For your industry
BizTools for Australian Photographers + Videographers
Most working AU photographers and videographers spend more time on quotes, invoices, and BAS than on editing. The calculators, guides, and comparisons here are built for the way AU creative work actually invoices — day rates, package pricing, asset licensing, equipment depreciation, and the GST nightmare that comes with overseas clients.
On this page
- Calculators for shoot day rates, package pricing, GST, cashflow.
- Honest software comparisons (Hnry vs Rounded — most creatives' decision).
- Plain-English guides for sole trader tax, structure, EOFY.
- Affiliate-disclosed partner recommendations.
Calculators
Calculators for photographers actually use
Built for the decisions you make every week — pricing, quoting, costing, GST, payroll.
Calculator
Hourly / Shoot-Day Rate Calculator
Set a shoot-day rate that covers shoot + editing + overhead + your target take-home pay, not just 'a number you saw someone else charge'.
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Calculator
Package Pricing Calculator
Build wedding / brand / commercial package prices from cost + margin, not gut feel.
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Calculator
GST Calculator AU
Quick GST inclusive / exclusive checks before sending a quote (especially helpful when a client says 'plus GST?').
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Calculator
BAS Set-Aside Calculator
Ring-fence GST from every invoice so BAS isn't a panic.
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Calculator
Cash Flow Runway Calculator
How long your current cash covers fixed costs in the quiet months between wedding seasons.
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Calculator
Invoice Late Fee Calculator
Fair late fees on overdue AU invoices — useful for slow commercial payers.
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Guides + comparisons
Practical reading
Plain-English explanations + honest software comparisons for your persona.
Comparison
Best invoicing software for AU sole traders
Hnry vs Rounded vs Xero vs MYOB — the full 4-way comparison for creatives.
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Head-to-head
Hnry vs Rounded
The most-asked decision for AU creatives — automated tax vs control + flat-fee software.
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Comparison
Best bank accounts for AU sole traders
Up, Macquarie, Wise, ANZ Plus, Hnry Account — fees, bucketing, international clients.
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Guide
How much tax to save as sole trader
Rules of thumb per income bracket — useful when your income is lumpy.
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Checklist
EOFY checklist for AU sole traders
Equipment depreciation, super, deductions — the prep that pays off in your tax return.
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Guide
Sole trader vs Pty Ltd
When the structure change actually pays off for a creative business.
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Recommended tools
Software AU photographers actually use
Most working AU creatives are on Hnry or Rounded — the two purpose-built sole-trader platforms. Up Bank gets the operating-account vote for everyday transactions.
Hnry
Sole trader tax + invoicing on autopilot
Australian sole-trader service that handles invoicing, GST, BAS, income tax, and super so you can stop juggling spreadsheets at quarter-end.
Rounded
Invoicing + accounting for AU freelancers
Lightweight invoicing, expense tracking, GST and BAS reporting built specifically for Australian freelancers and small operators.
Up Bank
Fee-free everyday banking with great Saver Spaces
Australian-built challenger bank with no fees on the everyday account, a polished app, and 'Saver Spaces' for bucketing GST + tax + super separately from operating cash. Popular with sole traders.
See the head-to-head: Hnry vs Rounded for AU creatives →
BizTools.au may earn a small commission if you start a paid plan after clicking an affiliate link. The commission does not change the price you pay and does not influence which tools we recommend — see our disclaimer for the full version.
FAQ
Common questions
- What's a realistic AU photography day rate?
- Massive range. Editorial / personal-brand work might be $800-$1,500/day. Commercial brand work is typically $2,000-$5,000/day. High-end advertising is $5,000-$10,000+/day. Use the day rate calculator to back-solve from your target annual income, expected billable days, and equipment + insurance overhead — that gives you a floor, then negotiate upward by market.
- Should I claim my camera + lens depreciation?
- Yes — they're business assets if used predominantly for business work. The deduction is via depreciation rules. Items under $300 can be claimed immediately; bigger gear depreciates over its effective life (typically 4-7 years for cameras). See our EOFY checklist for the timing rules.
- How do I handle GST on international clients?
- Generally GST-free if the service is supplied to a non-resident outside Australia. But the specifics matter — usage in Australia, supply location, the nature of the service. See our GST on quotes + invoices guide and confirm with a BAS agent if international revenue is significant.
- Do I need a Pty Ltd as a photographer?
- Usually no, until your profit consistently exceeds ~$120k or you have material liability exposure (e.g. commercial brand clients with large contract terms). Below that, sole trader + Hnry-or-Rounded is the typical setup. See sole trader vs Pty Ltd for full decision logic.
Disclaimer
A note on the recommendations
Important note
BizTools.au is designed to make business numbers easier to check, but calculator outputs still need judgment and real-world context.
- Calculator results are general estimates only and depend on the figures entered.
- Examples and summaries are provided for general information, not legal, tax, accounting, payroll, or financial advice.
- Before relying on a result for a real decision, check your assumptions and get qualified advice where needed.