Sprout Payroll & Finance

25/10/2026

As expert childcare bookkeepers, here are three things worth knowing if you run a childcare service:

1. The three numbers every director should have before the Christmas closure
2. Why the ATO’s Director Penalty Notices need your attention
3. Why it matters that your BAS agent is actually registered

If you would like help running the numbers for your service, get in touch.

19/10/2026

16/10/2026

A full room and a profitable centre aren’t always the same thing.

Your break-even occupancy is the percentage of places you need filled each day just to cover your costs: wages, rent, food, nappies, electricity and everything else it takes to keep the doors open. Anything above that number is profit. Anything below it is a loss, even if/when the centre feels busy.

Most centre owners know their occupancy rate. Far fewer know their break-even point, and without it you can’t answer these important questions:

- Can we afford another educator?
- What happens if we drop a few children over the holidays?
-Is it time to review our fees?

Your break-even number changes as your costs change. Wage increases, award changes and rising rent all move it, so it’s something you need to revisit consistently to keep accurate.

If you’re not sure what yours is, we can help you work it out. Send us a message or book a time via the link in our bio.

bookkeeping payroll smallbusinessaustralia

30/09/2026

Today (1st October) marks the official start of Australia's new card surcharge rules. 🚨

If your childcare service previously passed merchant processing fees on to families, you need to adjust your payment setup immediately if you haven't already.

While you can roll these costs into your overall fee structure, you must ensure any rate increases stay strictly under your Worker Retention Payment (WRP) fee growth cap.

We understand that navigating ECEC compliance is hard. If you need help, make sure to reach out.

23/09/2026

🚨 1 October is coming — is your service ready?
If you currently pass card processing fees onto families, now is the time to think about what comes next.
There are a few ways to tackle the change — but having a plan before October hits is key. 🌱
We’ve broken it down in the latest edition of The Root Bulletin, along with other important updates for childcare providers.
📩 Sign up via the link in our bio.

22/09/2026

Giving our clients the right support and making them happy is what we do best.

We have been blessed recently with some lovely new reviews from our clients.

Feel free to pause this video to read them. And if you are looking for a team of child care specialist bookkeepers, be sure to reach out.

21/09/2026

🌱 Childcare finance doesn’t have to be complicated.
We’ve launched The Root Bulletin — practical updates on payroll, finance, compliance and what’s happening across the Early Learning sector.
Sign up via the link in our bio ✉️

12/09/2026

Our fun facts… what’s yours?

P.s not all people who work in finance are boring 💁🏼‍♀️

02/09/2026

To every educator shaping the little humans in your care: thank you.

The patience you show. The tiny moments of wonder you notice. The impact you make. None of it goes unnoticed.

Happy Educators' Day to the incredible people who show up every single day for our littlest learners. The work you do matters more than you know. 💛

17/08/2026

Here’s a case study on one of our clients who came to us with a payroll processing issue.

This is just one of the many situations we help our clients overcome. Payroll, bookkeeping, compliance are what we do best. If you aren’t as confident with the numbers as you are with the children, we recommend booking in for a free call.