Time for a restructure?

Rudd Mantell Accountants • November 10, 2023

The new financial year can be a time where business owners look at their operating structure and consider whether it still meets their needs.

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Choosing a structure is not simply about minimising tax, rather a range of factors should be considered as such as asset protection, establishment and ongoing compliance costs, succession planning, and your understanding of each structure etc.



Most small businesses operate as a sole trader, company, trust, or partnership. The following table is a comparative snapshot of each of the four structures:

Factors to Consider Sole trader Company Trust Partnership
Cheap to set up and administer? Yes No No Yes
Limited record keeping and reporting? Yes No No Yes
Minimal legal requirements? Yes No No Yes
Protection from personal liability? No Yes Yes No
Profits are added to your personal income? Yes No* No* Yes
Easy to understand? Yes No No Yes
Ability to admit business partners/successional-planning friendly? No Yes No Yes
CGT friendly? Yes No Yes Yes

*subject to the Personal Services Income (PSI) rules


You may find that, as your business grows or as your priorities change, your chosen structure no longer serves your needs. For example, a number of people commence businesses as sole traders (often for reasons of simplicity as well as keeping start-up costs to a minimum) but later find that this structure is no longer appropriate. From an income tax perspective, a drawback with sole traders is that income from the business is assessed personally to you at your marginal tax rates. As your business grows and the revenue generated increases, your tax rate also increases.


The take-home message is that you should periodically review your structure to ensure it continues to serve your needs. Be mindful however that changing structures can have CGT and stamp duty consequences – these one-off costs need to be taken into account when making the decision whether to change. Also note that under the small business rollover provisions, it may be possible for you to change your structure without incurring CGT.



Talk to us if you are contemplating changing your business operating structure.

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