Our Services

Business Structure Advisory

How We Help

Clarity on the right business structure for what you're building

Every decision in your business sits on top of one you made earlier: the structure you chose to operate in. Get it wrong, and it can mean paying more tax than you need to, carrying more personal risk than you realise, or hitting a wall the moment you want to bring in partners, take on debt or plan an exit.

We provide business structure advisory services that go beyond paperwork and forms. Before we recommend anything, we take the time to understand your business activities, growth plans, and personal circumstances, because the ideal structure for one business owner can be the wrong one for another.

Whether you’re setting up a new business and choosing a structure from scratch, or you already operate as a sole trader, partnership or company and suspect it no longer fits, our business structuring advice starts with a real conversation about where you’re headed—not a form to fill in.

Free Business Consultation

What We Do

What our business structure advisory service covers

Most business owners in Australia choose from a handful of common business structures: sole trader, partnership, company and trust. Each comes with real differences in cost, complexity, tax and legal liability, and each suits different business activities and different stages of growth.

As a sole trader, you and the business are legally the same, which is simple to set up but means your personal assets aren’t separated from business debt.
A company creates a separate legal entity that can offer stronger asset protection and a different way to pay tax on business income, but it comes with directors’ duties and more ongoing compliance.
A trust or partnership structure brings its own advantages in how profits are distributed among partners or beneficiaries, as well as its own complexity.

We look at your current business income, your plans for growth, and how much personal risk you’re comfortable carrying, then talk you through the tax implications and practical trade-offs of each option. If a formal partnership agreement is part of the picture, we help make sure it reflects how you and your partners actually intend to operate, not just a generic template.

This isn’t a one-off exercise either. As your business grows, we help you review whether your structure still works, particularly if you’re taking on staff, buying property, or preparing for succession. If tax planning and ongoing tax returns are also on your radar, we can bring that into the same conversation, so nothing is looked at in isolation.

Why Choose Us

Why business owners choose us for business structure advice

Getting your business structure advisory right the first time saves you from a costly restructure later. We’d rather have the detailed conversation now than help you unwind the wrong decision in a few years.

Free Business Consultation

We take the time to understand your personal circumstances, not just your balance sheet, before recommending a structure

We explain the tax implications and legal liability of each option in plain English, not jargon

We think about where your business is headed, not just where it is today, including growth, property, debt and eventual exit

We coordinate structure advice with your broader business advisory and tax planning, so every decision point is in the same direction

We’ve been advising Newcastle and Hunter business owners on structure, asset protection and growth since 1993, and we bring that experience to businesses across Australia

Testimonials

Hear from the clients who have worked closely with us for our strategic advice

    
 
 
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    The Allens 
 
 
 
  Incredible accountants. They just care so much, they go above & beyond. They welcomed us as business rookies, and patiently continue to go beyond the scope of what’s expected to help us. Huge thank you to Heather, Katie and Tea!
  
 
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    Caitlyn Tremble 
 
 
 
  John, Heather and the entire team at the Garis group have been incredible to deal with. John took the time to sit down with me one on one to help set up as a sole trader and answer all my questions. The team helped me get set up with Xero and are always incredibly responsive and informative when I have queries. They have made my tax returns painless. Thanks for all your help over the past 2 years Garis Team.
  
 
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    Grace Brayne 
 
 
 
  I scheduled an appointment with The Garis Group for a few weeks out but noticed some issues I might face with *individual* deductions for the upcoming financial year (I was super stressed!). I asked if I could see them sooner, and John responded after hours to fit me in as a new client the next day. Their service exceeded all expectations, and I’ll definitely continue using them.
  
 
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    Anthony Jovceski 
 
 
 
  Best accounting firm in Newcastle. I've used John and his team for over 5 years with my personal finances and business finances. The Garis Group always exceed my expectations. I'd recommend The Garis Group to anyone looking for a professional firm that go the extra mile. Anthony.
  
 
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    Dave Le Breton 
 
 
 
  John, Heather and the team have been looking after our growing company with the highest standards of care and attention over the last 4 years. Extremely knowledgeable, friendly and great communicators, they really go above and beyond with their level of service and we have always felt extremely well looked after for all our accounting needs. I would highly recommend them to any individual or business.
  
 
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    Katarina McNamara 
 
 
 
  Paul's Tennis Academy has been working with Jim, John, Heather and the team for many years now. TGG have always been there for us, ready to answer any questions and provide the level of support we need. The Garis Group rocks! I would not hesitate recommending them.
  
 
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    Leesa Brown 
 
 
 
  Super knowledgeable and always helpful. They have guided and helped build our successful business. The team at The Garis Group go above and beyond to ensure we understand the figures, offering friendly advise and guidance on business decisions. Can not thank them enough. Couldn't do it without John and his team.
  
 
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    Chris and Jaclyn 
 
 
 
  John explains things clearly and he’s incredibly knowledgeable. We see him not only as a trusted advisor – using his business acumen to be candid about when we should and shouldn’t do something – but also as an extension to our team. Essentially John allows us get on with running our business, so we can sleep at night knowing we’re not going to get caught out by the tax man.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs about business structure advice

Choosing the right business structure raises a lot of practical questions, especially if you’re comparing options for the first time or reconsidering a structure you’ve operated under for years. Here are some of the questions we’re asked most often.

As a sole trader, you and the business are legally the same, so you’re personally liable for business debts, but it’s simple and low-cost to set up. A company is a separate legal entity that can offer better asset protection and different tax treatment of profits, but it comes with directors’ obligations and higher ongoing costs.

If your business activities, income or risk profile have changed since you first set up, it’s worth reviewing. Common triggers include taking on partners or staff, buying property through the business, or planning for growth or an eventual sale.

It can, depending on timing and how the change is implemented. We look at your tax returns and current position before recommending anything. We’ll walk you through the tax implications clearly before you make a decision.

A trust can offer a level of asset protection by separating business assets from your personal assets, but how well it works depends on how it’s set up and operated. We assess whether a trust genuinely suits your personal circumstances rather than assuming it’s the right structure by default.

We start with a free business consultation to understand your business and personal circumstances, then set out a fixed price agreement for the advice and structuring work involved, so you know the cost upfront with no surprises.

Reach Out Today

Let's find the right structure for what you're building next

Business structuring decisions are easier to get right the first time than to unwind later. If you’re starting a new business, growing fast, or simply unsure whether your current structure still works, we’ll help you plan a structure built for where you’re headed, not just where you started.

Talk to The Garis Group

Book a free business consultation with our team, and we’ll talk through your business structure advisory options in plain English, with a fixed price agreement so you know exactly what’s involved before we start.

Get in touch