Home business tax deductions
With so many businesses now being run from home, the ATO is eager to ensure that those claiming tax deductions do so correctly.
How do you rank as leader?
As the leader of your company, you have the power to either drive your business or let it stagnate.....
How to sell against a competitor
With the difficulties in the current economy, how you sell against your competition may be the reason your business survives the next 12 months.
Tax Update October 2012
Our regular monthly tax update for individuals and businesses.
The art of negotiation
Successful negotiators understand how to negotiate so that both parties feel like they are winning.
New reporting for construction industry
The new financial year sees new reporting requirements for the construction industry.
Tax Update September 2012
The latest review of tax changes and updates from the Australian Taxation Office.
Online corporate identity fraud
In the last decade, identity fraud has grown from being a problem for individuals, to an epidemic affecting a wide range of businesses. Advancements in technology have allowed fraudsters from within Australia and overseas to target anyone with an online identity.
Effective email management
A quick check of your emails first thing in the morning can turn into time consuming, unproductive waste.
Maximising your property claim
Property investors could guarantee more cash in their pockets this end of financial year by maximising property depreciation deductions.
Get a head start for the next financial year
Preparation is the key to efficient and effective financial planning for the 2012-2013 year ahead.
End of Year Tax Tips for Businesses & Individuals
Use these tips to help with you prepare your business for end of year 2012.
Tax Update May 2012
The latest tax news for your business May 2012.
Tax Focus - GST Debt
Taxpayers that are finding it difficult to meet their GST obligations on time should be contacting the ATO as early as possible.
Empower your employees
If you’re wondering how you can dramatically enhance the customer service experience in your business while decreasing the amount of time you actually spend on customer service activities, consider that the solution might be to empower your employees to do it for you.
Conflict in the workplace
While conflict is not always negative, more often than not, particularly in the workplace environment, it can have a detrimental effect that if left unmanaged can spread internally and externally. Sometimes however, it is unavoidable and taking into account that no two individuals are the same, it is important to find ways to manage conflict.
Do you need more assurance than just insurance?
If you live in Australia or New Zealand, you'll no doubt have witnessed the devastating impact and unpredictability of Mother Nature - with earthquakes, droughts, fire, flood and cyclones all occurring in the past year alone. While these natural disasters ravage communities, the impact on local businesses can be equally devastating. But it doesn't always need to be that way. Why is it that one business can recover from a disaster, whereas another similar business may be forced to close its doors?
Tax Update April 2012
Our regular monthly tax update for businesses of the South West, WA.
Require a hand in a financial crisis?
Heed the Warning Signs. If you are involved in a business that is showing signs of trouble, act quickly....
How sustainable is sustainability really?
Climate change and global warming has become an increasingly concerning issue, so it is no wonder there is a huge emphasis on sustainability in today’s society. Many companies in the business sector have made changes towards sustainability to reduce their impact on the environment, however for smaller businesses, how sustainable is to make the switch to sustainability?
Business networking with social media
With everyone from your neighbours, family, friends and colleagues jumping on the social media bandwagon, there is no surprise that companies are using the continually evolving digital platform as a valuable marketing tool.
Branding Basics - How do I use my brand strategy?
Together with your competitive positioning strategy, your brand strategy is the essence of what you represent. A great brand strategy helps you communicate more effectively with your market, so it is vital to follow it in every interaction you have with your prospects and customers.
A lifestyle spring clean
Many SME owners crave a better work/life balance and dream of one day growing their business to the point where they can either scale back their hours, or have someone take over the reins so they can retire completely. For many, this freer lifestyle doesn’t always come to fruition, but for those that seek out professional help and set their mind to it, the pipedream can more easily become a reality.
Can't buy me love
Why customer loyalty doesn’t have to cost big bucks!
Small business depreciation rules
The Government recently released exposure draft legislation proposing to make several tax law amendments in relation to depreciation rules for small business. The proposed amendments will apply to small businesses that have an annual turnover of less than $2 million for an income year from the 2012 - 2013 income tax year....
