ATO benchmarks for plumbers
Plumbers earn from call-outs, maintenance and installation work, charging for labour and for the pipe, fittings and fixtures they supply, while materials, vans, tools and staff costs are their main outgoings.
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 | 50% | 66% |
| $50,000 to $150,000 | 2022-23 | 50% | 67% |
| $150,001 to $600,000 | 2023-24 | 59% | 74% |
| $150,001 to $600,000 | 2022-23 | 61% | 76% |
| More than $600,000 | 2023-24 | 75% | 86% |
| More than $600,000 | 2022-23 | 76% | 87% |
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 pipe, fittings and fixtures, van running costs, replacement tools, equipment hire, apprentice and staff costs, and public liability and other business insurance.
- Parts collected from the plumbing supplier are recorded against the job they were used on, so materials charged to customers and materials paid for can be matched each month.
- Long-lived purchases such as a drain camera, pipe threader or van fit-out are recorded as equipment, kept apart from the consumables and running costs that are used up in the period.
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.