Bookkeeping Without the “Bookkeeper.”
Keep your books balanced without hiring an external pro or learning complex accounting jargon.
Managing your books shouldn’t be a second job. Sole is designed to handle the heavy lifting of data entry and reconciliation so you can focus on the tools, not the “books.”
The Verdict: Can you really DIY your bookkeeping?
Best for: Aussie tradies who are sick of “shoebox stress” and want a simple, swipe-based way to keep the ATO happy without paying $150/hour for a bookkeeper.
The Reality: Most tradies don’t need a complex “general ledger”—they need to know how much tax to set aside and who hasn’t paid their bill. Sole replaces the “Sunday afternoon paperwork session” with a 30-second “coffee break” session. It gives you the same bank-feed power as the big apps, but with a “no-jargon” interface built for people who work with their hands, not spreadsheets.
The Bottom Line: If your business is simple (no staff, standard expenses), Sole will save you thousands in bookkeeping fees. If you grow and eventually need a pro, you’ll hand them a perfectly clean digital file instead of a mess, saving you even more on “cleanup” fees.
It’s Like Tinder for Your Bank Account.
Forget manual entry. Sole connects securely to your Australian bank account and turns your bank feed into a productive workspace.
- Match: Every time money leaves or enters your account, Sole shows it to you. See a transaction? Swipe to match it to an existing invoice or expense.
- Auto-Categorise: Sole remembers your habits. It learns that “Bunnings” is usually a material expense and “Caltex” is fuel, suggesting categories for you.
- Reconcile in Seconds: No more sitting down at the end of the month to “do the books.” You can reconcile your entire week’s transactions while waiting for your coffee.
Clarity is Cash Flow.
- Real-Time Tax Estimates: Know exactly how much GST and Income Tax you owe right now. No more “tax-time heart attacks” because you spent your tax money on a new trailer.
- Debtor Tracking: Instantly see who owes you money. Our dashboard highlights overdue invoices so you can follow up with a single tap.
- Keep the Accountant Happy: Accountants charge by the hour. If you give them a shoebox of receipts, it costs you a fortune. If you give them a clean digital file from Sole, they spend less time on “cleanup” and more time saving you money on tax.
ATO Compliance: Sole meets the latest 2026 ATO digital record-keeping requirements. Your data is stored securely in the cloud for the mandatory 5-year retention period—automatically.
Sole vs. A Professional Bookkeeper
| Feature | Tradie Bookkeeper | Sole App |
| Average Cost | $80 – $150 per hour | **$14.99 per month** |
| Typical Monthly Bill | $300 – $600 | **$14.99 (Flat Fee)** |
| Access | Monday – Friday | 24/7 on your phone |
| Data Sync | Manual/Weekly | Real-time Bank Feeds |
Tradie Bookkeeping: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sole’s “Swipe to Match” actually accurate for tax?
Yes. When you swipe to match a bank transaction to an invoice or expense, Sole records it as a “Reconciled” event. This is the exact digital trail the ATO requires for 2026 record-keeping. Because the data comes directly from your bank feed, it eliminates “fat-finger” typing errors and ensures your income reports are 100% accurate.
What if I buy materials at Bunnings with my personal card?
While we always recommend using a dedicated business account, we know life happens. You can manually snap a photo of the receipt in Sole and log it as an “Out of Pocket” expense. Sole will still include it in your GST and tax calculations, so you don’t miss out on those valuable deductions.
How accurate are the “Real-Time Tax Estimates”?
Sole calculates your estimated tax based on current 2025-26 Australian tax brackets and your logged profit. It’s a highly accurate “running total” that includes your GST obligations. While your accountant will make the final adjustments at EOFY, this feature ensures you always know roughly how much of the cash in your bank account actually belongs to the ATO.
Does Sole meet the ATO’s 5-year record-keeping rule?
Yes. The ATO requires you to keep business records for 5 years. Sole stores your data and receipt images securely in the cloud, so even if you lose your phone or your truck gets stolen, your business history is safe. If you ever leave Sole, you can export your entire history in a single click.
Can I handle “Cash Jobs” in Sole?
Absolutely. If a client pays you in cash, you simply create a “Cash” payment against their invoice in Sole. This keeps your income tracking honest and ensures your Profit & Loss statement reflects the entire business, not just what went through the bank.
What happens if I get an ATO audit?
Don’t panic. If the ATO asks for proof, you don’t have to hunt through folders. You can simply export a “Transaction Report” or invite your accountant to the Sole Accountant Portal. Every swiped transaction and snapped receipt is timestamped and categorized, making audits fast and painless.
Sole: Simple DIY Bookkeeping & Swipe-to-Match Bank Reconciliation
Stop overpaying for bookkeepers. Sole’s DIY bookkeeping framework helps Australian tradies automate bank reconciliation, track GST in real-time, and manage tax prep without complex accounting jargon. Move from "Sunday paperwork sessions" to 30-second "coffee break" reconciliations.
Price: 14.99
Price Currency: AUD
Operating System: Web-based, iOS, Android
Application Category: AccountingApplication, BusinessApplication
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Pros
- Automated bank feeds and reconciliation
- Real-time GST and income tax estimates
- ATO-compliant 5-year digital record storage
- Swipe-to-match transaction interface
- Affordable flat monthly pricing
Cons
- Designed primarily for sole traders
- Not built for complex payroll or large teams