Stress management tips for business owners
Stress is something we all experience and unfortunately cannot be eliminated altogether. However stress doesn’t have to be an entirely negative emotion – after all, it’s generally what gets us motivated to take action! A certain amount of stress can actually be healthy, so long as the symptoms of it don’t affect our day to day life.
Converting connections into business
How do you convert casual conversations with total strangers into new business? Whether you are a dexterous communicator, or pretty reticent when it comes to striking up conversations at business events, any successful business owner knows that that every conversation about business could be an underlying opportunity!
Building a brand
A brand identity represents a mental or emotional association in the mind of a customer. It is initiated by the images used in your advertising, and by the words used to describe your products. After sufficient impressions, the customer remembers these associations and a brand is born.....
The one-page business plan
How to put together a one page business plan in 9 easy steps.
Plan to succeed!
Why succession planning should be top on your list....
Market like a guerrilla
Many small to medium sized enterprises start up their businesses with high hopes, a million and one things to take care of and – no marketing plan. Ironically, a solid marketing plan with structured activity over 12 months is the one thing that can keep your business going when customers become scarce and the economy falters.
Seeking guidence with a tax audit?
Will you be a target for a tax audit? The possibility of being selected for a taxation audit is rapidly increasing each year as the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) widens the scope of its audit activity due to technological advancements, allowing them to narrow their investigations to those areas where there is the most risk to revenue.
Prepare for the New Year
As many business owners would agree, now until the start of the New Year is an incredibly busy time. Other service businesses can be equally overwhelmed. For retailers, 50% of their sales may come from this period.....For others, the year end can be one of the slowest times of the year. Clients might be away, employees aren’t around to finish projects and the phones don’t ring. That makes this a perfect time to take care of some end-of-year tasks.
Is that a proposition...(or is it just another me-too experience?)
Propositioning your customers may sound a little R-rated, but what we’re talking about here is coming up with the right way to deliver a truly outstanding customer experience that will keep them always wanting more – and even better, telling their friends all about it!
Wake up your sleeping giant (no matter how big...or small)
You don’t need to create the world to develop a successful business. Whilst business innovation is about new ideas, products, services, marketing and distribution methods -it’s also about the culture of an organisation. We can’t all be Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, but we can come up with some fresh and innovative ideas that will give our business a boost and keep the customers interested.
Wanted for hire - only the best will do
"Hire people who are better than you are, then leave them to get on with it. Look for people who will aim for the remarkable, who will not settle for the routine." - David Ogilvy, Advertising Icon
Tax Update October 2011
Keeping businesses informed with tax office news.
How to appear bigger and better
Dressing up a small business to appear larger than it actually is can help in securing bigger clients and will send a message of seriousness and credibility to customers, suppliers and prospective employees....
Good leadership defined
Are you a leader just because you run a small business? No. But you need to be.
Why hire Gen Y?
‘They are lazy, selfish, overpaid, arrogant, spoilt, demanding and over-confident!’ But....
Business Systems
Every business needs a system. A business without a system is like a car without wheels. Whether you are a one man band, employ 50 people or are somewhere in between, every business needs a system and that means Marketing and Sales, Operations, Finance and Human Resources.
It's midnight and you're not famous yet!
You know what you’re doing is good. Right? You know that nobody can do it quite as good as you with just the right amount of this and that and nobody can surpass you in quality and service. Right? But how many other people out there know that?
Is your business flying?
We hear about Tiger Airways being grounded due to safety concerns. We hear about Qantas share prices plummeting after our spate of natural disasters – but how much do rising airfares and troubled airlines affect small business?
Good help is hard to find
Have you ever sat down and figured out just how much it costs to replace an employee? Has a key employee’s resignation come at you from left field? We have examined the workplace from the employee’s point of view and come up with ten good tips to keep your employees happy and motivated.
