About Startup Sherpa
Business, done right, is the greatest freedom machine ever built.
We're here to help you build one — with the structure, the numbers, the knowledge, and a guide who's made this climb before.
The founder
A business owner first. An accountant second.
I started my first business because I believed — and still believe — that business is one of the greatest freedom machines ever created. Done right, it gives you control over your time, your income, your future, and what you leave behind for your family
Done wrong, it's an exhausting grind that takes everything and gives back very little.
I've started five businesses of my own and sold two of them. I've sat on both sides of that equation — the excitement of building something from nothing, and the hard-won satisfaction of seeing it through to a successful exit. Along the way I've spent more than 20 years in accounting practice and over a decade coaching founders across almost every industry you can name.
What I kept seeing — over and over — was the same pattern. Smart, capable people with great ideas struggling not because their business was bad, but because they didn't have the right support around them.
The wrong structure. No real visibility over their numbers. Nobody to call when things got confusing or hard. That's why I built Startup Sherpa.
My background spans accounting, tax, and law — which means I understand the legal landscape around business structures, contracts, and compliance, and I know when to bring in a specialist. It's not about having all the answers. It's about asking the right questions.
Qualifications & experience
CPA
Certified Practising
Accountant
Member, CPA Australia
Tax
Registered Tax Agent
Licensed to provide tax advice in Australia
LLB
Law Degree
Helps us ask the right legal questions
20+
Years in Accounting
In practice, advising businesses of all sizes
17+
Years in Business
Running and building his own businesses
10+
Years Coaching
Helping founders build businesses that last
Why we exist
Business is a freedom machine. We're here to help you build one.
When a business works the way it's supposed to, it creates something remarkable — financial security, time with your family, the ability to make choices on your own terms. It becomes an asset you own rather than a job you can't escape.
But most people start a business without the structure, the knowledge, or the support to get there. They figure it out as they go — and too many of them don't make it.
We started Startup Sherpa because we wanted to change that. Not for a handful of clients, but for anyone willing to back themselves and do the work. Our goal is simple — to give every founder who works with us the best possible chance of building something real. Something worth owning. Something that lasts.
Our target for every client is the same: your first $1,000,000 in annual revenue. That's not a ceiling — it's a starting point.
5
businesses started personally by our founder
2
businesses sold — real exit experience on both sides
100s
of founders advised across every industry
$1M
the revenue goal we set for every single client
The Sherpa philosophy
We've made this climb before. We know where the hard parts are.
A Sherpa isn't just a guide who points you toward the summit and wishes you luck. They've made the climb themselves, many times. They know the terrain, they carry part of the load, and they're there when the going gets hard.
That's exactly how we work. We handle the structure, the compliance, the bookkeeping, and the reporting — so you can focus on building your business. And every month, we share what we know so you keep getting better at the parts that only you can do.
The higher you climb, the more we carry.
We handle the structure
Company setup, legal documents, ABN, GST, PAYG — done properly from day one so you're not fixing it later.
We carry the compliance load
BAS, tax returns, ASIC obligations, bookkeeping — off your plate and in expert hands.
We give you real-time visibility
Through Xero and DEXT, your numbers are always current. You make decisions on facts, not gut feel.
We bridge the E-Myth knowledge gap
Monthly coaching webinars, CFO reviews, and strategic advice — the business skills you didn't learn in your trade.
We grow with you
As your revenue grows, your support level grows. Basecamp to Ascent to Summit — always the right level of help.
The team
Built to scale with you — not just with Craig.
Startup Sherpa is built as a practice, not a one-person show. Craig leads the strategy and client relationships, and our team handles the day-to-day accounting, bookkeeping, and compliance work that keeps your business running cleanly.
That means you get the thinking of someone who's been there — and the capacity of a full practice behind it.
Craig's background spans accounting, tax, and law — which means he understands the legal landscape around business structures, contracts, and compliance, and knows when to bring in the right specialist.
What the team covers
Business structure setup and strategic advice
Tax compliance — BAS, income tax, FBT
Monthly bookkeeping and reconciliation
Management reporting and financial analysis
CFO advisory — cashflow, KPIs, forecasting
ASIC registered agent — lodgements and resolutions
Monthly live coaching webinars — all packages
Due diligence on business and franchise purchases
What our clients say
Don't take our word for it.
"Clear direction from day one — and real growth to match"
Something I would do, if I started a new business, is take a business coach from day one. Craig gave us a clear goal and helped us by developing a strategy to reach that goal. Since working with Craig, we have improved our profit and turnover. We have moved into a nicer kitchen, and I work in a better environment. My work is more structured, and mentally speaking, it's more peaceful.
Louis B.
Louis Boeglin Patisserie
Coaching & Strategy
“Setting up the correct structure and helping us better understand the numbers”
We first started working with Craig as our accountant in 2014. Craig has been a great help to us over the years, from setting up the correct structure for our business, helping us better understand the numbers, ways in which we could improve our business, and also create a better work/life balance. He is very thorough, efficient, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.
Karen L.
InterFire Agencies
Structure · numbers · growth
“An invaluable source of help and information in our early adventures”
Craig was an invaluable source of help and information in our early adventures as a new real estate company. His advice was always accurate and his insights informative and constructive. Professional and ethical — moving forward I believe Craig will be of significant assistance to his clients, whether private or business.
Dave H.
HKY Real Estate
New business · trusted advisor
Ready to start the climb?
Take the three-minute quiz and find out which path you're on and where to start — or book a discovery call with Craig directly.
No obligation · No sales pressure · Just a conversation
The higher you climb, the more we carry.
Startup Sherpa is a trading name of
Kalek Advisors Pty Ltd
ABN: 58 693 152 251
Tax Agent No: 26338091 · ASIC Agent No: 54256
PO Box 135, Darlington WA 6070
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© 2025 Kalek Advisors Pty Ltd trading as Startup Sherpa. All rights reserved.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
The information on this website is general in nature and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Please seek professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances.