Small bookkeeping errors can have a big impact on your management rights business.

Avoiding management rights bookkeeping mistakes is essential for maintaining accurate financial records and running a successful business. Between multiple income streams, trust accounts, maintenance work, owner payments and BAS obligations, bookkeeping can quickly become complex if the right systems aren’t in place.

The good news is that most bookkeeping issues are preventable. By maintaining accurate financial records and reviewing your accounts regularly, you can improve cash flow, reduce unnecessary stress and make more informed business decisions.

1. Falling Behind on Your Bookkeeping

It’s easy to put bookkeeping aside during busy periods, especially when you’re managing guests, owners, maintenance requests and day-to-day operations.

Unfortunately, delaying bookkeeping often creates more work later and increases the likelihood of errors.

• Monitor your cash flow
• Identify overdue payments
• Track business performance
• Prepare BAS and financial reports more efficiently

Even setting aside a regular time each week to update your records can make a significant difference.

2. Mixing Personal and Business Expenses

Using the same account for personal and business purchases is one of the quickest ways to create confusion.

Not only does this make bookkeeping more time-consuming, but it can also complicate tax reporting and reduce the accuracy of your financial statements.

Maintaining separate bank accounts and business credit cards helps keep your records clear and organised throughout the year.

3. Incorrectly Recording Different Income Streams

Management rights businesses often receive income from a variety of sources, including:

• Letting commissions
• Management fees
• Maintenance services
• Cleaning income
• Contractor reimbursements
• Other miscellaneous charges

Recording these under incorrect account categories can make your financial reports less meaningful and make it difficult to understand how different areas of your business are performing.

A well-structured chart of accounts provides much clearer reporting and better financial insights.

4. Forgetting to Reconcile Your Bank Accounts

Bank reconciliations are one of the simplest yet most important bookkeeping tasks.

Regular reconciliations help identify:

• Duplicate transactions
• Missing deposits
• Unpresented payments
• Bank errors
• Data entry mistakes

Reconciling your accounts each month helps ensure your bookkeeping remains accurate and your reports can be relied upon.

5. Poor Record Keeping

Receipts, supplier invoices and supporting documentation are essential for accurate bookkeeping.

Without proper records, preparing your BAS, responding to queries or locating historical transactions becomes far more difficult.

Cloud accounting software makes it easy to securely store documents alongside each transaction, reducing paperwork and improving efficiency.

6. Leaving BAS Preparation Until the Last Minute

Waiting until BAS is due often creates unnecessary pressure.

When your bookkeeping is current throughout the quarter, BAS preparation becomes much simpler and there’s more time to identify and correct any issues before lodging.

Keeping your records updated also provides greater confidence that GST has been recorded correctly. For more information about GST obligations and Business Activity Statements, visit the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

7. Only Looking at the Numbers at Tax Time

Many business owners don’t review their financial reports until the end of the financial year.

However, your bookkeeping should be much more than a compliance exercise.

• Understand profitability
• Monitor cash flow
• Identify rising expenses
• Make informed business decisions
• Plan ahead with greater confidence

Good bookkeeping provides valuable information that can help improve the long-term performance of your management rights business.

How Resort Accounts Can Help

Bookkeeping for management rights businesses requires an understanding of the industry’s unique financial requirements. Accurate record keeping not only supports compliance but also provides the financial information needed to make confident business decisions.

At Resort Accounts, our experienced team works exclusively with management rights businesses, providing bookkeeping and accounting services tailored to the needs of the industry. Whether you need ongoing bookkeeping support, BAS preparation or financial reporting, we’re here to help keep your business running smoothly.

Need Help Keeping Your Bookkeeping on Track?

If you’d like to spend less time managing the books and more time running your management rights business, contact the team at Resort Accounts.

We’ll help ensure your bookkeeping is accurate, up to date and working for your business—not against it.

Disclaimer: This article contains general information only. Regrettably, no responsibility can be accepted for errors, omissions or possible misleading statements or for any action taken as a result of any material in this guide. It is not designed to be a substitute for professional advice, as such a brief guide cannot hope to cover all circumstances and conditions applying to the law as it relates to these items.

