If you’ve filled up the car or taken a delivery lately, you’ve felt it. Fuel prices have been climbing sharply since late February, diesel has pushed well past $3 a litre in most cities, and there’s no clear end in sight. The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted oil supply through one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, and Australia, which imports most of its refined fuel, is feeling that directly at the bowser and in the cost of almost everything that moves by road.
Add two consecutive interest rate rises and inflation still sitting above the RBA’s target, and it’s fair to say the first quarter of 2026 has been a lot for small business owners to absorb.
Managing small business cash flow is one of the few levers you can control right now. This guide covers what to do, and who to do it with.
Your Accountant Is Probably Just As Busy As You Are
The last few months have been full-on for everyone. Business owners are heads-down managing costs, chasing invoices, and keeping things moving. Accountants are in the middle of a busy period too, and it’s easy for proactive check-ins to slip down the list on both sides.
That’s not a criticism of anyone. It’s just how it goes when things get hectic.
What it does mean is that if you’ve been waiting for your accountant to reach out about what’s happening with fuel prices, interest rates, and the broader squeeze on costs, that conversation might still be sitting in the queue. And given how quickly conditions are shifting right now, it’s worth moving it up.
The businesses that tend to come through periods like this in better shape are the ones who reach out to their accountant before things get away from them.
So if it’s been a while, this is your prompt to get in touch.
What Rising Fuel Prices Actually Mean for Your Business
Even if your business doesn’t run a fleet of vehicles, you’re likely already feeling the effects. When diesel prices rise, freight costs rise. When freight costs rise, supplier prices follow. The flow-on effect reaches groceries, building materials, deliveries, and the cost of almost anything that moves by road, which in Australia is most things.
CPA Australia noted this month that the combined effect of fuel costs, persistent inflation, and higher interest rates is creating one of the tougher operating environments small businesses have seen in recent years. Trades, logistics, agriculture, and any business relying on regular deliveries are among the most exposed, but the pressure isn’t limited to those sectors.
The practical question is what to do about it.
Small Business Cash Flow: 6 Steps to Take With Your Accountant Today
1. Stress-test your cash flow forecast
Pull up your current cash flow forecast and ask: what happens if costs stay elevated for the next three to six months? If your accountant hasn’t walked you through this recently, ask them to. Understanding where the pressure points are before they hit gives you time to respond rather than react.
2. Check what you can legitimately claim on fuel
If your business uses vehicles for work purposes, tradespeople, delivery drivers, mobile service providers, those in agriculture, there are fuel tax credits and deductions available. The Federal Government is also proposing to halve the fuel excise for three months, which could reduce prices by around 26 cents per litre. Your accountant should be across this and ensuring you benefit from any applicable relief.
3. Look at your pricing contracts and agreements
If your service pricing or supplier agreements are fixed and were set before this fuel spike, they may no longer reflect your actual costs. Now is the time to review whether your contracts allow for cost pass-through provisions, and if they don’t, to have an informed conversation about whether your pricing needs to be revisited.
4. Audit your business expenses with fresh eyes
When costs rise externally, it becomes even more important to tighten what you can control internally. Go through your recurring expenses, subscriptions, and supplier arrangements. Your accountant can help you identify where money is being spent without a strong return, and where smarter alternatives exist.
5. Talk to your bank before things get urgent
If cash flow is getting tighter, the time to have that conversation with your bank is before things become urgent. Whether it’s a short-term overdraft facility, a small business loan, or restructuring existing repayments, options are easier to access when you approach from a position of planning rather than crisis. Your accountant can help you prepare what you need and navigate the conversation.
6. Get a clear picture of your actual margin
With costs rising from multiple directions at once, your profit margins may have shifted more than you realise. An up-to-date view of your numbers, real numbers not estimates, is the foundation for every other decision you make right now. If you’re making choices about staffing, pricing, or investment without that clarity, you’re working from incomplete information.
The Bigger Picture for Purpose-Driven Businesses
For Indigenous businesses, social enterprises, and purpose-driven organisations, financial pressure carries extra weight. The work you do is connected to your community, and when your business is under strain, that ripple effect reaches further.
This is exactly why having a financial partner who understands your context matters. At Karlaya, we offer accounting and business advisory in Australia to businesses and not-for-profits who are building something meaningful. Practical cash flow management for small business owners is at the heart of what we do, and we’re here to make sure the financial side supports your mission rather than getting in the way of it.
Now Is the Time to Have the Conversation
Conditions are shifting quickly, and the businesses coming through this period in the strongest position are the ones taking a clear-eyed look at their numbers now. If you haven’t spoken to your accountant about the current economic environment and what it means for your specific business, that’s the place to start.
If you’d like support with small business cash flow planning, expense reviews, or a broader look at your financial strategy, reach out to the Karlaya team. We’re here to help you navigate this, and whatever comes next.
The information in this post is general in nature and does not constitute financial advice. Please speak with a qualified accountant or adviser about your specific circumstances.
