Small business finance consultant

Sole traders, cafes, tradies, clinics and other small businesses that have a bookkeeper or accountant but need someone to help them plan.

Fixed-price projects such as a cash flow forecast or funding application pack, plus monthly retainers for ongoing check-ins and reporting.

• Comfortable with spreadsheets and accounting software
• Clear explanations for non-finance people
• Business or finance background
• Discretion with client information

• Recommending financial products or investments generally needs an Australian Financial Services Licence or authorisation, so check with ASIC before you advise on them
• Arranging or advising on loans may need an Australian Credit Licence or credit representative status, check ASIC rules
• Charging for tax advice or preparing tax returns may require registration with the Tax Practitioners Board, check before offering it
• Professional indemnity insurance in case your advice is wrong
• Check whether your council requires approval for a home-based business

Startup costs are typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on your software, home office setup and how much you spend on insurance and marketing. These are estimates, so check your own requirements.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many clients you take on, what you charge and how many hours you work. The estimate starts from about 10 hours a week.

Check with ASIC whether you need an Australian Financial Services Licence for product advice or an Australian Credit Licence for loan advice. Also check Tax Practitioners Board registration for tax work, professional indemnity insurance and any council rules for home-based businesses.