ATO benchmarks for machinery repairs
Machinery repair businesses fix and service equipment for farms, factories, mines and builders, in a workshop or out in the field, and spend on parts, tools, vehicles, workshop rent and skilled staff.
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 $200,000 | 2023-24 | 47% | 68% |
| $50,000 to $200,000 | 2022-23 | 48% | 69% |
| $200,001 to $600,000 | 2023-24 | 54% | 76% |
| $200,001 to $600,000 | 2022-23 | 58% | 77% |
| More than $600,000 | 2023-24 | 77% | 87% |
| More than $600,000 | 2022-23 | 79% | 88% |
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
- The main day-to-day expenses are replacement parts, consumables such as oils and filters, workshop rent, service vehicle running costs, tool upkeep, insurance and staff costs.
- Parts ordered for a particular repair are recorded against that job when the supplier bill arrives, so the job's costs and its invoice sit in the same period.
- Diagnostic equipment, lifting gear and service vehicles are recorded as equipment purchases, kept apart from the everyday running and repair costs of the workshop.
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.