ATO benchmarks for variety stores

Discount and variety stores sell a broad range of low-priced homewares, party goods, toys and everyday items, earning from a high volume of small sales, while stock, rent and staff are their main costs.

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General information

These are the Australian Taxation Office's published small business benchmarks for variety stores, 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 variety stores, by turnover range and financial year
Turnover range	Financial year	Low end	High end
$65,000 to $250,000	2023-24	79%	88%
$65,000 to $250,000	2022-23	79%	89%
$250,001 to $600,000	2023-24	83%	92%
$250,001 to $600,000	2022-23	82%	88%
More than $600,000	2023-24	86%	93%
More than $600,000	2022-23	86%	93%

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 variety stores, by turnover range and financial year
Turnover range	Financial year	Low end	High end
$65,000 to $250,000	2023-24	42%	53%
$65,000 to $250,000	2022-23	43%	53%
$250,001 to $600,000	2023-24	47%	52%
$250,001 to $600,000	2022-23	46%	52%
More than $600,000	2023-24	47%	55%
More than $600,000	2022-23	49%	55%

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 homewares, party supplies, toys and other goods bought to sell, adjusted for the stock left on the shelves and in the back room at the end of the period.
Freight and import charges on goods shipped in are added to the cost of the stock they bring in, so cost of sales reflects the full landed cost of each line.
Stock records in the point of sale system are checked against regular stocktakes, so breakage, theft and miscounts across many low-value lines show up in the books.

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.