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Xero Pricing Changes From 1 July 2026: What Businesses Need to Know

If your business uses Xero, it is worth being aware of the updated subscription pricing taking effect from 1 July 2026. Xero has released revised pricing across its Australian business plans, with changes impacting businesses of all sizes, from sole traders through to larger employers.

While software pricing increases are becoming more common, the updated plans continue to provide access to accounting, payroll, forecasting and business management tools that many businesses rely on day to day.

Updated Xero Plan Pricing

From 1 July 2026, Xero’s Australian business plan pricing will be:

• Ignite — $37/month
• Grow — $78/month
• Comprehensive — $107/month
• Ultimate 10 — $143/month
• Ultimate 20 — $180/month
• Ultimate 50 — $250/month
• Ultimate 100 — $300/month

What Is Included?

All Xero plans continue to include core accounting functionality such as bank reconciliation, GST and BAS tracking, invoice and quote creation, bill entry, Hubdoc integration, cash flow tracking and business snapshots.

Higher-tier plans also include additional features such as payroll for larger teams, multi-currency support, advanced cash flow forecasting with Analytics Plus, expense claims and mileage tracking, and project tracking tools.

Which Businesses Could Be Most Affected?

The pricing changes are likely to have the biggest impact on businesses with multiple payroll users, growing businesses moving into higher-tier plans, businesses using projects, expenses or forecasting tools, and larger employers on Ultimate subscriptions.

For many businesses, the additional cost may still represent good value when compared with the time savings, reporting improvements and automation benefits Xero provides.

A Good Time to Review Your Setup

With the updated pricing commencing from 1 July 2026, this is a good opportunity to review whether your current Xero subscription still suits your business requirements.

Some businesses may be paying for features they no longer use, while others may benefit from upgrading to access additional reporting, payroll or forecasting tools.

At Resort Accounts & Consulting, we work with management rights businesses across Australia and can assist with reviewing your Xero subscription, optimising bookkeeping workflows, payroll and BAS support, Xero training, and management rights accounting and reporting.

Need Assistance With Xero?

If you would like help reviewing your current Xero setup or understanding how the new pricing may affect your business, our team is happy to assist.

Contact Resort Accounts & Consulting today to discuss your accounting and bookkeeping requirements.

Download the Full Xero Pricing Overview

For a complete overview of Xero’s updated Australian pricing plans effective from 1 July 2026, including plan features, payroll inclusions and subscription comparisons, download the official Xero pricing guide below.

> Download the Xero Pricing Overview PDF

Source: Xero business plans for Australia, effective 1 July 2026.

Disclaimer: This article contains general information only. Regrettably, no responsibility can be accepted for errors, omissions or possible misleading statements or for any action taken as a result of any material in this guide. It is not designed to be a substitute for professional advice, as such a brief guide cannot hope to cover all circumstances and conditions applying to the law as it relates to these items.

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Payday Super is coming: what employers need to know before July 2026

From 1 July 2026, a significant change to Australia’s superannuation system will take effect. The government calls this reform Payday Super, and it will require employers to pay superannuation at the same time as salary and wages, rather than quarterly.

Although the start date is still some time away, this change will have practical and financial implications for employers. In particular, accommodation, tourism and management rights businesses may need to adjust their payroll processes due to complex staffing arrangements.

What is Payday Super?

Under the current Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rules, employers pay super at least once per quarter. Under the new superannuation payment rules, employers will instead align super contributions with each payroll cycle. As a result, employers will pay super whenever they pay wages.

Parliament passed the legislation in November 2025 to improve compliance, reduce unpaid super, and ensure employees receive their entitlements sooner. For further detail, the Australian Taxation Office provides comprehensive guidance, which you can read on the ATO website.

When does Payday Super start?

These changes will commence on 1 July 2026. From that date, the new rules will apply to all employers required to pay Superannuation Guarantee contributions.

What will change for employers?

Once the new rules begin, employers will need to take the following steps:

• Pay super contributions with every pay run, whether weekly, fortnightly or monthly
• Ensure the employee’s super fund receives contributions within 7 business days of payday
• Provide sufficient payment information so super funds can correctly allocate contributions

Therefore, employers will no longer rely on quarterly payment deadlines. Instead, they will need to focus more closely on payroll accuracy and timing.

