Shoebox

What Shoebox does

Shoebox Books & Tax is an Australian bookkeeping and tax services franchise network headquartered in Nerang, Queensland, operating since 2007. The company delivers bookkeeping, BAS preparation and lodgement, payroll management, accounts payable/receivable, tax return preparation, tax planning, and business advisory services to small and medium businesses across all Australian states and territories through a network of 70+ independent franchise owners. Service delivery is built on deep certification across the three major Australian cloud accounting platforms—Xero (Platinum Partner), MYOB (Diamond Partner), and QuickBooks—supplemented by LEAP legal practice management expertise and Registered BAS/Tax Agent credentials under the ATO regulatory framework. The core technology is a standardized service delivery framework including detailed checklists, email templates, and quality control checks that ensure consistency across franchise locations, rather than proprietary software products.

The business operates a dual revenue model combining franchise licensing/royalties from 70+ franchise owners with downstream professional service fees. Client-facing pricing is structured as fixed-price monthly subscription packages ranging from $260 to $360 + GST per month for bookkeeping services (with regional variation), plus separately quoted tax services on annual or engagement basis. Shoebox serves a long-tail SMB customer base of 10,000+ businesses spanning tradies, hospitality, retail, manufacturing, and franchise networks, with no apparent enterprise anchor dependencies. The company also sells franchise opportunities to aspiring business owners, generating both an upfront fee stream and ongoing licensing royalties as a secondary revenue layer. Marketing is delivered through content marketing (blog, podcast, calculators), local franchisee social media, free consultations, and a 350+ Google review base averaging 4.7 stars.

Shoebox has accumulated significant industry recognition including Top Franchise 2023 and 2024 Top 10 awards, FCA Excellence in Franchising 2022, Australian Small Business Champion Awards 2023, and IFBE Top 30 Franchise Executives recognition. The company is privately held with no disclosed venture capital or private equity backing, no parent company, and no funding rounds in the input data. Ownership appears founder/operator-controlled, with Yvette Coad serving as CEO and National Franchisee Recruitment lead.

Name

Shoebox

Legal name

Shoebox Bookkeeping

Website

https://shoeboxbooksandtax.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Shoebox Books & Tax is an Australian franchise network providing bookkeeping, BAS, payroll, and tax services to 10,000+ small and medium businesses through 70+ independent franchise owners across all Australian states. The company earns revenue through franchise licensing fees and fixed-price monthly service packages built on certified expertise in Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nerang

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees and Licensing: Revenue generated from franchise owners who pay for the right to use the Shoebox brand, receive training, support, and access to proprietary systems and processes. Franchise model enables rapid national expansion without direct employment costs.
2. Bookkeeping Services: Monthly fixed-price packages for small businesses covering data entry, bank reconciliations, BAS prep and lodgement, payroll processing, and quarterly consultations. Pricing ranges from $260-$360/month + GST depending on location and service tier.
3. Tax and Accounting Services: Tax return preparation and lodgement for individuals and businesses, tax planning, and advisory services. Revenue generated through service fees for tax compliance and strategic advisory engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Shoebox Books & Tax is an Australian franchise network that delivers bookkeeping, tax, accounting, payroll, and BAS lodgement services to small businesses across Australia. Services are provided by 70+ independent franchise owners using cloud accounting platforms including Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks, supported by standardized quality control systems, fixed-price monthly packages, and franchise-level training. The company also sells franchise opportunities to aspiring bookkeepers and tax agents under the Shoebox brand.

