Profit Projections
• Accounting Software Selection and Training
• Preparation and Analysis of Financial Statements
• Bookkeeping and Payroll Services
• Tax Planning Strategies
• Marketing Audit including an evaluation of your branding, brochures and website
• Advice and Assistance with your Website Development, Content and SEO
• Wealth Creation Strategies and Financial Planning Services
• Industry Benchmarking and KPI Management
• Business Succession Planning
• Vehicle & Equipment Finance (Chattel Mortgage & Lease)
• Advice & Assistance with Claiming Motor Vehicle Costs
• Recession Survival Strategies
• Advice regarding Employee Relations and Workplace Laws
• Business & Risk Insurances

We are so much more than just tax Accountants. We are business and profit builders who genuinely care about the success of your real estate agency. We service the needs of a number of real estate Principals and offer you strategies to grow your business, your profits and your wealth. If you’re looking to get your real estate agency off to a flying start or want to grow your existing business, contact us today.

Suntax - Accountants & Business Advisors