We're here to help you build one — with the structure, the numbers, the knowledge, and a guide who's made this climb before.
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.
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.
A little about Craig's business background
Qualifications & experience
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.
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.
Company setup, legal documents, ABN, GST, PAYG — done properly from day one so you're not fixing it later.
BAS, tax returns, ASIC obligations, bookkeeping — off your plate and in expert hands.
Through Xero and DEXT, your numbers are always current. You make decisions on facts, not gut feel.
Monthly coaching webinars, CFO reviews, and strategic advice — the business skills you didn't learn in your trade.
As your revenue grows, your support level grows. Basecamp to Ascent to Summit — always the right level of help.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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