The unavoidable costs
ABN free; company registration around $600 via ASIC; business name from about $45; insurance from a few hundred to a few thousand a year depending on the service; screening checks $80–150 per person; a domain and email under $100 a year.
The optional-but-really-not costs
A website a client will trust ($800–8,000), systems for bookings, notes and invoicing (often $50–200 a month), and compliance documents for regulated industries ($2,000–15,000 if written by a consultant).
Industry extras
NDIS: auditor fees and Commission fees. Aged care: Commission registration and, for some categories, clinical governance costs. Tutoring: WWCC for every tutor. Online store: platform fees and inventory or print-on-demand set-up.
Reading a fixed-price setup
A fixed price bundles the optional-but-not costs and the labour; the unavoidable government and insurance costs are always extra and should be listed. If they’re not, ask.
General information only, not legal or financial advice. Requirements change; confirm with the regulator or a qualified professional.