Top 10 Small Business Accountants in Melbourne

Liston Newton Advisory works with Australian and overseas-owned businesses from South Melbourne, with bookkeeping done by Xero-certified accountants. Its business services include BAS, ASIC compliance, advice on company, trust, partnership and sole trader structures, virtual CFO reporting and digital advisory. Head of tax Stewart Lane, a CPA, supports new businesses through early growth and owners moving their books to the cloud. The firm offers a 60 minute financial strategy session, which is free for businesses above the revenue level its site sets. Lending and financial advice teams sit in the same group.

MJC Partners works with business owners from its Dandenong office and a city office on St Kilda Road. Its services cover business accounting, bookkeeping, business structuring and succession, and business coaching, and the firm is a Xero Platinum Partner. Partners Matt Salmon and Andrew Ferrier are CPA members, and partner David Limoli is a Chartered Accountant. The practice dates back to 1980, and the firm says BRW and the AFR have named it among Australia’s top 100 accounting firms several times.

Gartly Advisory helps small and medium businesses through each stage, from start-up and growth to buying a business, exit planning and family succession. Geoff Gartly CA is a Business Exit Planner and Certified Value Builder, and senior tax accountant Nan Wang focuses on small business tax and advice after more than 13 years in local practices. The Ormond firm has specialist services for franchises, trade businesses and property, and also helps resolve business disputes. Fees depend on the work, and the firm aims to give indicative pricing at its complimentary discovery session.

Alexander Spencer advises businesses from Camberwell Road on structuring, tax and accounting compliance, and mergers and acquisitions, areas managing director Sevan Tuna lists as his own. A bookkeeping division, managed by Shelley Mulheron, sits alongside the tax team. The firm also prepares R&D tax incentive claims, helps with government grants and supports businesses expanding overseas. Business insurance through Wilson White Insurance Brokers and finance through AS Mortgage Partners are available in the same group. Directors Jeffrey Isaacs, Vincent Icasiano and Seth Li work alongside Sevan Tuna.

Kelly+Partners Melbourne CBD looks after private business owners with business accounting, bookkeeping and payroll, specialist tax advice, outsourced CFO work and HR consulting. It also has a dedicated McDonald’s accounting service for franchisees. Managing partner Dylan Barry CA lists construction, consulting, food services, franchise, freight, hospitality, medical, trades and wholesale among his industries. Senior partner Paul Dobson and partner Bronwyn Harris complete the partner team. The office takes appointments from 8:30am on weekdays, with after-hours meetings available on request.

Factor1 helps businesses from registration onward, with business name and company registration, ASIC compliance, BAS and GST, company tax and fringe benefits tax, bookkeeping and management consulting. Its site advertises business registration within 24 hours, including a free name search. The Mount Waverley team is a Xero Platinum Partner, and commercial and business loans come from the group’s own lending team. Industries it names include trades, hospitality, retail, franchising, manufacturing, real estate, IT consulting, childcare and civil works. CEO David Fitzgerald FCPA and director Terry Chung FCA lead the group.

Rubiix is built around business owners, offering business accounting, tax compliance and structuring, bookkeeping, financial risk management, succession planning and corporate services from Level 10 at 50 Queen Street. Principals Mark Debeljak and Stuart Coulthard are both active CA ANZ members. The firm also offers business strategy and coaching and ASIC compliance. Testimonials on its site come from franchise, printing, sign writing and hospitality businesses. New clients start with a free Business Metamorphosis consultation.

Kennedy Tax & Business Services handles bookkeeping, BAS preparation and lodgement, payroll and CFO services for small and medium businesses, and sets up companies and other business structures. It names client groups that many firms do not list, including registered NDIS providers, churches and religious bodies, and not-for-profit associations. The firm also audits trust accounts for real estate agents, lawyers and accountants. Founder and registered tax agent Kennedy Weldemariam runs the Footscray office, and a second business centre at Williams Landing opens on weekdays.

Hage Accountants gives Essendon businesses bookkeeping that covers day-to-day records, reconciliations, super payments, PAYG withholding and workers’ compensation insurance, and it trains owners who want to keep their own books. It also prepares BAS statements and company, trust and partnership returns, and gives advice on profitability and operations. Managing director Abdou Elhage is a Fellow CPA, as is senior accountant Michelle Ielo. The firm was established in 2007, and practice manager Dianne Cartwright runs the office, which is open on weekdays from 9am to 5pm.

ML Tax Solution sets up companies and trusts, plans structures before registration, and installs accounting systems, STP and SuperStream for new businesses. Ongoing work covers bookkeeping and bookkeeping training, budgets and cash flow forecasts, financial reporting, BAS and R&D tax incentive claims. The Prahran firm also prepares special reports for overseas head offices. Director Ming Li, a member of CA ANZ, CPA Australia and the IPA, lists clients in property development, international trading, manufacturing, hospitality, IT, travel, real estate, medical services and primary production.