Accountants for Creatives & the Entertainment Industry
Specialist accounting, tax and business advisory for Australia’s creative and entertainment industries. Film, TV, music, live events, content creators, performing artists and creative freelancers.
Dedicated exclusively to entertainment and creative industry clients
Years of specialist experience in creative industry accounting and tax
Creative and entertainment businesses don’t work like other businesses. Income is irregular. Revenue comes from multiple sources — platform ad splits, brand deals, ticket sales, distribution advances, government grants, and production offset claims — each with different tax treatments and reporting requirements. Work is project-based, seasonal, or entirely unpredictable. And the line between personal and business expenses is blurred in ways that a standard accountant simply doesn’t understand.
Count Out Loud exists specifically for this world. Founded in 2012 by Carmel (CA/CPA) and Blake, the firm works exclusively with creative and entertainment industry clients — from solo content creators and freelance performers through to touring artists, production companies and post-production studios. Count Out Loud is a Xero Platinum Champion Partner (top 1% nationally) and winner of Screen Producers Australia’s Services and Facilities Business of the Year.
Count Out Loud does not just lodge tax returns. The firm helps creative businesses structure properly, claim every deduction they’re entitled to, stay compliant with the ATO, and make informed financial decisions as they grow.
Creative Industries Served
Film & TV Production
Production tax advisory, Producer Offset claims, QAPE tracking, SPV setup, crew payroll, cost reporting and funder acquittals. From development through to final delivery.
Content Creators & Influencers
Tax, bookkeeping, GST and business structuring for YouTubers, TikTokers, podcasters, streamers, UGC creators and social media influencers across Australia.
Music, Touring & Live Events
Accounting for musicians, bands, touring artists, promoters and live event companies. Royalty income, touring expenses, merchandise, international earnings and income averaging.
Documentary Production
Specialist accounting for documentary makers. Screen Australia funding acquittals, multi-year production budgets, offset claims and compliance for long-form projects.
Post-Production & VFX
Tailored accounting for post-production houses and VFX studios. Multi-project cost allocation, PDV offset claims and R&D tax incentive eligibility.
Performing Artists
Tax and accounting for actors, dancers, comedians, voice artists and performers. Income averaging, agent commissions, wardrobe, training and travel deductions.
Creative Freelancers
Writers, designers, photographers, illustrators, animators and other creative professionals. ABN vs employment, home office deductions, irregular income management and GST thresholds.
Producer Offset Services
End-to-end Producer Offset management. QAPE tracking, provisional certificates, QAPE opinions for lenders, cost reports and final certification for the 40% or 30% offset.
Why Creatives Need a Specialist Accountant
A standard business accountant will lodge your return, but they won’t know what they’re missing. Creative and entertainment work comes with financial complexities that most accountants have never encountered:
Irregular & Multi-Source Income
Platform revenue, brand deals, royalties, grants, ticket sales, licensing fees — creative income arrives from many sources with different tax treatments. Count Out Loud knows how to structure and report each one correctly.
Industry-Specific Deductions
Equipment, home studios, travel for shoots and tours, wardrobe for performers, agent commissions, music licensing, editing software — the team knows exactly what you can claim because Count Out Loud works with creatives every day.
Income Averaging
Special provisions allow eligible artists, performers, authors and inventors to average their income over multiple years, potentially saving thousands in tax. Most accountants don’t know the rules or how to apply them correctly.
Business Structure & Growth
When to move from sole trader to company or trust, how to set up an SPV for a production, when to register for GST — Count Out Loud advises creative businesses at every stage of growth.
Services for Creative Businesses
- Tax compliance & lodgement — individual returns, company, trust and partnership returns, BAS/IAS
- Bookkeeping & Xero setup — chart of accounts tailored to creative businesses, bank feeds, reconciliation
- Business structuring — sole trader, company, trust or SPV — the right structure for your situation
- GST & BAS management — registration thresholds, reporting obligations, input tax credits
- Superannuation — obligations for crew, contractors and employees in the creative industries
- Producer Offset & tax incentives — QAPE tracking, offset claims, R&D tax incentives
- Production tax advisory — on-set financial management, cost reports, cashflow forecasting
- Advisory & virtual CFO — financial strategy, budgeting and growth planning for creative businesses
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a specialist accountant as a creative professional?
If your income comes from creative or entertainment work, a specialist accountant will almost certainly save you money and reduce your compliance risk. Creative professionals have access to deductions and concessions — like income averaging for artists, equipment depreciation, home studio costs, and touring expenses — that generalist accountants routinely miss or apply incorrectly.
What types of creatives does Count Out Loud work with?
Count Out Loud works across the full spectrum of creative and entertainment industries: film and TV production companies, documentary makers, post-production studios, content creators, influencers, YouTubers, podcasters, musicians, touring artists, actors, dancers, comedians, writers, designers, photographers, and other creative freelancers.
Can you help if I’m just starting out as a creative freelancer?
Absolutely. Count Out Loud works with creatives at every stage — from setting up your first ABN and understanding your tax obligations through to restructuring established creative businesses for growth. Getting the fundamentals right early saves significant money and hassle down the track.
Do you work with creatives outside Sydney?
Yes. While the firm is based in North Sydney, Count Out Loud works with creative businesses across Australia. As a Xero Platinum Partner, everything runs through cloud-based systems so location is not a barrier.
What is income averaging and am I eligible?
Income averaging is an ATO provision that allows eligible artists, performers, production associates, authors and inventors to spread unusually high income over multiple years, reducing the tax rate in peak earning years. Count Out Loud assesses eligibility and applies it as part of your tax return. Read the full income averaging guide →
How do I get started?
Contact us for a free initial consultation. The team will discuss your situation and explain how Count Out Loud can help, providing a clear fee estimate before any work begins. Get in touch →
Related Resources
Tax for YouTubers Australia
Complete guide to tax obligations, deductions, ABN, GST and business structure for Australian YouTubers.
Actor Tax Deductions Australia
What actors and performers can claim as tax deductions, including wardrobe, training, travel and agent fees.
Podcast Tax Deductions Australia
Tax deductions for podcasters including equipment, hosting, software, travel and home studio expenses.
Creative Freelancer Tax Guide
Comprehensive guide to tax obligations, deductions and business structuring for creative freelancers.
Income Averaging Guide
How income averaging works for artists, performers and production associates in Australia.
Producer Offset Calculator
Calculate your estimated Producer Offset for feature films, TV, documentaries and other eligible formats.
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