5 ways to hit back at the July wage increase
With natural disasters, the dollar at an all-time high, petrol prices going through the roof and energy costs sky-rocketing – what else can happen to harm small business? To add insult to injury Fair Work Australia has approved a $19.40 raise to the minimum wage, taking it to $589.30 after 1 July this year.
Every business needs a system
A business without a system is like a car without wheels. Whether you are a one man band, employ 50 people or are somewhere in between, every business needs a system and that means Marketing and Sales, Operations, Finance and Human Resources.
Save time and money with VoIP
When it comes to business communication, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has become an invaluable and popular tool for businesses around the world. With impressive features including video conferencing, file-sharing, screen-sharing and call forwarding, businesses are able to communicate both internally and externally for much less than they were paying for their old, traditional services.
How to spend less
6 great tips to help you reduce your business costs ....
Procrastinating in your business?
7 Things you may be lacking & 7 ways to fix them
Require a hand in a financial crisis?
If you are involved in a business that is showing signs of trouble, act quickly......
Business tax planning: are you on track?
To be really successful tax planning should be an ongoing process, preferably starting at the beginning, rather than end, of financial year. Not only should it focus on tax strategies but also on legal structures.
The Art of Following
If leadership is a skill, then getting people to follow you is an art.....
Milestone, millstone or task - how do you manage a project?
Steps to take to get your business project off the ground.
Go global and grow
Becoming a global business can be an effective way for small business owners to achieve growth, increase sales and make more profit.
Building a brand on a budget
Branding is the foundation of all successful marketing strategies. It heightens customer interest, sets your business apart from your competition and helps you achieve greater profits.
Organise your ideas and make money
Business success takes planning, commitment, discipline and organisation. If you are exploring new ways to develop, expand, change or improve your business, it is important to carefully organise your ideas so they don’t negatively affect your profits.
Do you need more insurance than just insurance?
If you live in Australia or New Zealand, you’ll no doubt have witnessed the devastating impact and unpredictability of Mother Nature – with earthquakes, droughts, fire, flood and cyclones all occurring in the past year alone. While these natural disasters ravage communities, the impact on local businesses can be equally devastating. But it doesn’t always need to be that way. Why is it that one business can recover from a disaster, whereas another similar business may be forced to close its doors?
Ready....Set....Goal!
Make 2011 really count by setting realistic goals now for business success and following a carefully planned path to achieve them.
Six deadly website sins
Everyone’s got a website nowadays, but how many are effective? (By which I mean, how many are generating quality leads, building your brand and increasing your sales?) Have you had your website created with a ‘best practice’ checklist, or has someone just put together a few basic pages that you’re hoping will garner you some attention in the off chance that a prospect finds you?
Imagination in cutting business costs
Here are some strategies that can be implemented that can help you save money and reduce the stress involved in running a business.
Buying an established business
Buying a business? Follow these steps before you sign the purchase agreement of an existing business.
The unique nature of family businesses
Family businesses involve unique dynamics that can be both advantageous and challenging. Being conscious of these different elements and tendencies, can provide insight into why family firms behave differently than non-family firms.
7 steps to a successful year end
Key steps to take to finish the year off on a positive note
Tax and Christmas party expenses
Christmas parties are a great way to bring your staff together, boost their morale and propel them into a successful new year.....
How to develop a gold medal attitude in your team
Recently, Aussie hurdler, Sally Pearson won her first Gold Medal in the 100m race at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Dehli. It was a great day for the Olympic Silver Medalist, as just the week before, she had won another race but was later disqualified for a false start. I can’t imagine the disappointment you’d feel at an adjudication like that, but in true fighting spirit, Sally came back in fine form yesterday, even setting a record for the race!
Cash in on catalogues
Catalogues can dramatically increase your sales volume in a low-risk and affordable way, generating more repeat business from your existing customers and increasing retention.
Social media marketing
The rapidly evolving social media network, when taken advantage of, can become an advanced marketing platform.
Find your niche and use it
Becoming an authority in a particular area will give your business an edge against its competitors.