Why is this change being introduced?

The government introduced these reforms to address late or unpaid super and to improve transparency for employees. Importantly, the changes also bring payroll and super obligations closer together, which helps reduce compliance gaps.

For employers, this means super obligations will become more immediate and more closely connected to regular payroll processes.

What does this mean for accommodation and resort businesses?

For accommodation providers, resort operators and management rights businesses, these changes will require a shift in how payroll and cash flow are managed. For example, businesses may need to plan for more frequent super payments throughout the year. You can learn more about our support services for accommodation businesses.

Key considerations include:

• Making super payments more frequently
• Relying on accurate and up-to-date payroll systems
• Ensuring payroll software can automatically calculate and submit super
• Planning cash flow to accommodate super payments with each pay cycle

Meanwhile, payroll software providers are already preparing for these changes. For instance, Xero has outlined how its payroll systems will support the reforms, which you can read more about on Xero’s Payday Super initiative page.

How Resort Accounts & Consulting can support you

At Resort Accounts & Consulting, we are actively helping clients prepare for these upcoming changes.

Specifically, we can assist with:

• Reviewing your existing payroll and superannuation processes
• Assessing whether your accounting and payroll systems are ready for the new requirements
• Planning for cash flow and compliance changes ahead of time
• Providing ongoing advisory support as the rules come into effect

What should you do now?

Although the new superannuation payment model does not commence until July 2026, early preparation will make the transition far smoother. As a result, businesses that prepare now can avoid unnecessary pressure closer to the start date.

We recommend the following steps:

• • Review your payroll frequency and current processes
  • Confirm your payroll software can manage automated super payments
  • Seek advice if you employ casual, part-time or seasonal staff

If you would like guidance on how Payday Super will affect your business, or if you would like help preparing in advance, contact Resort Accounts & Consulting. We’re here to help you stay compliant and confident as the changes approach.

Disclaimer: This article contains general information only. Regrettably, no responsibility can be accepted for errors, omissions or possible misleading statements or for any action taken as a result of any material in this guide. It is not designed to be a substitute for professional advice, as such a brief guide cannot hope to cover all circumstances and conditions applying to the law as it relates to these items.

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Stapled super fund requirements for new employees

Employers may need to take an additional step when onboarding new staff who do not nominate their own super fund. In these situations, you may need to request the employee’s stapled super fund details from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

A stapled super fund is an existing super account linked to an employee that follows them when they change jobs.

This system helps prevent employees from accumulating multiple unintended super accounts and paying unnecessary account fees.

When employers need to request super fund details

Employers may need to request these details when:

• a new employee starts work
• super guarantee contributions are required for that employee, and
• the employee is eligible to choose a super fund but does not nominate one

In some situations, employers may still need to obtain an employee’s existing super account even if they are not required to offer a choice of super fund. This can apply where employees are temporary residents or are covered by an Enterprise Agreement or Workplace Determination made before 1 January 2021.

Authorised representatives can obtain these details through the ATO’s Online services for business. Access permissions should be reviewed regularly to ensure employee personal information remains protected.

Employers must also meet their choice of super fund obligations by the relevant quarterly due dates to avoid potential penalties.

Steps employers should follow

Step 1: Offer eligible employees a choice of super fund

Employers must provide eligible new employees with a Superannuation Standard Choice Form. Contributions must then be paid into the fund nominated by the employee.

This step remains a standard requirement for employer superannuation obligations.

Step 2: Request stapled super fund details

If an employee does not nominate a fund, employers may need to access the ATO’s Online services and navigate to ‘Employee Super Accounts’ to obtain the employee’s fund details. If you require assistance with this process, please contact our team.

Once the employment relationship is confirmed, the ATO will provide the relevant account information.

Where an existing account is identified, employers must make super contributions to that fund.

Step 3: Pay super into a default fund

Employers may instead pay contributions into a default fund, or another fund that meets the choice of fund requirements, if:

• the employee does not nominate a super fund, and
• the ATO confirms that the employee does not have an existing account.

