Business Advisor on the Sunshine Coast
Practical, mentor-style business advice for Sunshine Coast business owners. Know your numbers, plan your cash, price for profit and make big decisions with someone in your corner.
Book a free 30-minute consultation
Not just your accountant – your business mentor
Most business owners only hear from their accountant once a year, when the tax return is done and the year is already over. By then it is too late to change the result. Mentor Tax & Advisory works differently. We help Sunshine Coast business owners look forward as well as back: where the cash is going, what is actually making money, and what needs to happen next to reach the goals you have set.
The name is deliberate. Director Blake Land has spent more than 25 years in tax and accounting, and he works with business owners as a mentor: someone who knows the numbers, asks the awkward questions and gives straight, practical advice you can act on this week.
Business advisory services
Cash flow forecasting
Profit and cash are not the same thing. A business can be profitable on paper and still struggle to pay wages, suppliers and the ATO on time. We build a rolling cash flow forecast from your Xero file that shows the months ahead, including BAS payments, PAYG instalments, super, loan repayments and seasonal swings. You see a shortfall coming months in advance and have time to do something about it, rather than finding out when the bank balance drops.
Budgeting
A budget is a plan for the year written in numbers. We help you set a realistic budget for income, wages, overheads and capital spending, load it into Xero, and then compare actual results against it each month or quarter so you can see early where things are drifting.
KPIs and management reporting
We help you choose a small number of key performance indicators that matter for your business – for example gross margin, labour cost as a share of sales, average job value, debtor days or revenue per staff member – and report them in a short, readable format. Paired with our bookkeeping and monthly reporting, it gives you a regular, honest picture of performance without wading through pages of reports.
Pricing and profitability
Many small businesses undercharge, often because prices were set years ago and costs have moved since. We look at what each product, service or job type really costs to deliver, including your own time, and where your margin is being lost. From there we work through pricing options, quoting templates and which customers or services are worth growing and which are quietly costing you money.
Growth planning
Thinking about hiring, opening a second location, buying equipment or taking on a large contract? We model the numbers first: how much extra revenue you need to cover the cost, how long until it pays back, what it does to cash flow, and how it should be funded and structured. Growth should make the business stronger, not just busier.
Buying or selling a business
Buying a business is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make. Before you sign, we can review the financial statements and tax returns you have been given, look at how reliable the profits are, ask the right questions about the figures, and talk through the tax side of the deal, including the structure you buy through and how the price is split between goodwill, equipment and stock.
If you are selling, preparation pays off. Clean books, consistent reporting and a business that does not depend entirely on you all make it easier for a buyer to understand what they are buying. We also look at the capital gains tax position and whether small business CGT concessions may be available, so there are no surprises after settlement. We work alongside your solicitor and broker rather than replacing them.
Succession planning
Whether you plan to hand the business to family, sell to staff or a partner, or simply step back over time, succession takes years to do well. We help you map out a timeline, think through the tax consequences of transferring ownership, and review whether your current business structure suits the exit you have in mind. Starting early gives you more options.
How our advisory work runs
Advice only works if it is used, so we keep it simple. We start with a conversation about where the business is and where you want it to be. Then we agree what support suits you: a one-off project such as a cash flow model or pricing review, or regular catch-ups – monthly or quarterly – to go through results, check progress against the budget and work on the next decision. Because we also prepare your tax returns and can lodge your BAS, our advice is joined up with your tax position rather than sitting in a separate silo.
We work in Xero (we are Xero L2 Certified Advisors) and use practical AI and automation tools to cut down manual reporting, so more of our time goes into thinking about your business and less into producing spreadsheets. If you are new to Xero's reporting, our guide to getting the most from Xero is a good place to start.
What we do not do
Our advisory work is about your business: its numbers, its tax, its structure and its plans. We do not provide financial planning or advice about financial products such as investments, insurance or superannuation products. Where you need that, we are happy to work alongside your licensed adviser.
Why Mentor Tax & Advisory
- Qualified and registered. Blake Land holds a Bachelor of Commerce, is a member of AIPA and a Fellow of the NTAA, and is a Registered Tax Agent (TAN 25901938).
- 25+ years of experience, including more than 10 years working with Sunshine Coast businesses across all industries.
- Straight talk. Plain-English advice, with the reasoning explained, so you can make the call with confidence.
- Industry experience, including QBCC-licensed builders who need to keep a close eye on their financial position.
Supporting businesses across the Sunshine Coast
We work with business owners in Noosa, Coolum Beach, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Buderim, Caloundra and Gympie, and with businesses anywhere in Australia online. Meetings can be in person, by phone or by video, whatever suits you.
Book a free 30-minute consultation
Business owners can book a free 30-minute consultation to talk through what is working, what is not and where some advice could make a difference. Call Blake on 0400 074 846 or get in touch online.
Frequently asked questions
What does a business advisor do that my accountant doesn't?
Traditional accounting looks back at what already happened, mainly to prepare tax returns. Business advisory looks forward. It covers cash flow forecasting, budgets, KPIs, pricing, growth plans and big decisions like buying or selling a business. At Mentor Tax & Advisory we do both, so the advice you get is connected to your actual tax position and the numbers in your books.
How often would we meet?
It depends on what you need. Some clients want a one-off project, such as a cash flow forecast or a pricing review. Others prefer regular monthly or quarterly catch-ups to review results against budget, check KPIs and work through upcoming decisions. We agree the scope with you up front so you know what is included and what it costs before we start.
Can you help me work out if I am charging enough?
Yes. We look at what each product, service or type of job actually costs to deliver, including labour, materials, overheads and your own time, and compare that with what you charge. That usually shows where margin is being lost. We then work through pricing options and quoting practices so your prices cover your costs and leave a sensible profit.
I'm thinking of buying a business. How can you help?
Before you commit, we can review the financial statements and tax returns the seller has provided, test how reliable the reported profits are, and help you prepare questions for the seller. We also advise on the tax side, including which structure to buy through and how the purchase price is allocated. We work alongside your solicitor and broker, not instead of them.
Do you provide financial planning or investment advice?
No. Our advice covers your business, including its numbers, tax, structure and plans. We do not provide financial planning or advice about financial products such as investments, insurance or super products. If you need that kind of advice, we are happy to work with your licensed financial adviser so your business and personal plans line up.
Do I need to use Xero?
Xero makes advisory work faster because we can see your live numbers, build reports and track budgets directly in your file. We are Xero L2 Certified Advisors and can set it up or convert you from other software. If you use a different system, talk to us first and we can work out the most practical way to get reliable figures.