Professional services · Partner and owner led
Fractional CFO for professional services firms
Business advice for law firms, engineering and architecture firms, and consulting firms: the cash tied up in work in progress and debtors, the margin on every fixed fee and every hour, what the partners can draw without straining cash, and what the firm is worth.
Start with your business
Law firms
Lock up, matter margins and the new AML/CTF costs
Partner led practices whose cash sits in unbilled time and unpaid invoices.
Engineering and architecture firms
Fixed fees, project margin and the hours they hide
Consulting engineers and architects whose profit is won or lost project by project.
Consulting firms
Utilisation, pricing and the work that pays
Management and IT consultancies whose margin turns on billable time and the mix of work.
Dates that move your cash
Each is stated in general terms with its source. Your legal adviser or tax adviser can confirm how it applies to your business.
Law firms · Checked 27 October 2026
Since 1 July 2026: AML/CTF duties for lawyers and conveyancers
Lawyers and conveyancers who provide the services AUSTRAC lists carry AML/CTF duties, including enrolment, an AML/CTF program and a compliance officer, customer checks, suspicious matter reports within 3 business days (24 hours for terrorism financing), reports on physical cash of $10,000 or more within 10 business days, and records kept for 7 years for most obligations. Source: AUSTRAC, obligations for tranche 2 entities
Professional services · Checked 27 October 2026
From 1 July 2027: Capital gains changes
For individuals, trusts and partnerships the 50 per cent capital gains discount gives way to cost base indexation and a 30 per cent minimum tax on gains that accrue after 1 July 2027. The ATO says these measures are now law. Source: ATO, reforming negative gearing and capital gains tax
Professional services · Checked 27 October 2026
Since 1 July 2026: Payday Super on every pay run
Super must reach the fund within 7 business days of each payday, unless a longer period applies, so the cash for super leaves with every pay run. Source: ATO, super guarantee due dates
Law firms · Checked 27 October 2026
Trust year ends 31 March: External examination of trust records
Queensland law practices that hold or receive trust money have their trust records externally examined for each year from 1 April to 31 March. In 2026 the examiner report was due by 30 May, and the Law Society treats a missed report as a suitability matter that can be weighed in deciding whether a principal is fit to keep a practising certificate. Source: Queensland Law Society, external examination of trust records
Engineering and architecture firms · Checked 27 October 2026
1 April to 31 May 2027: RPEQ registration renewal
Registration as a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland runs for no more than 12 months, from 1 July to 30 June. Every RPEQ must renew in the annual renewal period from 1 April to 31 May, and a registration not renewed in that period lapses. Source: Board of Professional Engineers Queensland, restoration of registration
Each date checked against its source on 27 October 2026.
Tools to start with
Our fixed fee project tracker, and five more free tools on the ProfitPulse tools site, each with its result on screen straight away.
Articles for professional services firms
- Consulting firms sell hours. The profit lives in the mix
- Engineering consultancies: fixed fee work and the margin it hides
- Law firms: the gap between hours worked and hours banked
- The realisation rate most Queensland engineering and architecture firms have never measured
- The billable hour is cracking: the margin question every IT and management consultancy now faces
- The utilisation illusion
How we work with professional services firms
Every engagement starts with a diagnostic of your numbers and the way the business makes and spends its cash. It then settles into a monthly rhythm of reporting, forecasting and decisions, alongside your accountant and bookkeeper.
- Fractional CFO partnership from $3,750 a month
- Indicative valuation from $4,500
- Comprehensive valuation from $13,500
Engagements usually stay at the starting price. Some need closer oversight or a deeper assessment, and the scope and fee rise to match. Find your fit confirms your price based on the characteristics of your business, and the pricing page explains how everything is sized.
ProfitPulse was founded by a Chartered Accountant and former infrastructure investment banker.
Talk it through with us
A 45 minute discovery call is complimentary, and you will come away with at least one practical observation about your business.