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Trust accountants
Our accountants will set up a trust and protect your wealth
Liston Newton Advisory
Liston Newton Advisory is rated from 32 reviews
Safeguard your business with award-winning business trust accounting
Years of experience
Our 40-year history of helping businesses like yours means we know exactly what you need to do to meet your obligations.
Up-to-date advice
We stay informed about the latest taxation laws so you can always make the right decisions for maximum benefit.
Client partnerships
Our long-term, ongoing client relationships are designed to support you in realising your long-term goals.
Industry innovation
Our cutting-edge software and technology solutions make business as straightforward and efficient as possible.
Trusts can be complex, but the rewards will be worth it
Trusts can be an excellent way for business owners to manage income distribution, minimise tax liabilities and, perhaps most crucially, protect the business’s assets.
There’s no doubt that trusts come with significant advantages — but only if they’re set up correctly and managed diligently. Our business structure accountants will help you navigate the complex process of setting up a trust, and then manage equally nuanced legal and administrative requirements. We’ll help you:
- Assess the benefits of a trust structure against your business goals
- Minimise your taxes through trust income distribution
- Manage income to guarantee tax compliance
- Complete financial statements and lodge BAS returns
Set up and automate your bookkeeping
Is a trust the right structure for your business?
Determining your business's structure is a critical decision. Weighing the pros and cons of different business structures is not easy, especially as your business grows and your needs evolve.
Liston Newton’s accountants will help you make that decision. Whether you need guidance understanding the legal considerations of structuring your business as a family trust, or help transitioning your sole trader business into a trust, we’ll make sure you have all the insight you need to make an informed decision.
Take a moment to learn about the different types of trusts, then book your free consultation and let’s see which one suits you best:
Meet your trust accountants. Book your consultation today.
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Trusts accountants you can bank on
We have all the qualifications and experience to help your business grow from strength to strength.
“Liston Newton Advisory have given us the clarity we needed to grow our business.”
Kieran Liston and the Liston Newton team have been assisting me with my accounting matters since 1976. For the past 47 years, Kieran and the Liston Newton team have provided reliable accounting assistance, which has allowed me to focus on my business in primary production.
Their exceptional service has consistently exceeded my expectations and made me feel that they truly care about my financial well-being.
Liston Newton has given me really helpful guidance over the years for both my business and my personal finances. When you have an accounting team that you trust to give the right advice, it gives you the confidence to focus on growing your business and doing the things you love.
Liston Newton helped us move our accounting over to Xero. Their Accountant managed the set up and training so we felt comfortable with the software. We now have all our processes streamlined which gives us improved visibility of our business performance. This has allowed us to open 2 more stores without a significant increase in administration effort.
Free downloadable guide
We take pride in helping business owners get more out of their hard work. Our downloadable guide can give you an in-depth look at strategies that will help you get the right structure and grow your business.
- Structure your business for ongoing success
- Find the right structure for your business
- Understand tax and accounting implications
Get the guides
Your growth is our reward
Every business owner needs a mind for accounting, or at least the patience to understand the basics. The truth, in our experience, is that it’s perfectly possible to be a smart and successful business owner without fully grasping the complexities of business structures and trust legalities — but only if you have an expert in your corner who does.
We’ve spent close to half a century helping SMBs and corporations get their numbers in order, protect their assets, grow their businesses and survive unexpected challenges. We can’t say we’ve seen it all (if there’s anything this last decade’s taught us, it’s that you never know what’s around the corner), but we can promise you this: you won’t face a single challenge without us right by your side.
The benefits of a Liston Newton partnership
- 40 years of industry experience
- Award-winning financial management services
- Guaranteed ATO compliance
- Xero Platinum partner
- Tailored business advisory offerings
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Use your business success to fuel your financial freedom
‘Financial freedom’ is one of a handful of goals that just about everybody in Australia shares. It means the freedom to work when and how you want, to pursue your interests, protect and comfort your loved ones, and live life on your own terms. It’s a hard goal to reach, but it’s not impossible, and while there’s no one path to it, our methodology will help you carve your own route. We call our methodology Get Set, Get Moving, Get Free. Here’s how it works:
Get set
First, we secure your existing business with solid accounting and tax minimisation strategies.
Get moving
Next, we grow your business with long-term strategies that account for your personal financial goals.
Get free
Finally, we use the wealth generated by your business to fulfil your needs, from investment to retirement to opening the Bank of Mum & Dad.
Case study
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Business Structures
Cambridge Plumbing
We have helped Cambridge Plumbing to manage and forecast cash flow. We've also provided the director with advice on wealth creation and asset allocation.
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Business Structures
Australian Migration Lawyers
In 2022, Liston Newton began working with Australian Migration Lawyers (AML). AML is Australia’s largest independent migration law firm and is dedicated to providing flexible, compassionate and professional legal support for businesses and individuals navigating Australia’s complex migration system.
Take a lookOur locations
Our trust accountants work with business owners across Australia. For your first consultation, we’ll gladly fly out to your offices or welcome you into your nearest Liston Newton office so that you can meet your new accountants in person. If you find it more convenient, we can also set up virtual calls. Let us know what’s best for you.
South Melbourne
Level 3/67 Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne, VIC 3205
Gold Coast
Level 10, 36 Marine Parade Commercial Tower, 36 Marine Parade, Southport QLD 4215
Sydney
Level 22-23, Salesforce Tower, 180 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Learn more about trusts and business structures
Frequently asked questions
What is a trust?
In a family trust company structure, assets are held by a third party. In the trust business structure, the trustee acts on behalf of the beneficiaries.
Who is a trust best suited to?
A trust can be ideal for businesses and individuals of all sizes – but bear in mind that they becomes tax-effective once profits exceed $100,000.
A trust can also benefit an individual looking to hold assets in a tax effective and legally protected environment.
How is a trust taxed?
Trusts do not pay any tax. Instead, any profit is calculated at the end of the financial year, based on the income of the trust, minus expenses and the previous year’s losses. Any profit is then distributed to the trust beneficiaries – whether that's you, your spouse, family members, or a bucket company.
When should I consider a trust?
A family trust is a great structure for growing businesses that have moved past the initial start-up stage. Once profits are growing and the business is taking on employees, a family trust should be a serious consideration.
Another benchmark is the amount of tax you pay. If you’re running a business with an average tax rate approaching 30%, a family trust can be beneficial in reducing the amount of tax.
A family trust should also be a serious consideration as a holding structure when making significant investments. Whether it’s running a business via a company, owning investment properties, or any other significant investment, a family trust can help protect those assets from financial and legal troubles – and it can also save you tax along the way.
What are the setup costs?
A trust generally costs $1,500 + GST in legal documentation to set up, or $2,500 + GST for a trust with a corporate trustee. For more information about accurate costs of setting up a trust, get in touch with Liston Newton Advisory.
Talk to a trusts accountant
For the best in business set-up advice, get in touch with Liston Newton Advisory.
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