ATO benchmarks for removalists
Removalists earn from moves across town or interstate, charged by the hour or quoted by the job, while trucks, fuel, packing materials and crew labour 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 $125,000 | 2023-24 | 43% | 65% |
| $50,000 to $125,000 | 2022-23 | 49% | 66% |
| $125,001 to $525,000 | 2023-24 | 60% | 79% |
| $125,001 to $525,000 | 2022-23 | 66% | 80% |
| More than $525,000 | 2023-24 | 78% | 89% |
| More than $525,000 | 2022-23 | 77% | 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 expense lines are truck fuel, servicing and tyres, truck finance or hire, tolls, packing boxes and wrap, insurance, storage costs and staff costs for the crew.
- Casual crew and subcontracted trucks are entered from their timesheets or invoices for each move, so the labour cost of every job is in the books.
- Truck purchases and fit-outs are recorded as assets, apart from day-to-day fuel and servicing, so buying a truck does not inflate the running costs of a single 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.