If you would like assistance managing super obligations or payroll compliance, please get in touch.

Disclaimer: This article contains general information only. Regrettably, no responsibility can be accepted for errors, omissions or possible misleading statements or for any action taken as a result of any material in this guide. It is not designed to be a substitute for professional advice, as such a brief guide cannot hope to cover all circumstances and conditions applying to the law as it relates to these items.

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Applications for the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants are now open

Applications for these grants will remain open for three months. This gives businesses enough time to prepare and submit an application.

Guidelines explaining how to apply are available at:
www.business.qld.gov.au/supportgrant

The 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants provide payments of $5,000 or more in some cases. The grants support employing small and medium businesses across Queensland. Some large hospitality and tourism businesses may also be eligible. These grants are designed for businesses impacted by the recent SEQ or Cairns lockdowns.

All eligible businesses that apply during the three-month application period will receive a grant.

To qualify, businesses must have experienced at least a 30% reduction in turnover during the lockdown period. Other eligibility criteria also apply.

Small and medium businesses are defined as those with turnover above $75,000 per year. Their Queensland payroll must also be under $10 million annually.

Businesses and not-for-profit organisations do not need to be located in a lockdown area to apply.

Further information for sole traders or businesses without employees is outlined below.

Getting ready to apply – important information

The online application form is available through the QRIDA application portal.

Holmans cannot lodge the application on your behalf. However, we can assist with documentation requirements. This includes preparing an Accountant’s Letter or reviewing the lockdown test period.

Applicants must lodge the grant themselves. The first step is creating a QRIDA profile.

Once your profile is created, gather the required documents. Then log into your QRIDA portal to complete the application. Upload your documentation and submit the application.

Instructions for creating a QRIDA profile are available here:
www.business.qld.gov.au/supportgrant

You can complete the application without an accountant. However, care should be taken when preparing the documentation. Incorrect or incomplete information may delay processing or result in rejection.

We recommend downloading the full grant guidelines before applying. These are available on the Grants Support page:
View detailed guidelines

Holmans can assist with preparing documentation or an Accountant’s Letter. Fees generally range from $275 to $550 (GST inclusive), depending on the level of involvement. You will still need to submit the application yourself.

Please contact Holmans if you require assistance.

More information

Detailed guidelines, eligibility criteria and the template accountant letter are available at:
www.business.qld.gov.au/supportgrant

Tourism and hospitality sector COVID-19 lockdown support package

Hospitality and tourism businesses may also qualify for rebates, fee relief and payroll tax support. These measures form part of the $47.75 million tourism and hospitality lockdown support package.

This support is available to businesses impacted by recent COVID-19 lockdowns in South East Queensland or Cairns.

More details are available here:
Tourism and hospitality support package

Other government support

Further assistance is available for businesses impacted by COVID-19. This includes the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Disaster Payment for sole traders.

More information is available at:
www.business.qld.gov.au/covid-assistance

Stay connected

Businesses can stay up to date with support measures through the Business Queensland website. Updates from both the Queensland and Australian Governments are published there.

You can also follow Business Queensland on Facebook:
facebook.com/businessqldgov

Disclaimer: This article contains general information only. Regrettably, no responsibility can be accepted for errors, omissions or possible misleading statements or for any action taken as a result of any material in this guide. It is not designed to be a substitute for professional advice, as such a brief guide cannot hope to cover all circumstances and conditions applying to the law as it relates to these items.

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COVID-19 lockdown business support available in Queensland

Financial assistance may be available for businesses affected by the South East Queensland COVID-19 lockdown. This support is provided through the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants.

Businesses impacted by restrictions may be eligible for financial assistance through both Queensland and Australian Government programs.

Use this tool to discover what support may be available for your business from the Queensland Government, Australian Government and local councils.

COVID-19 lockdown business support available in New South Wales

Several business support packages were introduced in New South Wales during COVID-19 lockdowns.

The NSW Government announced financial assistance for businesses impacted by restrictions and stay-at-home orders. These grants were made available through Service NSW.

View a summary of NSW support measures introduced to assist businesses during the July COVID-19 lockdown.

