Sole Trader Tristan Santoro Shares His EOFY Tax Tips

When Melbourne carpenter Tristan Santoro set up his small business a little under a year ago, he knew life as a sole trader would demand more than simply his time on the tools.

Running Isla Projects, his residential carpentry business, also means staying on top of the administrative side of work as well – issuing invoices, tracking expenses and juggling client appointments.

“It never stops, but at the same time, I don’t think I’d be half as good of a businessman if I didn’t understand the back end of my work,” says Tristan, who documents his carpentry projects and work life through his popular Instagram and TikTok accounts.

To learn the ropes, Tristan sought out YouTube videos and online business guides, which he crosschecked with his accountant, to ensure he grasped the basics of running a busy small business. “Teaching myself how to run a business has probably been one of my favourite things to learn,” he says.

Tristan’s Best EOFY Tax Tips As a Sole Trader

Tristan leaning over a site workbench, writing in a financial year diary at a timber‑framed house build; earmuffs and tools rest on the table.

1. Stay on Top of Admin

Although Tristan is relatively new to self-employment, he has already absorbed one of the central mantras of sole trader life: EOFY tax time is less stressful when you stay organised throughout the year. “I was told straight away to not get caught out by tax,” he says.

For him, that means regularly reconciling expenses, attaching receipts as he goes and keeping records current, rather than trying to reconstruct a year’s worth of spending at the last minute. “If you let things slide for three or four months, it can feel like a big chunk of work at the one time,” he says. An Officeworks for Business account allows businesses to track orders online, with one place to view and download all orders and invoices for easy record keeping.

2. Write Things Down

Alongside his accounting software, Tristan relies on physical notetaking to stay organised. He keeps a diary in his car to log his hours, note personal appointments and to jot down any reminders. When he gets home, he transfers the work-related appointments and notes into his dedicated desk diary. “I’m always making sure the little things don’t go unnoticed because they can really turn around to bite you down the track,” he says.‍

Tristan at a worksite, holding and looking at a tablet while talking to a colleague who is standing on a ladder and also looking at the tablet.

3. Keep a Separate Business Bank Account

While many sole traders combine their business and personal accounts in one, Tristan recommends maintaining a separate bank account for your small business. “For the most part, everything I’m [buying] on the business card is something I can claim,” he says. An Officeworks for Business account also allows you to separate personal and business purchases for easy reconciliation at the end of the financial year.

Officeworks for Business customers can also receive a 5%* discount on thousands of business essentials to help them run their businesses, like:

4. Get Printed Materials Fast with Officeworks for Business

As an Officeworks for Business customer, Tristan enjoys 5%* off same-day printing^ – a perk he uses liberally. “That easy accessibility is so beneficial for me when I need to print [materials such as contracts],” he says.

Tristan’s Top Tradie Tools

Tristan using a carpenter’s pencil to mark site plans at a ute‑mounted workstation on a house construction site.

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A series of images showing an assortment of tradie supplies being used on a worksite. Products include things like tablets, carpenter’s pencils, financial diaries and earmuffs.

On-the-job equipment

Whether it’s designing plans for a client or marking up his materials, there are a few essentials Tristan swears by for getting the job done. “The 2H is your classic carpenter’s pencil for all things timber,” he says. “I can never have enough, and I feel like they are always getting stolen on-site! I am also always finding them in the washing machine because I leave them in my shorts. If I don’t have a pencil on site, I couldn’t do 90 per cent of the jobs I do.”

What to Try

‍Admin and planning tools

Tristan combines pen-and-paper with the latest tech to stay on top of the different elements of his job. He uses a financial year diary to plan his year. “It’s so much more structural. I’ve got this financial year planner on my desk at home, and I love to write things down. If I [physically write] with my hands, it just sinks in a lot better: if I can see it right in front of me, I’m going to remember it.”

He also uses a tablet while on job sites to have everything he needs at his fingertips – and to make the most of smoko. “I bring my tablet onto site so that when I need to look at the plans, they’re right there,” he says. “It means I don’t have to carry around an A3 bit of paper and lay it out on concrete, which was very common when I was doing my apprenticeship. It’s also good to have a tablet on-site so I can answer my emails on smoko or make additional notes. I own a tablet, but it’s old, so I will be looking at upgrading to a newer one before EOFY.”

What to Try

Personal Protective Equipment

Working with tools and in the Australian sun means Tristan needs to be prepared with a first aid kit, sunscreen and other essentials to protect his ears and eyes during the day. ““Being on site, PPE [personal protective equipment is a must. These 3M earmuffs with bluetooth protect your hearing and keep the vibes going all day.”

What to Try

It’s free to sign up for Officeworks for Business – all you need is an ABN. You’ll save 5%* on thousands of business essentials, get access to exclusive deals and unlock tailored support for your team.

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