Every small business owner wants to stay off the ATO’s radar. But here’s the thing: flying under it isn’t just about lodging your BAS on time or ticking the right boxes at tax time. It’s about how your business performs - and how that performance compares to others in your industry.
That’s where the ATO’s updated small business benchmarks come in. Quietly refreshed with data from the 2022–23 financial year, these benchmarks now cover over 100 industries, helping business owners understand whether they’re tracking above, below, or in line with their peers.
And while that might sound like dry compliance material, it’s actually a goldmine of insight... if you know how to use it.
In simple terms, the benchmarks are industry-specific data points pulled from thousands of tax returns, covering things like turnover ranges, cost of sales, labour, rent, and profit margins. The ATO uses these to identify patterns - and outliers.
If your numbers fall well outside the expected range for your industry, it doesn’t automatically mean something’s wrong. But it can trigger ATO scrutiny, especially if other red flags are present.
So yes, the benchmarks matter for ATO risk management. But more importantly, they also give you a window into how your business is really performing - compared to the rest of the market.
This isn’t just about dodging audits. It’s about working smarter.
Using the benchmarks, you can:
In other words, the benchmarks can help turn gut feel into informed strategy. And that’s something every business owner should care about.
In addition to the benchmarks, the ATO has also updated its Business Viability Assessment Tool - designed to help you determine whether your business is financially viable in its current form.
Viability doesn’t just mean turning a profit. The ATO looks at whether your business can meet its obligations to creditors, sustain operations, and ideally, generate a return for the owners. If you’re not quite there yet, the tool can help pinpoint where the shortfalls are.
It’s not a crystal ball... but it’s a valuable reality check.
Whether you're smashing goals or quietly wondering if you’re falling behind, it’s worth taking a moment to look beyond your own four walls. See how your numbers compare. Ask the tough questions. And if the numbers aren’t stacking up, do something about it now - before the ATO decides to ask questions for you.
You can check out the latest benchmarks and viability tools directly:
Or better yet - let us do the heavy lifting for you.
At Trekk Advisory, we help business owners like you translate data into decisions. We’ll benchmark your business, spot the gaps, and recommend practical changes that actually move the needle.
Contact us today to book a benchmarking review or performance session with our advisory team.
Because compliance is just the beginning. Let’s build a business that performs, grows... and lasts.