Our fees
A hallmark of our approach to service delivery has always been transparency with our fees. Not only have we always indicated the availability of fixed fees, we have always published our fees to our website and were among the first to do so (many fixed fee firms still do not, others have copied our approach, sometimes word-for-word!). We still offer a huge range of fixed fee services, and these are set out in the table below. But we have also delivered cost effectiveness to our clients by greatly reducing the hourly rates at which we work for small businesses. To keep our fees as low as possible, we:
- do not typically use administrative staff; and
- rely on technology to work flexibly, and at times and from locations most convenient for us and our clients. We work from our office on St Kilda Road, from home or from any other location that is suitable and convenient for us and our families.
Our operating model means that we can offer an extremely cost effective professional services solution for our micro and small business clients. Indeed, we think that our hourly rates might be the most affordable on offer for comparable services.
Choosing a fee type
We introduced our low hourly rates in 2016 and an increasingly growing proportion of our clients are choosing this fee option.
The hourly rate is our way of giving our clients increased flexibility, whilst at the same time allowing them to take responsibility for the fees incurred in their matter.
Our fixed fees, where available, are necessarily an estimate of the likely costs associated with the average matter of a particular kind. If you think that your work is very straightforward, and will take less time than the average matter, then you can take the benefit of a very low hourly rate and thereby achieve greater cost effectiveness. If, however, it should happen that your matter is not as straightforward as you anticipated, then your fees on an hourly basis may well exceed the fixed fee that would have applied had you chosen that fee option. Conversely, in a fixed fee scenario, we generally take the risk of the matter taking longer than anticipated, and you have the benefit of cost certainty.
You can generally choose between the relevant hourly rate or fixed fee – but you must do this as the start of your matter. If you don’t tell us that you want the relevant fixed fee, the hourly rate relevant to your matter will apply. The fixed fees and hourly rates relevant to your matter will be set out in the Services Agreement that we issue to you for all services except consultation only services.
It is important to note that fixed fees cannot be offered for all kinds of services – examples include high level / specialist work and litigation work.
Other fees and charges
It is important to understand that our hourly rates and fixed fees do not typically include other fees and charges – these would include disbursements (costs we incur on your behalf such as search fees), credit card surcharge fees, interest and other charges due on overdue payments. Other fees and charges which may be relevant to your matter will be set out in the Services Agreement that we issue to you for all services except consultation only services.
LEGAL SERVICES
| Item | Service description | Standard Fee (inc. GST) |
| 001 | Initial consult
The initial consult is an ideal way to start with Avenue Solutions. It may help you to identify and understand the issues with which you require assistance and, if relevant, the services that we can provide which will help you to deal with those issues. Our advisers will provide you with information and advice during the initial consult. Initial consults are only available to new clients, or to existing clients with new matters. |
$99
add $20 for out of hours consult, including Saturdays |
| 002 | Business starter package
Our business starter package provides you with a consultation with each of a lawyer, accountant, marketing expert, insurance broker and business development adviser. |
NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE |
| 003 | New fee item coming soon | |
| 004 | New fee item coming soon | |
| 101 | Company formation
Our advisers will attend to the incorporation of your proprietary company limited by shares. The fee includes the ASIC registration fee of $463, all documents on incorporation (including constitution), and company register. For an additional annual fee, you can choose to use our office as the registered office of your company, which provides you with a range of benefits (see Item 701). |
$880 |
| 102 | Trust establishment
Our lawyers will attend to drafting a trust deed to establish a standard discretionary (family) or unit trust. |
$880 including $200 stamp duty |
| 103 | Small Legal Jobs
The perfect fixed-fee solution when you need a legal adviser to undertake small jobs, like drafting simple company resolutions, preparing and lodging ASIC forms, small amendments to existing legal documents, and many other small legal jobs. Talk to your Avenue Solutions adviser to find out if this fee item is right for you. |
$645 |
| 105 | Basic written legal advice
This service enables you to obtain written advice concerning a single legal issue that is, when considered in its factual context, not especially novel or complex. As a guide, the written advice will be approximately 3 pages in length, including background, scope and summary sections. This item may be suitable for having us review, and advise upon, standard commercial documents. |
$660 |
| 106 | Standard written legal advice
This service enables you to obtain written advice concerning a single principal legal issue that, when considered in its factual context, may be described as moderately novel or complex. As a guide, the written advice will be approximately 6 pages in length, including background, scope and summary sections. |
$2,200 |
| 107 | Detailed written legal advice
This service enables you to obtain written advice concerning a single principal legal issue that, when considered in its factual context, may be described as novel or complex. As a guide, the written advice will exceed 6 pages in length, including background, scope and summary sections. |
$3,300 |
| 108 | Standard taxation law advice
This service enables you to obtain written advice concerning a single principal taxation law issue that, when considered in its factual context, may be described as moderately novel or complex. |
$3,300 |
| 109 | Retail leasing
Our lawyers will prepare, or review, a retail lease (which includes most small shop-front leases), including a disclosure document. |
$1,290 + disbursements (approximately $100) |
| 110 | Standard commercial agreement
