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Bookkeeping for Sydney businesses

We look after Sydney businesses through the cloud accounting software they already use. Below are the ABS figures for Greater Sydney, the industries its businesses work in, and the New South Wales rules that apply to employers.

  • By Book Keeping Pros
  • Sources checked 15 Oct 2026

Sydney businesses in figures

Estimated resident population of Greater Sydney, 30 June 2025 (preliminary)
5,638,830 peopleAustralian Bureau of Statistics. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
Growth in the estimated resident population of Greater Sydney, 30 June 2024 to 30 June 2025
1.4%Australian Bureau of Statistics. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
Actively trading businesses whose main business address is in Greater Sydney, June 2025
646,605 businessesAustralian Bureau of Statistics. Checked 15 Oct 2026.

How we serve Sydney businesses

  • Your file, your access

    We work inside your Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks file, so you keep full access and can follow every reconciliation as it happens.

  • A regular rhythm

    Each month we reconcile your bank feeds, match bills and invoices, and leave the accounts in order for you and your accountant.

  • Catch-up when you need it

    If the books have fallen behind, we work through the missing months first, oldest month first, then keep them current.

Sydney businesses by industry

The ABS may perturb small counts to protect confidentiality, so the figures need not add up exactly.

  1. Construction107,078 businesses
  2. Professional, Scientific and Technical Services103,088 businesses
  3. Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services79,607 businesses
  4. Transport, Postal and Warehousing59,687 businesses
  5. Health Care and Social Assistance49,532 businesses
  6. Financial and Insurance Services43,711 businesses
  7. Retail Trade36,678 businesses
  8. Administrative and Support Services31,599 businesses
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses. Checked 15 Oct 2026.

Sydney businesses by number of employees

The ABS may perturb small counts to protect confidentiality, so the figures need not add up exactly.

  1. Non-employing398,616 businesses
  2. 1 to 4 employees183,980 businesses
  3. 5 to 19 employees48,561 businesses
  4. 20 to 199 employees14,518 businesses
  5. 200 or more employees901 businesses
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses. Checked 15 Oct 2026.

Payroll tax and long service leave in New South Wales

Each state and territory sets its own payroll tax and long service leave rules. The payroll tax figures are for the 2026-27 financial year.

Annual payroll tax threshold in New South Wales, 2026-27
$1,200,000Revenue NSW. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
Payroll tax rate in New South Wales, 2026-27
5.45%Revenue NSW. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
Long service leave in New South Wales: years of service for the full entitlement
10 yearsNSW Industrial Relations. Checked 15 Oct 2026.

More locations

The state

Other capital cities

Services for Sydney businesses

Questions from Sydney business owners

Do we need to meet to get started?
No. You share access to your accounting software, we agree what you need, and the work happens in your file from there.
What do the Greater Sydney figures on this page cover?
They are ABS figures for the Greater Sydney area as the ABS defines it, which takes in the whole metropolitan region, not just the city centre. Each figure says which area and date it is for.
Which software do you work in?
Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks. If your books are elsewhere, tell us the package and we'll say whether we can help.
Do Sydney businesses follow New South Wales payroll tax rules?
Yes. Payroll tax is set by each state, so Sydney businesses that employ staff follow the New South Wales rules shown on this page. Whether you pay depends on your total wages, so confirm with the state or your accountant.
How is the work priced?
By the work involved: how many transactions you have and how current the books are. We quote before anything starts.

Sources

  1. Population estimates by SA2 and above, 2001 to 2025 (32180DS0003_2001-25.xlsx)

    Australian Bureau of Statistics. Estimated resident population at 30 June, 2001 to 2025 (2022 to 2024 revised, 2025 preliminary), released 31 March 2026. Checked 15 October 2026.

    Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional population, 2024-25 financial year, licensed under CC BY 4.0 Licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 8: Businesses by industry division by Statistical Area Level 2 by employment size ranges (8165DC08.xlsx)

    Australian Bureau of Statistics. Actively trading businesses at 30 June 2025, released 16 December 2025. Checked 15 October 2026.

    Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data, Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, June 2021 to June 2025, licensed under CC BY 4.0 Licence: CC BY 4.0.

  3. Payroll tax thresholds and rates

    Revenue NSW. 2025-26 and 2026-27, released 1 July 2026. Checked 15 October 2026.

    © State of New South Wales through Revenue NSW Licence: Revenue NSW terms of use: copyright, State of New South Wales.

  4. Long Service Leave Guide (NSW), March 2026

    NSW Industrial Relations. First published March 2026, released 2 March 2026. Checked 15 October 2026.

    © State of New South Wales 2026 Licence: All rights reserved, State of New South Wales.

  5. Correspondence, GCCSA 2021 to GCCSA 2026 (CG_GCCSA_2021_GCCSA_2026.csv)

    Australian Bureau of Statistics. ASGS Edition 4, July 2026 to June 2031, released 22 July 2026. Checked 15 October 2026.

    Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 4, licensed under CC BY 4.0 Licence: CC BY 4.0.