We’ve worked with enough equipment distributors, manufacturers, and service firms to know EOFY is when the cracks start to show. Missed margins, bloated inventory, and operational gaps that were manageable mid-year often hit hardest in June.
In FY25, we’re seeing the pressure mount earlier and harder: rising interest rates, reduced CAPEX incentives, and tighter cash flow are forcing many SMEs to delay investment while still racing to close last-minute deals before 30 June.
Rates are still high. Incentives are winding back. And yet, customers are rushing to close before year-end, hoping to snag a tax deduction on that new tool, ute, or workshop install. Meanwhile, your team might be flat-out quoting, shipping, servicing, and still trying to get clean numbers to the accountant. If you’re feeling stretched, you’re not alone.
Here’s what we’re seeing on the ground and what CFOs are doing now to get ahead.
Pain points and why they hurt more this year
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A practical EOFY checklist: industrial edition
This list comes from years of helping industrial clients navigate EOFY with fewer surprises. Whether you’re already well into planning or just starting to wrap things up, this might help bring a few last-minute actions to your radar. You can also use it to structure your June timeline and make sure nothing critical gets missed:
1. Inventory & Stocktake
- Finalise your stocktake early: count everything, write off obsolete items
- Check cost vs. net realisable value (especially if prices have dropped or items are outdated)
- Clear consignment stock off your books if not owned
- Use this to spot slow-moving lines, discount and sell if needed
2. Work-in-Progress & Job Billing
- Run a WIP report: what’s still open, what’s been delivered but not invoiced?
- Bill completed work now; don’t wait until July
- Review projects for under/overbilling and adjust for revenue recognition
- Identify unbilled service jobs and issue invoices before 30 June
3. Asset Register & Depreciation
- Physically check major equipment: what’s missing, scrapped or idle?
- Add any new assets to your register (especially for instant write-off claims)
- Ensure correct depreciation rates/methods
- For in-progress builds or upgrades, assess if they’re ready to capitalise
4. Tax Incentives & Compliance
- Identify all eligible assets under $20k for instant write-off (purchased & used by 30 June)
- Lodge STP finalisation by 14 July Ensure all super is paid by 30 June for deduction
- Clean up ATO debt; interest won’t be deductible after 1 July 2025
- Review any FBT on company vehicles or staff tools
5. Job Costing & Margin Review
- Compare estimated vs. actual costs on jobs/projects
- Track scope creep and ensure variations are billed
- Break down margin by product/service line to spot what’s working
- Identify unprofitable lines or jobs to review pricing
6. Planning for FY26
- Use EOFY data to forecast cashflow and resourcing
- Flag equipment that needs replacing or upgrading next year
- Review staffing and training needs (especially if apprentices or grants apply)
- Assess whether your current systems can scale with you next year
EOFY is a checkpoint, not a finish line
It’s easy to treat 30 June as a mad dash to the end. But for most industrial businesses, EOFY is actually the starting point for smarter decisions. The data you clean up now is the foundation for your next move, whether it’s cost-cutting, investment, or expansion.
You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. But if you can close FY25 with clean books, clear stock, and confidence in your numbers, you’ll be in a stronger place to make the big calls in FY26.
We’ve helped dozens of businesses in this space leverage their centralised data to get that clarity,and we’ve seen the difference it makes. Less chaos. Better planning. More control.
This year, don’t just survive EOFY. Use it.