Improving your small business credit
As a small business entrepreneur it is easy to get distracted from sending out invoices or paying bills. The appeal of focusing on sales instead of the return can get you into trouble with your credit rating and history.
The secrets of profiting from drop shipping
Use drop shipping to generate repeat business.
Keeping track of your customers & prospects to improve your sales
The simplest way to increase your business sales is by getting your existing customers to buy more from you and to do that you need to know your clients inside out.
What are you really saying?
How to build a brand that speaks volumes.
Double your database
Sometimes your database just doesn’t give you the leads you need. If so, it’s time you started drumming up some hotter prospects by cleansing your current list and sourcing new contacts from outside sources.
The 5 marketing mistakes you must avoid
Most business owners have the best intentions in the world when it comes to their marketing, but often, they get so excited with the ‘big picture’ of how many new leads a certain campaign is going to bring in, or the creative execution of a particular piece of collateral, they come unstuck by falling into at least one of the five following pitfalls – read on to find out what they are and how YOUR business can avoid them.
Home is where the tax deduction is
In this article we focus on home-based businesses. Have a look to see what tax deductions you can claim for your home office.
The route to success: a marketing roadmap for the New Year
While most businesses have a good idea of what they are driving their marketing efforts towards, few actually have pinpointed a destination and created a detailed roadmap to help navigate the sea of marketing options and choices enroute. You see, without a roadmap or plan, your marketing efforts could break down half way, or take a wrong turn and end up somewhere entirely different! In fact, businesses without marketing roadmaps often find that they underestimate the performance of their marketing, or focus only on solving short-term problems, rather than working on the long-term growth of their business.
All I want for Christmas is ....a holiday
Summer is here, and it’s time for that one week getaway that you’ve been planning for months. Destination these holidays: the coast, where else? You’ve packed your sunscreen and your beach towel. Oh, and don’t forget your camera. Maybe you should bring your Blackberry. And might as well bring your laptop too...
Empower your employees
If you’re wondering how you can dramatically enhance the customer service experience in your business while decreasing the amount of time you actually spend on customer service activities, consider that the solution might be to empower your employees to do it for you.
7 Strategies to increase your online orders
Here’s a hint: the easier you make it for people to purchase, the more sales you’ll get. In the online world, there are some specific things you can to do to increase the perception of ease, safety, and reliability on your site that will in turn lead to increased purchases.
Performance Standards
Question: “I'm noticing that some of my key staff are beginning to come in later than they should. It's not by much, sometimes half an hour late. However, these same staff members are known on occasion to work back. The thing is, other staff members are noticing and are beginning to creep in a little later than they should. Should I address this with both parties, or just those who haven't put in the extra hours?”
Team time balance - 168 hours!
Just 168 hours per week... Question: “I'm struggling to keep up with life! My business continues to demand most of my time, and there's just not enough hours in the week to unwind or socialise with family and friends. Any tips on how I can strike a balance, without it costing my hip pocket?”
High morale means high productivity
With rising redundancies and greater job insecurity among employees it’s no wonder that morale is low among many team members as they fear for the future of their current job. Have you taken the time recently to consider how high the morale of your employees is? You as a business owner or manager need to know how your employees are feeling at work, emotionally and mentally. Not knowing how your employees feel can have dire consequences.
How to blog your way through the recession
Global financial uncertainty has meant that many business owners are currently seeking more cost-effective and targeted marketing strategies.
Raising Finances
We take a look at the steps to improve your chances in raising finance with potential lenders for your business and the importance of the right professional advise.
Keeping overheads down
If profit building is on your agenda for this year, check out these ideas for reducing overheads and increasing income.
Grow your business in a slowing economy
Strategies to help grow your business during a slowing economy and take advantage of the opportunities that will come your way.
Time management = better Business
Running a business often feels like circus act- constantly juggling several things whilst trying to keep your balance on a slippery rubber ball. Effective time management skills are crucial for every business owner, big and small, to get a firm grip on their situation.