A successful wedding or event depends on much more than what guests see on the day.
Behind the venues, photography, styling, catering and other creative services are businesses managing invoices, expenses, staff, tax obligations and cash flow. For the professionals working in Australia’s wedding and events industry, keeping that side of the business organised can be just as important as delivering a memorable experience for clients.
If you’re looking for professional help with those financial responsibilities, Bookkept is one accounting and bookkeeping firm worth considering.
Based in Melbourne and servicing clients Australia-wide, Bookkept provides accounting, bookkeeping, taxation, payroll and business advisory services for small and medium businesses and sole traders.
Why Bookkept May Be Relevant to Event Professionals
Running an event-focused business can involve a considerable amount of administration.
A hospitality business may need to manage staff payroll and supplier payments. A sole trader may need help staying on top of BAS and end-of-year tax. A growing business may want better visibility over cash flow, budgeting and its overall financial position.
Bookkept brings several of these functions together under one firm.
Its services include bookkeeping and BAS, accounting and tax, payroll, accounts management, tax compliance, business advisory and CFO services, cloud accounting setup and SMSF support.
That breadth may make Bookkept particularly relevant to business owners who would prefer to have multiple financial and compliance requirements managed through one accounting firm rather than dealing with each area separately.
Bookkept Accounting and Bookkeeping Services
Bookkept provides a broad range of financial services for Australian businesses.
Bookkeeping and BAS
Bookkept offers cloud-based bookkeeping along with BAS preparation and lodgement. For busy business owners, maintaining accurate and up-to-date records can provide a clearer picture of how the business is performing while helping keep reporting obligations organised.
Accounting and Tax
Its accounting and taxation services include individual and business tax returns, financial statements, company and trust accounting, and ongoing tax planning.
Payroll Services
Businesses with employees can use Bookkept for payroll processing, Single Touch Payroll reporting, superannuation and PAYG management.
This may be particularly relevant for hospitality and other service businesses where managing employees is part of everyday operations.
Accounts Management
Bookkept can also assist with accounts payable and receivable, invoicing, debtor management and purchase reconciliation.
For an event business dealing with multiple clients, suppliers or ongoing expenses, having a structured accounts process can make the administrative side of the business easier to manage.
Business Advisory and CFO Services
For businesses looking beyond day-to-day compliance, Bookkept provides cash flow forecasting, budgeting, business planning and strategic financial guidance.
These services may be useful as an event business grows, takes on employees, increases its overheads or needs a clearer understanding of its financial position.
Cloud Accounting
Bookkept works with cloud accounting platforms including Xero, MYOB Advanced Business and QuickBooks Online. The firm can assist with implementation, optimisation and team training.
Moving financial processes into suitable cloud systems can help business owners access more current information and reduce reliance on disconnected manual processes.
A Technology-Driven Approach to Accounting
Bookkept describes itself as a progressive, technology-driven and people-focused accounting firm.
The firm is a Xero Gold Partner and MYOB Gold Partner, as well as a Registered Tax Agent and ASIC Registered Agent.
Bookkept is led by principals Daniel Heness and Brendan Thorp, with expertise spanning bookkeeping, taxation, payroll, SMSF, business advisory and cloud accounting.
For business owners comparing accountants, these are useful details to consider alongside the particular services their business requires.
Fixed Monthly Pricing
One practical feature of Bookkept’s model is fixed monthly pricing.
Rather than applying one standard package to every client, Bookkept states that its packages are tailored to the requirements of the individual business.
Examples provided by the firm start from $220 per month for a sole trader or contractor, $440 per month for a small hospitality business and $660 per month for an established firm with more complex payroll and reporting requirements.
The inclusions vary according to the needs of the business, and Bookkept states that its packages include end-of-year tax and financial statements.
Pricing and requirements can change, so businesses should confirm current fees, inclusions and suitability directly with Bookkept before engaging its services.
Who Does Bookkept Work With?
Bookkept works with businesses across a wide variety of Australian industries.
These include hospitality businesses, restaurants, cafés, retail businesses, trades, construction businesses, medical practices, gyms, lawyers, IT contractors, startups, e-commerce businesses and manufacturers.
The hospitality experience is particularly relevant in the broader events space, while the firm’s work with sole traders and small businesses may also be useful for independent professionals operating throughout the wedding and events industry.
Not every event business has the same financial requirements, however. A sole trader photographer can have very different bookkeeping and tax needs from a venue or hospitality operation employing a team.
That’s why it’s worth discussing your particular structure, transaction volume, staffing arrangements and reporting requirements with an accountant before deciding on the right service package.
Bookkept’s Reviews and Credentials
When comparing professional service providers, it’s useful to look beyond the list of services.
Bookkept reports a 5.0 out of 5 Google rating based on more than 89 verified reviews. Its supplied business information also notes that the firm has grown through client referrals and has clients who have remained with the business for five years or more.
Alongside those client signals, its Xero Gold Partner and MYOB Gold Partner status and registrations as a Tax Agent and ASIC Agent provide further information for businesses conducting their own research.
As with any professional service, we recommend reviewing the current information available, speaking directly with the provider and deciding whether its approach is appropriate for your circumstances.
Why Financial Organisation Matters in the Events Industry
Much of event planning is about coordination.
Dates need to line up. Suppliers need to be organised. Clients need clear communication. Payments need to be collected and expenses managed.
For the businesses delivering those events, the financial side deserves the same attention.
Good bookkeeping and accounting can help business owners understand what is coming in, what is going out and what obligations are approaching. As a business becomes more established, budgeting and cash flow forecasting can also provide useful information for decisions about staffing, equipment, premises and future growth.
For wedding and event professionals who would rather spend more of their time serving clients and developing their business, getting appropriate professional support with the numbers may be worth exploring.
Is Bookkept Worth Considering?
For Australian small business owners and sole traders researching accounting support, Bookkept is a name worth knowing.
Its combination of bookkeeping, tax, payroll, accounts management, cloud accounting and advisory services means businesses can access a broad range of financial support through one firm.
For Boutique Events Group readers working professionally in weddings, hospitality and events, that may be particularly useful when the administrative demands of the business begin competing with the work you actually want to focus on.
Bookkept is Melbourne-based and provides services to clients across Australia.
As always, we encourage readers to carry out their own due diligence, confirm current services and pricing, and discuss their individual requirements directly with the business before making a decision.
