Fixed Fee Accounting vs Hourly Billing — What’s Best for Your Business
Read Time 7 mins
Because life’s too complex for unpredictable fees.
Running a business in Melbourne already involves enough uncertainty — from changing tax laws to cash flow surprises.
Your accounting fees shouldn’t be one of them.
At 42 Advisory, we believe that great advice starts with clarity.
That’s why we’ve built our entire model around fixed-fee accounting — predictable, transparent, and designed to give you confidence in every financial decision.
Based in Chadstone, we work with Melbourne’s founders, professionals, and growing businesses who want more than just compliance.
They want a partner who sees the bigger picture — from tax to finance, from today to tomorrow.
🧩 Two Models. Two Very Different Outcomes.
| Model | How It Works | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Billing | Traditional accountants charge for every hour spent. | Familiar, flexible. | Unpredictable, reactive, encourages short-term thinking. |
| Fixed Fee Accounting | You pay a set monthly or annual amount that covers agreed services. | Predictable, proactive, built for long-term growth. | Needs clear scoping — which we do upfront. |
It’s simple. Hourly billing rewards time.
Fixed fees reward outcomes.
And that difference changes everything.
🌱 Why Businesses Across Melbourne Are Choosing Fixed Fees
1. Predictable Costs, Predictable Growth
Your fees should fit your forecast.
Our fixed-fee model lets you plan ahead, manage cash flow, and scale confidently — no bill shock, no hidden extras.
2. A Partnership, Not a Meter
When advice is metered by the minute, questions get postponed.
With 42 Advisory, you can call, email, or meet without watching the clock.
We’d rather you reach out early — that’s how smarter decisions are made.
3. Built for Modern Business
Our systems are powered by Xero, Client Portal and automation, meaning your accounting is streamlined, synced, and transparent.
Your business data works harder — not your time.
“We don’t sell hours.
We build systems that make hours irrelevant.”
💫 Beyond Accounting: Advisory That Moves You Forward
Our goal isn’t just compliance — it’s confidence.
Every 42 Advisory client benefits from our investment-grade three-way forecasts, giving you the kind of financial visibility investors and lenders rely on.
Through our partnership with Axelarate Advisory, we can go even further — offering:
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Commercial Finance for business growth
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Residential Finance for property and personal goals
Because the right advice connects your numbers with your future.
👉 Explore our Finance & Lending Services
🧮 What’s Inside a 42 Advisory Fixed-Fee Package
Every plan is tailored, but typically includes:
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Tax & Compliance Services —
BAS, IAS, company tax, and ATO management
→ View Tax Services -
Business Advisory —
Growth strategy, performance reviews, and forecasting
→ Explore Advisory Services -
Bookkeeping & Automation —
Cloud-based systems, reporting, and workflow integration
→ See Cloud Accounting
No matter the mix, the outcome is the same:
A predictable, data-driven relationship that saves you time — and helps you make decisions with clarity.
🧠 Why We Believe Fixed-Fee is the Smarter Choice
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It turns accounting into strategy.
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It builds trust instead of tension.
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It lets us focus on what matters — your next move.
Our approach isn’t about squeezing minutes into invoices.
It’s about building an advisory relationship that helps your business grow — sustainably, transparently, and intelligently.
🧭 Why 42 Advisory?
Because we answer complexity with clarity.
We combine tax, advisory, and finance under one calm, precise system — built for founders, professionals, and growing businesses who value insight over noise.
From Chadstone to Melbourne’s CBD, we’re here to streamline your accounting, simplify your decisions, and set your business up for what’s next.
🌱 Real Example: From Complexity to Clarity
A Melbourne-based digital agency came to us after managing their finances through multiple providers — bookkeeping in one place, accounting and tax in another.
Each month brought new surprises:
unexplained charges, time billed for every email, and a lack of cohesion between their trading company, trust, and personal returns.
We restructured everything into one inclusive monthly service fee, covering:
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Bookkeeping and payroll
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Trading company financials and tax return
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Holding trust administration
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Two individual tax returns
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BAS lodgements
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TPAR compliance
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Corporate secretarial and ASIC annual review fees
All combined into a single monthly payment, fully transparent and predictable.
The result?
They now have one advisor, one monthly fee, and one clear picture of their financial world — without the noise or surprises.
That’s the 42 difference — clarity by design.
✳️ Ready to Simplify Your Accounting?
Book a Discovery Session today and find out why Melbourne businesses are switching to 42 Advisory’s fixed-fee model.