I’ve had a few conversations recently with business owners who said the same thing, in slightly different ways: “It feels like I’m constantly chasing the BAS.” If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And more importantly, it’s not a sign you’re bad at business or disorganised. It’s usually a sign that the system around your numbers isn’t supporting you.

Here’s what’s really happening.

When BAS always feels urgent, it’s usually because the work is being done reactively. Receipts are gathered late. Transactions are coded in a rush. Questions only come up when a deadline is looming. That pressure builds quarter after quarter until BAS becomes something you dread rather than a simple reporting exercise.

The shift happens when you stop treating BAS as a once-a-quarter event and start treating it as a by-product of good habits. One small change makes the biggest difference: keeping your numbers “BAS-ready” all the time. That doesn’t mean more work. It means less catch-up.

When your bookkeeping is up to date monthly, when payroll and super are reconciled as you go, and when GST is checked regularly, BAS stops being a scramble. It becomes a confirmation exercise, not a rescue mission. The businesses that feel most in control don’t think about BAS very often. They already know roughly what’s coming. Cash flow surprises reduce. Decisions improve. Stress drops.

Here’s your simple action for this week:

• Ask yourself: If BAS was due tomorrow, how much work would it really take?
• If the answer is “a lot,” that’s your signal—not a failure, just a focus point.

Getting ahead of BAS isn’t about working harder.

It’s about putting the right rhythm in place so deadlines stop running your business. If you’d like help setting that rhythm, that’s exactly what we do. And once it’s in place, you’ll wonder why BAS ever felt so heavy in the first place. Calm, control, and clarity always start with the numbers—when they’re working for you, not against you.

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Please also note that many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances. Should you have any further questions, please get in touch with us for assistance with your SMSF, business, bookkeeping and tax requirements. All rights reserved. Based on content from Wize Mentoring, a trusted resource for business advisors worldwide. Liability Limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.