SMSF setup costs
SMSF setup costs in Australia — fixed fee, no surprises
By easySMSF, SMSF Specialist Team · Updated
A clear breakdown of professional setup fees, trustee options, fund documents and separate third-party costs. New FY Special — 50% off on now.
New FY kickoff — 50% off SMSF setup (limited time)
Limited-time new financial year offer — 50% off Individual and Corporate Trustee setup fees. Ends midnight AEST, 30 September 2026.
What you'll pay
Individual trustees
Lowest-cost setup — best when keeping fees minimal is the priority.
New FY Special — 50% off
Corporate trustee
Special-purpose Pty Ltd option. The $636 ASIC company registration fee is included in the price.
New FY Special — 50% off
What's included in your SMSF setup
- Current SMSF Association-reviewed trust deed and PDS
- Fund and trustee records prepared and checked
- Special-purpose company documents (if chosen)
- Investment strategy template compliant with reg 4.09
- Trustee declarations and member application forms
- Fund bank account assistance (Macquarie, ANZ, NAB, CBA, Westpac)
- Electronic Service Address (ESA) for SuperStream contributions
- Rollover paperwork for each member's existing super
What's not included
Ongoing administration, independent audit coordination, annual government charges, and any limited-recourse borrowing arrangement or bare-trust setup are quoted separately. See administration fees for ongoing costs.
Estimate your ongoing SMSF costs
Setup is one-off — running the fund is the long-term cost. Try the calculator below to see how easySMSF's fixed monthly fee compares to your existing fund.
SMSF management cost calculator
Estimate your annual SMSF running costs vs your current fund. General information only — not personal advice.
Industry / retail funds are typically 0.8–1.2% all-in.
Base admin: $139/mo for a 1-member non-property fund. Loadings (+$20/extra member, +$40 LRBA) are calculator-only modelling.
easySMSF — estimated annual cost
$2,234
$159/mo admin + audit included
Estimated annual saving
$2,266
Indicative only. Excludes optional services (LRBA setup, actuarial certificates, in-specie transfers).
General advice warning
Figures shown are illustrative only and based on the inputs and assumptions you provide. They are general information, not personal financial product advice. Consider your objectives, financial situation and needs, and seek personal advice from a licensed financial adviser before acting. easySMSF does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL).
SMSF setup costs by state
The easySMSF setup fee is the same everywhere in Australia — a fund established in Perth costs exactly what a fund established in Sydney costs. What changes by state is the revenue office you deal with if the fund buys property, and the land-tax thresholds that apply to it. Each guide below covers the local detail on top of the national fixed fee.
| State | Setup fee | State-specific consideration |
|---|---|---|
| NSW (Sydney) | Same national fixed fee | Revenue NSW land tax — no tax-free threshold for most trusts holding property |
| VIC (Melbourne) | Same national fixed fee | SRO Victoria land tax plus the absentee-owner surcharge where relevant |
| QLD (Brisbane) | Same national fixed fee | QRO land tax and duty on fund property acquisitions |
| WA (Perth) | Same national fixed fee | RevenueWA land tax; fully online establishment with no local office visit |
| SA (Adelaide) | Same national fixed fee | RevenueSA land tax grouping rules for funds holding multiple properties |
Not sure which structure suits you? The SMSF vs industry fund fee calculator shows the crossover balance where a fixed-fee SMSF costs less than a percentage-based fund, and full pricing lists every fee including the ongoing administration and independent audit.
Frequently asked questions
Related
Next steps
Start the SMSF setup questionnaire
Ten minutes online — fixed setup fee, audit included.
Read: Start the SMSF setup questionnaireCorporate trustee vs individual trustee
Why the corporate trustee price already includes the $636 ASIC company registration fee.
Read: Corporate trustee vs individual trusteeFixed-fee SMSF administration
What the ongoing monthly fee covers once the fund is running.
Read: Fixed-fee SMSF administration