COVID-19 business support in your state

Business support programs differed between states and territories. Grants, financial assistance and relief measures were introduced across Australia during the pandemic.

View a breakdown of COVID-19 business grants and assistance available in your state or territory.

Disclaimer: This article contains general information only. Regrettably, no responsibility can be accepted for errors, omissions or possible misleading statements or for any action taken as a result of any material in this guide. It is not designed to be a substitute for professional advice, as such a brief guide cannot hope to cover all circumstances and conditions applying to the law as it relates to these items.

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Employee super contributions due before 28 July

Employee super contributions must be paid into your employees’ super funds before 28 July 2021 for the June quarter.

If you use a super clearing house, the contribution is considered paid when the employee’s super fund receives the money. It is not counted when the clearing house receives the payment from you.

To ensure the payment is processed on time, allow enough time for the funds to reach the employee’s super account before the due date.

Super contributions must be received by the super fund within 28 days after the end of the quarter. If they arrive after this deadline, the payment may not be tax deductible and additional obligations may apply.

We recommend processing employee super contributions within 14 days after the end of the quarter. For example, this would be by the 14th day of the following month.

If you would like assistance managing employee super contributions, please get in touch.

Disclaimer: This article contains general information only. Regrettably, no responsibility can be accepted for errors, omissions or possible misleading statements or for any action taken as a result of any material in this guide. It is not designed to be a substitute for professional advice, as such a brief guide cannot hope to cover all circumstances and conditions applying to the law as it relates to these items.

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Single Touch Payroll finalisation due by 14 July

Employers must complete a Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisation declaration with the ATO by 14 July each year. Before submitting the declaration, it is important to confirm that all payroll information reported through STP is correct.

We recommend completing the following checks before finalising your STP data.

• Reconcile wages payable as at 30 June
• Reconcile superannuation payable as at 30 June
• Reconcile PAYG withholding payable as at 30 June
• Reconcile the payroll ledger to the general ledger
• Compare BAS payroll figures and revise BAS where required
• Check the finalisation screen to confirm employee status

These checks help ensure that payroll information reported to the ATO is accurate before finalisation.

If you would like assistance completing the above tasks, please contact us.

Work completed will be charged at our standard hourly rate of $77.50 plus GST.

For further information, refer to the ATO guidance on STP finalisation below.

Single Touch Payroll end of year finalisation

Disclaimer: This article contains general information only. Regrettably, no responsibility can be accepted for errors, omissions or possible misleading statements or for any action taken as a result of any material in this guide. It is not designed to be a substitute for professional advice, as such a brief guide cannot hope to cover all circumstances and conditions applying to the law as it relates to these items.

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Hotel Energy Uplift Program grants for small and medium hotels

The Australian Government announced a $10 million grant program called the Hotel Energy Uplift Program. The initiative was designed to help small and medium hotels reduce energy use, improve energy efficiency and lower operating costs.

Hotels, motels and serviced apartment complexes with up to 99 rooms could apply for grants of up to $25,000 to support energy-saving upgrades.

These upgrades may include improvements to air conditioning, refrigeration systems and building insulation. Businesses could also invest in monitoring systems to better manage energy use.

Reducing energy consumption can help lower operating costs while supporting employment in related industries such as electrical, plumbing and engineering services.

Hotel Energy Uplift Program – key points

• Total program funding of $10 million
• Individual grants of up to $25,000
• Funding available for energy-saving upgrades
• Projects may include air conditioning, insulation and monitoring systems
• Applications opened on 24 February 2021

The program aimed to assist the tourism and accommodation sector during the economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Energy costs are often one of the largest operating expenses for accommodation businesses. Improving energy efficiency can help hotels reduce long-term operating costs and improve sustainability.

For more information about the program guidelines, visit the official government page below.

Hotel Energy Uplift Program guidelines

Disclaimer: This article contains general information only. Regrettably, no responsibility can be accepted for errors, omissions or possible misleading statements or for any action taken as a result of any material in this guide. It is not designed to be a substitute for professional advice, as such a brief guide cannot hope to cover all circumstances and conditions applying to the law as it relates to these items.

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