ATO benchmarks for gift shops

Gift shops sell a changing range of cards, homewares, toys and novelties over the counter and often online, with trade building towards Christmas and other gift-giving seasons.

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General information

These are the Australian Taxation Office's published small business benchmarks for gift shops, shown as the ATO publishes them for each turnover range. They describe the industry as a whole, not any one business, and they are not advice about a particular business. Sources checked 15 October 2026.

Total expenses as a share of turnover

Low and high end of each published range

Total expenses as a share of turnover for gift shops, by turnover range and financial year
Turnover range	Financial year	Low end	High end
$65,000 to $150,000	2023-24	77%	85%
$65,000 to $150,000	2022-23	76%	88%
$150,001 to $600,000	2023-24	79%	88%
$150,001 to $600,000	2022-23	79%	89%
More than $600,000	2023-24	84%	92%
More than $600,000	2022-23	84%	91%

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.

Cost of sales as a share of turnover

Low and high end of each published range

Cost of sales as a share of turnover for gift shops, by turnover range and financial year
Turnover range	Financial year	Low end	High end
$65,000 to $150,000	2023-24	44%	56%
$65,000 to $150,000	2022-23	42%	59%
$150,001 to $600,000	2023-24	46%	55%
$150,001 to $600,000	2022-23	48%	56%
More than $600,000	2023-24	48%	56%
More than $600,000	2022-23	49%	57%

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

Cost of sales covers the gifts, cards and other goods bought for resale, adjusted for what is still on the shelves or in the storeroom when the period ends.
Seasonal stock ordered well ahead of the holidays is recorded when the supplier bill arrives, so purchases sit in the right period even when the goods sell months later.
Shop fittings, display cabinets and point of sale hardware are kept apart from stock purchases, since they are equipment for the shop rather than goods bought to sell.

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.