Our lawyers will attend to drafting a standard, yet tailored, commercial agreement specifically to meet your requirements. Agreements included as part of this fixed fee service include shareholders agreement, loan agreement, agency agreement, confidentiality agreement, heads of agreement, management agreement, and agreements to regulate working relationships (contractor / employment agreements). |
$1,500 |
| 120 | Trade mark application (Australia)
Our advisers will undertake work to identify appropriate trade mark class(s), conduct preliminary searches, provide a basic written advice, and prepare and lodge a standard application to IP Australia. |
$775 + IP Australia Fees |
| 200 | Acting in the sale / purchase of a small business
Our lawyers will act for you in the sale or purchase of a business the sale price for which does not exceed $350,000 (excluding stock). The fixed fee includes preparing and/or reviewing a disclosure document, contract for sale, and lease (as applicable). It does not include transactions involving the sale / purchase of real property. |
$3,300 + disbursements (approx. $200) |
| 220 | Acting in a business law matter Our lawyers will act for you in relation to a business law matter (excluding tax law and litigation). This fee item is only available to businesses with revenue and/or assets not exceeding $2m. For businesses exceeding that threshold, the relevant hourly rate is $265 inc GST. |
$159 per hour
|
| 230 | Acting in a legal matter – tax law
Our lawyers will act for you in relation to a tax law matter. |
$297 per hour |
| 501 | Conveyancing
Our advisers will act for you in relation to a standard conveyancing matter in respect of real property having a sale/purchase price of less than AUD$1million |
$999 + disbursements (approx. $300) |
| 502 | Acting in a conveyancing matter
Our advisers will act for you in relation to a standard residential conveyancing matter. |
$69 per hour + disbursements (approx. $300) |
| Item | Service description | Standard Fee (inc. GST) |
| AA100 | AdviserAssist - STARTER
Not presently available |
N/A |
| AA200 | AdviserAssist - ACCOUNTS
Not presently available |
N/A |
| AA300 | AdviserAssistDESIGNED
Tell us what services you need, and we will design an AdviserAssist plan just for you. You can select from our entire range of services, including tax and accounting. |
INDIVIDUALLY QUOTED |
ACCOUNTING SERVICES
| Item | Service description | Standard Fee (inc. GST) |
| 301 | Bookkeeping
We can undertake all your day-to-day bookkeeping needs. We can typically provide you with a fixed or capped fee once we understand your requirements. |
$77 per hour |
| 302 | Accounting
Beyond bookkeeping, our advisers can provide a range of compliance based accounting services including the preparation of financial statements. |
$132 per hour |
| 303 | Financial Statements Preparation
Based on annual accounting records, we will prepare year-end special purpose financial report including profit and loss statement and balance sheet from which tax return can be prepared. |
$600 |
| 304 | Training Xero/MYOB/Quickbooks
Includes 2 hours training with any follow up questions plus all the opening journal entries and setting up of charts of accounts and company files. |
$400 |
TAXATION SERVICES (not including taxation law services)
| Item | Service description | Standard Fee (inc. GST) |
| 401 | Tax Planning Consultation
Consultation to discuss tax planning opportunities |
$199 |
| 402 | Individual taxation return preparation and lodgement
Salary and wage earner with some additional items. |
$270 |
| 402A | Individual Tax Return Schedule
This is an additional charge applied for each schedule required as part of your tax return. Schedules are used for items such as investment properties, capital gains, employee share schemes and the like. |
$120 |
| 403 | Individual taxation return preparation and lodgement (sole trader)
All individual taxation returns which are not basic returns (must provide us with prepared financial and tax reconciliation statements). |
$400 |
| 404 | Partnership taxation return preparation and lodgement – standard | $600 |
| 405 | Trust taxation return preparation and lodgement – standard | $600 |
| 406 | Company taxation return preparation and lodgement – standard | $600 |
| 407 | Business Activity Statement preparation and lodgement – standard
Does not include preparation of accounts |
$199 |
| 408 | Fringe Benefits Tax return – standard | $600 |
OTHER SERVICES
| Item | Service description | Standard Fee (inc. GST) |
| 701 | Company annual statements (ASIC)
Includes reviewing company statement, attending to any required ASIC notifications and provision of solvency resolution. |
$220 |
| 702 | ATO registration(s) e.g. ABN, GST, PAYG withholding as required. | $220 |
| 703 | Registered office services
We will provide consent for your proprietary limited company to use our office as its registered company address. This annual fee includes providing you with annual advice concerning the annual company statement, annual solvency resolution, one update to the company register annually including the preparation and lodgement of an ASIC form 484 where required and forwarding of all official correspondence received for the company. |
$330 annually |
| 704 | Business Plan Template – template for a basic business plan for completion and use by business owners / managers. | FREE with any consultation (item 001) |
| 705 | Basic Business Plan
We will provide you with a basic written business plan using content supplied by you. Includes 1 x initial consult to discuss business to which plan relates. Does not include financials. |
$770 |
| 706 | Intermediate Business Plan
We will provide you with a basic written business plan using content supplied by you and some externally researched / sourced content (if required). Includes 1 x initial consult to discuss business to which plan relates and excel based financials (12 month cash-flow and budget). |
$1,100 |
| 707 | Detailed Business Plan
We will provide you with a detailed written business plan customised to your specific needs/requirements using content supplied by you and externally researched / sourced content. Includes 2 x consults to discuss business to which plan relates and financials (12 month cash-flow and budget). |
$3,300 |
This fee information is provided to assist you to understand our product and services offering, and our fee structure. If you would like to discuss any of our products and services, or our fees, in relation to your specific needs, please call us on (03) 9092 9891, email us at info@avenuesolutions.com.au. This fee information is current as at 1 July 2017. Our fees are subject to change without notice. Not all service items are available to all clients. All fees are stated inclusive of GST.


