Barbie’s Guide to Getting Your Business Affairs in Order

Hey loves,

So, this blog is mainly for our girls, whether you're fresh on the scene or have been in the game for a while, this one’s for my girls who still haven’t quite sorted their business affairs yet. No shame—we’ve all been there. But as we roll into the final quarter of the financial year, it’s the perfect time to reflect, regroup, and get our businesses tight.

Now, I know—talking about tax and finances isn’t exactly a thrill ride (hello, endless reconciliation ?). But let’s be real: in our industry, it's a convo that doesn't happen nearly enough. Especially for the touring girls—between flights, hotels, and other expenses, understanding your finances is crucial. And knowing what’s actually deductible? Game-changer.

Step One: Get Yourself a Bomb Accountant

The first piece of advice I’d give to anyone is: Get a great accountant who understands our line of work. I’m not shy about giving a shout-out to my own accountant – I cannot rave enough about him and his team at Red Fox Accounting. They’ve been an absolute lifesaver. Honestly, that first meeting where we discussed setting up my business, figuring out what’s claimable, and what isn’t, has been critical in guiding my business decisions. And can you believe it? My business has been running for 2.5 years now – that’s two tax returns I’ve completed in this line of work. Time flies!

If you're in need of a good accountant and you're in Australia, you can also check out Scarlet Blue's list of sex work-friendly accountants.

What If You Can't Afford an Accountant?

If hiring an accountant isn’t an option yet, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with the basics. But please note – I’m not an accountant, so I’m not giving official advice here. I’m simply sharing some important steps. First up, you need an ABN (Australian Business Number). If you don’t have one yet, now is the time to set it up. Ideally, this should be done before you start in the industry, but if you’re reading this and haven’t done it yet – don’t wait! When applying for your ABN, you'll need to pick an industry category that best matches your work. But honestly, this part doesn’t matter that much – your accountant can always change it later when you’re ready to work with one. What matters is how you claim tax deductions.

Business Account – Super Important!

Next on the list: have a business account set up, linked to your ABN. I personally recommend choosing a bank that allows cash deposits. The source of your income doesn’t matter – what counts is that you’re claiming it as business income and paying tax on it.

Red Flags You Don’t Want to Wave

Now, let’s talk about the risks of NOT claiming your income. It might seem tempting, but here’s the reality:

Not reporting your income from this job you’re opening yourself up to an audit and not just yourself but those you received the funds from may well be in the firing line.
It’ll be difficult to buy large purchases such as a car, home, or anything else that requires proof of income.
The ATO can and will investigate large bank deposits and then in turn usually track the source, again opening up the firing line to the source.
Dodging tax? It’s illegal. And if you get caught, you could face massive fines or even jail time. Ain’t nobody got time for that. Check out the ATO’s page for more info.

What Can You Claim?

As mentioned earlier, what you can claim as a tax deduction depends on the category your ABN is set up under. But be careful – if you’re mis-claiming things, you could end up with a massive ATO debt. If you’re ever uncertain about what you can claim, don’t hesitate to consult with an accountant.

Cash & Safety – Be Smart

Lastly, I know a lot of us deal with cash at various points in our career. But please, listen to this warning: Don’t keep large amounts of cash at home, in your car, or on you. It’s risky, and there’s always the chance that it could be stolen. If you do have cash, keep it secure and be discreet about how much you have or where it’s stored. Protect yourself and your money.

General Financial Advice

As a final bit of general advice – especially for those of us in this industry – it’s so important to learn how to work smarter, not harder. Tracking your shifts and earnings will help you figure out which shifts and days are most profitable for you. By doing this, you’ll reduce wasted time, which we can all agree is precious!

I also recommend looking at your hourly earnings over a monthly or yearly basis to assess whether it’s worth your effort. Don’t judge a shift by just one day or one week; look at the bigger picture.

There’s a super cool woman who created an app that tracks all of this for you, and I can’t rave about her or her Instagram enough. If you’re on the hunt for a game-changer, check out @Ruby_theapp3.0. Ruby’s a sex worker herself, and her app is absolutely amazing for managing your shifts and earnings.

Take care of your business, ladies, and make sure your financial house is in order. Running a business isn't always fun, but it’s necessary to make sure you're setting yourself up for long-term success.

With Love & Spreadsheets, Barbie xX