End Of Financial Year 2026: Clear Out Your Corporate Budget

The end of the financial year is one of the busiest times in the office. It’s because we’ve got clients and government agencies looking for merch to spend their budget on. The 2025–26 financial year finishes on 30 June 2026, so many Australian organisations are now checking how much budget they have left before the new financial year starts. The ATO points out that business deductions depend on your business type and the kind of expense, so it’s best to check with your accountant before making any EOFY purchases.

In this blog, we’ll explain why June is a smart time to use your remaining corporate budget. We’ll also suggest products you can pre-buy and offer tips for planning staff gifts, conferences, campaigns, and events later in 2026.

Why EOFY Is A Busy Time for Merch Suppliers?

By now, companies and government agencies have realised they have unspent budgets and are looking for ways to spend them. If this money isn’t spent before 30 June, the next budget cycle may reset, making it harder to get approval later if you have an event in two months or you need gifts for your VIP clients.

That’s why EOFY is a practical time to place your orders:

Since it’s the busiest time, it’s crucial you work with suppliers who can handle large orders and have years of experience handling orders for the EOFY. Cubic Promote supplies organisations across Australia with promotional products, workwear and corporate gifts in bulk. From January 2025 to January 2026, we served 2,925 Australian organisations, delivered 3,193 purchase orders, supplied 1,063 events, and delivered 1.3 million promotional products. That experience matters during EOFY, because the buying window is short and mistakes are harder to fix when everyone is rushing.

Do Not Spend For The Sake Of Spending

One of the best pieces of advice our account managers tell our clients who order during EOFY: Clearing your budget doesn’t mean ordering just anything. You have to anticipate what you will need and the events you have planned.

Mary Aguirre Cruz, one of our account managers, shared with us that she usually asks her clients these questions:

• What events are already locked in for the second half of 2026?
• Do we need staff gifts for Christmas, onboarding or recognition?
• Are we attending conferences, expos or trade shows?
• Do our sales teams need branded items for client meetings?
• Are we launching a new campaign after 1 July?
• Do we need uniforms, workwear or branded apparel?

Having a good account manager to handle your order makes a big difference during this time.

What To Pre-Buy Before EOFY 2026?

Pre-buying is the best way to use your unspent budget. Whether it’s a set of branded pens your team will use for the whole year, 50 pieces of gift box sets you will give to your clients for the holidays, or just an extra set of corporate uniforms for new team members.

If you haven’t decided on the item yet, here are some ideas we’ve gathered:

1. Staff Gifts For Later In The Year

It’s much easier to organise staff gifts when you plan ahead. If you wait until November or December, your options may be limited, especially if you need branding, packing, or delivery to several locations. Good EOFY pre-buy ideas include:

• Branded drink bottles
• Coffee tumblers
• Notebooks and pens
• Branded hoodies
• Cooler bags
• Tech accessories
• Desk gifts
• Outdoor picnic items
• Premium gift packs

You can use these products for Christmas, end-of-year thank-you gifts, staff milestones, onboarding packs, or internal reward programs.

2. Conference And Expo Products

If your team will attend a conference in August, September, or October, June is a great time to order. This gives you more time to choose products, set up logos, review proofs, get samples, and arrange delivery. Useful conference products include:

• Tote bags
• Lanyards
• Pens
• Notebooks
• Reusable bottles
• Phone stands
• Power banks
• Caps
• Branded apparel

3. Client Gifts And Sales Team Stock

EOFY is also a good time to get gifts ready for client meetings, tender presentations, and sales visits. Even we at Cubic Promote, Charles Liu, our founder, make sure to secure these corporate gifts in advance so we won’t have to race with the team when we need them. Rather than ordering at the last minute, you can build up a small stock of branded gifts your team can use all year.

Our experts recommend these items:

• Premium notebooks (Moleskine)
• Metal pens (with pen boxes)
• Wireless chargers
• Travel mugs
• Laptop sleeves
• Quality caps or apparel

This approach works well for account-based marketing teams, business development teams, and organisations that often meet clients in person.

4. Outdoor Event Products

In Sydney, the second half of the year brings warmer weather, outdoor events, and community campaigns. Ordering before the EOFY helps you get ready in advance.

Outdoor product ideas include:

• Sunscreen
• Frisbees
• Picnic rugs
• Folding chairs
• Caps
• Bucket hats
• Sports bottles
• Cooling towels
• Umbrellas
• Event marquees

Charles especially likes outdoor events because they allow for a wider range of useful branded products, like frisbees and sunscreen.

EOFY Budget Planning: What To Order Now Vs Later

Here’s a simple guide to help you decide what to buy before 30 June.

The ATO has specific rules about prepaid expenses, including when some prepaid costs may be deductible under the 12-month rule for eligible small businesses. That’s why we suggest talking to your accountant before deciding how an EOFY purchase will be treated for tax purposes.

Why Ordering Early Makes The Products Better?

Rushed orders limit your choices. If you leave your merchandise order until the last minute, you might have fewer product options, fewer colours to choose from, less time for samples, and tighter delivery deadlines. Ordering before EOFY gives you more control over:

• Product quality
• Stock availability
• Logo placement
• Branding method
• Delivery timing
• Packaging
• Bulk pricing
• Approval time

This is especially important for large organisations with many stakeholders. A logo proof might need approval from marketing, procurement, legal, or the event team. Having more time helps reduce mistakes.

Mistakes To Avoid

EOFY is a busy time, but it doesn’t have to be chaotic. Here are some mistakes we see organisations make every June.

Making changes late in the process is one of the toughest problems once products are in print production. Account managers can usually help before production starts, but after branding begins, changes might not be possible.

How To Make EOFY Ordering Easier?

To get the best results, give your account manager all the details up front.

Include:

• Your budget
• Quantity needed
• Event date or intended use date
• Delivery location
• Logo files
• Preferred colours
• Product ideas
• Audience type
• Any packaging needs
• Approval process

Product Ideas By Department

Each team uses their EOFY budget in their own way.

Use EOFY Budget With A Plan

If your organisation has budget left before 30 June, use it to prepare for what is already on the horizon: staff gifts, conferences, client meetings, and upcoming campaigns. Cubic Promote can help you choose the right products, manage artwork approvals and keep production moving. Get in touch with our team today to make the most of your EOFY budget.

About the Author

Wendy Li

General Manager

Wendy Li is the General Manager at Cubic Promote, bringing over 15 years of experience in the branded merchandise industry. Wendy has worked closely with prominent Australian clients, including Westpac and Rio Tinto, providing valuable insights into product selection and logistics management. She specialises in ensuring that every promotional product meets the highest standards, from initial selection to delivery. Wendy also writes regularly for industry blogs, sharing her expert knowledge on logistics management and quality assurance in branded merchandise. Her leadership in streamlining logistics operations has made Cubic Promote a trusted partner for businesses seeking timely and high-quality product delivery. Wendy’s expertise in ensuring consistent quality and effective product fulfilment makes her a go-to authority for businesses looking to maximise the impact of their branded merchandise. Connect with Wendy on LinkedIn