Are You Undercharging for Compliance Work?
What Australian Accounting Firms Are Really Charging in 2026
Many accounting firms don’t set their compliance fees — they inherit them.
A fee agreed years ago, perhaps adjusted occasionally for inflation or discomfort, quietly becomes “the rate”. Meanwhile, costs rise, scope creeps in, and what once felt reasonable slowly drifts out of alignment with the market.
The result? Firms working just as hard — sometimes harder — for materially less return than their peers.
"Your average charge rate is not just a number. It is a signal. It signals how you value your work, how the market perceives your firm, and increasingly, the future saleability of your practice."
What Do We Mean by “Typical Fees for Common Services"?
When we talk about typical fees, we’re not referring to charge-out rates or internal hourly assumptions.
We’re talking about what firms are actually billing clients for common compliance services, including:
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Individual, partnership and company tax returns
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BAS and FBT returns
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SMSF set-ups, returns and audits
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ASIC annual returns
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Trust returns and set-ups
These are the services that underpin most firms’ recurring revenue — and the ones most likely to be under-reviewed.
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Typical Fees for Common Services Report
Price range: $198 through $396 incl. GST This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Where Compliance Pricing Most Commonly Falls Behind
Across Australian firms, the same patterns show up again and again.
Fees set too low without realising it
Many firms discover their pricing only looks “reasonable” until it’s compared to similar practices. Without external reference points, underpricing goes unnoticed.
Inconsistent pricing across similar clients
Two clients receiving essentially the same service may be charged materially different fees, making pricing difficult to defend and reviews uncomfortable.
Relying on assumptions about “what the market charges”
Informal conversations and outdated benchmarks rarely reflect current conditions — particularly when location, firm size and structure all materially affect pricing.
Absorbing additional work without fee adjustment
Regulatory changes, client complexity and admin creep often increase workload without a corresponding change in price.
Why Benchmarking Typical Fees Matters
Benchmarking isn’t about pushing fees to the top of the market.
It’s about understanding:
Where your fees sit relative to similar Australian firms
Whether you’re below, within or above typical market ranges
Which services may be quietly eroding margin
For many firms, even small adjustments to core compliance pricing can have a meaningful impact on profitability and long-term practice value.
What the Typical Fees for Common Services Report Covers
The Typical Fees for Common Services Report provides a clear, data-driven view of compliance pricing across Australia, including:
Minimum, average and maximum fees for common compliance services
Benchmarked by region, firm size and partner numbers
Insight into potential underpricing and over-servicing risk
Practical support for fee reviews, profitability and valuation discussions
All data is based on real submissions from Australian accounting firms — not estimates or informal market anecdotes.
A Practical Tool for Fee Reviews in 2026
Whether you’re reviewing fees ahead of the year ahead, preparing for partner discussions, or simply wanting confidence that your pricing is defensible, understanding how your fees compare is a critical first step.
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Typical Fees for Common Services Report
Price range: $198 through $396 incl. GST This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Written by Michelle Knights
Michelle advises professional services firms across Australia on practice risk, governance and regulatory readiness, working closely with accounting, legal and financial services businesses as they navigate structural and compliance change.
Want to know more? Book a 15-minute call with Michelle Knights and discover how she can help your practice.
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