Product overview

Shoebox Books & Tax is an Australian franchise network offering bookkeeping, accounting, and tax services primarily for small to medium businesses. The company operates as a multi-award-winning franchise group with two main service offerings: Bookkeeping Services (including data entry, bank reconciliations, BAS prep/lodgment, accounts payable/receivable) and Tax & Accounting Services (including tax returns, tax planning, and business advisory). Additional services include Payroll Management, Software Training, and Debt & Cash Flow Management. The company also offers franchise opportunities for bookkeepers and tax professionals. Services are delivered through structured packages (Bookkeeping Lite, Tax Lite Base, Tax Standard) with fixed pricing. The franchise network spans 70+ franchise owners across Australia, serving 10,000+ businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bookkeeping Services Core bookkeeping offering including data entry, bank reconciliations, accounts payable/receivable management, BAS preparation and lodgement, and profit & loss reporting. Delivered by certified bookkeepers across Australia under the Shoebox franchise network for small business clients.
• Tax & Accounting Services Tax return preparation and lodgement for individuals and businesses, tax planning, tax strategy, annual business reviews, company tax, and strategic advisory services provided by registered tax agents.
• Payroll Management Services Payroll processing including pay runs, payslip generation, entitlements calculation, superannuation compliance, and Single Touch Payroll (STP) management for small businesses.
• Accounts Receivable Management of incoming invoices, payment tracking, and debt collection support to help businesses recover overdue payments faster.
• Accounts Payable Management of outgoing payments, invoice matching, and payable allocation to ensure accurate financial records.
• Software and Training Training services for accounting software platforms including Xero, QuickBooks, and MYOB to help clients learn and operate accounting software effectively.
• Business Advisory Professional business advice and expertise from tax and accounting industry experts, including business and finance strategy planning, execution, and management for small business owners.
• Debt & Cash Flow Management Service helping businesses manage quotes, invoices, payment reminders with clear reporting on amounts owed and by whom, plus debt collection support to improve cash flow.
• Bookkeeping Franchises Franchise opportunity for individuals wanting to become bookkeepers, including training, support, proven systems, and access to the Shoebox brand and network across Australia.
• Tax Franchises Franchise opportunity for tax professionals, including thorough training, certification support for BAS and Tax agent credentials, quality control processes, and ongoing operational support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Join 10,000+ Aussie businesses who trust Shoebox
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationXero is the primary cloud accounting platform supported by Shoebox franchisees. Multiple franchisee profiles show Xero Platinum Partner and Certified Advisor status. The partnership enables Shoebox to offer Xero setup, training, and ongoing bookkeeping services to clients.
• MYOBcoreTechnology or IntegrationMYOB is a major accounting software platform supported across the Shoebox network. The company holds MYOB Diamond Partner status, indicating high-level certification and expertise in MYOB products.
• QuickBookscoreTechnology or IntegrationQuickBooks is one of the three major accounting software platforms supported by Shoebox franchisees for client bookkeeping and accounting services.
• Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB)supportOthersProfessional certification body for bookkeepers. Shoebox bookkeepers are members of ICB, providing credibility and ensuring ongoing professional development and standards compliance.
• Australian Taxation Office (ATO)coreOthersShoebox franchisees operate as Registered BAS Agents and Registered Tax Agents, providing authorized services for BAS preparation/lodgement and tax agent services under ATO regulatory framework.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Botkeeper: AI-driven bookkeeping service combining automation with human accountants for SMBs and accounting firms. Comparable SMB bookkeeping offering but with a fundamentally different (AI-first) cost structure that could compete with Shoebox on price.
• Bench (by Vista): North American bookkeeping subscription service delivering monthly financials to SMBs via cloud software. Direct comparability on recurring bookkeeping product and SMB target, with software-enabled delivery as the differentiator versus Shoebox's franchise-led approach.
• Pilot.com: US-based online bookkeeping service for SMBs and startups using cloud platforms (Xero, QBO). Comparable on subscription bookkeeping for small businesses, though Pilot is a venture-backed tech-enabled service rather than a franchise model.

Broad incumbents

• RSM Australia: Mid-tier Australian accounting and advisory network serving SMEs through regional offices. Comparable bookkeeping/tax service lines but serves larger and more complex clients than Shoebox's typical tradie/truckie SMB.
• Xero (Bookkeeping Partner Network): Cloud accounting platform whose certified advisor program competes with Shoebox's franchise bookkeepers for SMB mindshare. As Xero deepens its own advisory marketplace and AI bookkeeping features, it becomes both a partner and an indirect competitor.
• Intuit QuickBooks Live: Software-vendor-branded bookkeeping service pairing QuickBooks users with human bookkeepers. Comparable subscription bookkeeping delivery but with global scale and platform-owned economics that pressure Australian SMB pricing.
• BlueRock: Australian professional services firm offering accounting, tax and advisory with a partner-led model. Overlaps with Shoebox on bookkeeping/tax but operates at higher-end of the SMB and SME market with broader advisory services.

Others

• Karbon: Practice management software for accounting firms, used by bookkeepers and accountants globally. Not a direct competitor but an enabling tool that competing bookkeeping networks use to scale, making it a relevant peer in the broader bookkeeping value chain.

Direct peers

• Tax Store Australia: Australian tax and bookkeeping franchise network offering similar recurring service packages to SMBs through accredited advisors. Closest direct analogue given shared franchise-based GTM and small-business target market.
• H&R Block Australia: Global tax preparation brand with Australian operations serving individuals and small businesses. Directly comparable on tax return preparation service line and SMB customer overlap, though H&R Block leans more retail-storefront than mobile franchisee.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ShoeboxBooksandTax
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shoebox-bookkeeping-shoeboxbooks-

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shoebox