ATO benchmarks for bricklayers
Bricklayers often lay brick veneer and walls for builders on new homes and extensions, while labourers, sand and cement, scaffolding, saw blades and vehicle running costs are their main costs.
General information
Total expenses as a share of turnover
Low and high end of each published range
| Turnover range | Financial year | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 to $150,000 | 2023-24 | 29% | 46% |
| $50,000 to $150,000 | 2022-23 | 30% | 48% |
| $150,001 to $350,000 | 2023-24 | 51% | 68% |
| $150,001 to $350,000 | 2022-23 | 52% | 69% |
| More than $350,000 | 2023-24 | 70% | 84% |
| More than $350,000 | 2022-23 | 69% | 83% |
Australian Taxation Office, Small Business Benchmarks, key ratios for 2023-24 and 2022-23 (data.gov.au), licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
What sits behind these figures in the books
- Day-to-day expense lines include labourers and subcontract layers, sand, cement and bricks where supplied, scaffold hire, saw blades, fuel, vehicle running costs and insurance.
- Invoices and payments for each builder are tracked by job, and materials bought for a job are recorded against it, so expenses fall in the period the work was done.
- A brick saw or mortar mixer bought to keep is recorded as equipment rather than a running cost, and private spending on the business card is moved out of business expenses.
Sources
- Small Business Benchmarks, 2023-24 Benchmarks (key ratios)
Australian Taxation Office. 2023-24 financial year, released 16 March 2026. Checked 15 October 2026.
Based on Australian Taxation Office data, Small Business Benchmarks, 2023-24 Benchmarks, licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU Licence: CC BY 2.5 AU.
- Small Business Benchmarks, 2022-23 Benchmarks (key ratios)
Australian Taxation Office. 2022-23 financial year, released 17 March 2025. Checked 15 October 2026.
Based on Australian Taxation Office data, Small Business Benchmarks, 2022-23 Benchmarks, licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU Licence: CC BY 2.5 AU.
Get your books in order
Cost of sales and total expenses are only as reliable as the books behind them. Tell us how your business runs and we will suggest a bookkeeping plan that fits.