For an Australian marina, billing is where the operation either hums or leaks. Berth licences, mooring fees, storage, and service work are mostly recurring and predictable, which means they can be automated, and GST has to be applied correctly with a proper tax invoice on top. Get billing right and the money arrives on schedule with the paperwork clean. Get it wrong and staff spend their week raising invoices and chasing overdue accounts.
This guide covers how marina billing should work in Australia. It is general guidance, not tax advice; confirm your GST treatment with your accountant.
- Berth, mooring, and storage fees are recurring and should collect automatically.
- GST (10%) should be applied correctly and shown on a proper tax invoice.
- Automatic collection from a card or account on file cuts overdue accounts.
- Billing should be tied to berths, moorings, and agreements so charges are right.
- This is general guidance, not tax advice; confirm GST treatment with an accountant.
#Recurring fees on schedule
Most of a marina's billing is the same charges to the same customers on the same cycle: monthly, quarterly, or annual berth fees, mooring renewals, storage. A recurring schedule issues each invoice on time without anyone raising it by hand, which is the core billing capability behind marina management software in Australia.
#GST and tax invoices
If your marina is registered for GST, berthing and most fees carry GST at 10%, and customers expect a valid tax invoice showing it. Your billing should apply the tax correctly, present it clearly, and keep records that make BAS time straightforward. The exact treatment depends on your registration and the nature of each charge, so confirm with your accountant rather than assume.
#Automatic collection
Issuing the invoice is half the job; collecting is the other half. Charging a card or account on file on the due date means fees arrive without statements, reminders, and phone calls, and overdue accounts shrink. For customers it is one less thing to remember; for the marina it is cash flow you can plan on.
#Tied to the marina, not beside it
Billing should not live in a separate accounting silo that someone reconciles by hand. When it is tied to berths, moorings, and agreements, a new licence or a berth change produces the right invoice automatically, and the books match the water.
#What to look for
- 1Recurring invoices for berth, mooring, and storage fees on schedule.
- 2GST (10%) applied correctly on clear tax invoices.
- 3Automatic collection from a card or account on file.
- 4Billing tied to berths, moorings, and agreements.
- 5Clean records and export to make BAS time easy.
Marine OS is built for marinas first and is in early access. Recurring billing and automatic collection are part of the core, tied to berths, moorings, and agreements. The exact Australian GST configuration is something we walk through in a demo rather than claim as a certified tax feature, so book one and we will show you honestly what is ready.
Automate your marina billing
Marine OS issues recurring invoices, collects automatically, and ties billing to berths and moorings. It is in early access with a 7-day free trial, no credit card required.
7-day free trial. No credit card required.
#Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related reading: marina management software in Australia and berth management software.
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