Fitness & Personal Trainer

Tax & advisory for Sydney fitness businesses

A PT with 30 clients is a sole trader. A PT with 30 clients, two sub-trainers, and a studio lease is a business. The accounting should reflect which one you are.

Where most businesses leave money on the table

These are the strategic gaps we close — the ones that cost real money when they are ignored.

Entity structure for liability

Fitness businesses carry injury risk. Operating as a sole trader means your personal assets are exposed. A company limits that liability — but only if it is set up before the claim, not after.

Equipment deductions and timing

Gym equipment depreciates — but timing your purchases around financial year boundaries and instant asset write-off thresholds can shift thousands in deductions. We plan the timing.

Scaling from PT to studio to franchise

Each stage has different structure, tax, and compliance requirements. We build the financial model for the next stage so you grow from data, not gut feel.

What we deliver

Every deliverable is principal-signed. Not delegated, not templated — built for your situation.

  • Entity structuring for liability protection
  • Tax return with fitness-industry deduction review
  • Equipment depreciation strategy and timing
  • Trainer classification compliance (contractor vs employee)
  • Studio expansion feasibility modelling
  • Business valuation for sale or franchise

The result

Your structure protects your assets. Your equipment claims are timed for maximum benefit. Your trainers are classified correctly. And when you are ready to open a second location, the model is already built.

They helped me go from sole trader PT to a company with two locations. The structure saved me $22K in tax and gave me proper asset protection.

Fitness studio owner, Cronulla

Common questions from fitness & personal trainers

Are personal training sessions subject to GST?

Yes. Personal training, group fitness classes, and gym memberships are all subject to GST. They are not health services for GST purposes (unlike physiotherapy or dietetics with a GP referral). We ensure your invoicing and BAS reflect this correctly.

Can I claim gym equipment as an instant write-off?

Equipment costing less than the instant asset write-off threshold (currently $20,000 for small businesses) can be claimed in full in the year of purchase. Above that threshold, it is depreciated over its effective life. We time purchases to maximise the deduction.

How do I handle memberships paid in advance?

Advance payments are deferred revenue — recognised as income only as sessions are delivered. This is an accounting standard requirement, not optional. We set up the tracking so your profit and loss reflects reality, not just cash received.

Need bookkeeping handled too?

Done-for-you bookkeeping so the numbers are clean before the strategy starts.

Ready to talk?

15 minutes. No obligation. We assess whether our specialisations match your situation. If they don't, we'll tell you straight.