Do you know how many times we hear/see this question? Oh at least 3 times a week. We get it, you need to be getting value from your accountant/bookkeeper. And what your accountant or bookkeeper charges you needs to be reasonable. However, what are you factoring in when you get your answers to that question? Skill? Service level? How many people touch your data file? The scope of work included… Read more
Small business owners know that to find a loyal customer base, they have to stand out from their competitors. One of the best, and easiest, ways to do that is to have outstanding customer service. How you treat your customers reflects your entire business. People think positively on companies that treat their customers and clients well. Unfortunately, many business owners focus their attention on their products and services, with customer… Read more
So Xerocon 2019 is just around the corner. Two days in Brisbane for the conference and a cheeky extra day at the end (to work of course). Well it is going to be 27 degrees all week so why wouldn’t I take time to enjoy the sun?. But what are my “must have” items to pack for a two day conference? I travel to about 3-4 conferences every single year,… Read more
Your resume is one of the most important documents you will ever create when job hunting, but a single mistake could send all that hard work straight to the recycle bin. Often, there are mistakes made before I even open the resume. Usually when applying for a job, you are up against a myriad of peope. Various skill sets, experience and some more willing than others to want the job. … Read more
I am going to be the first to admit, as a small business owner and working parent, it is bloody hard to get the work life balance right. At times I think it is as elusive as the magical unicorn. We all know it is important to run your business effectively and still have a life outside the office, but how? How do you manage it all so that you… Read more
A Canadian bank recently surveyed over 500 small business owners about what they love and hate most about owning their own business. Unsurprisingly, flexibility and feeling in control ranked first in the “love” category. Meanwhile, almost 60% said bookkeeping was hands-down their most hated task. Most business owners understand that effective financial management is key to their success. But lack of knowledge, frustration, and even avoidance can add up to… Read more
When you own a business, any time you speak in public you are representing your business, your brand and your values. That’s a lot of pressure, especially when you consider that most people are already nervous about speaking in front of people. There’s no magic cure for fear of public speaking (and secretly we love it – we could talk numbers all day long), but do I still get nervous… Read more
Let’s face it, all small business owners will face some tough times over the life of their business. It will will happen at some point. Are you ready for it should be the question we are asking, not when will it happen. As much as we dream about being brilliant enough at business that we will never face slow times, there are many things beyond our control that can negatively… Read more
Do you have under 19 employees? Then you need to be ready for Single Touch Payroll when it comes into play from 1 July 2019. Single touch what I hear you ask!! By now you may have heard the buzz around Single Touch Payroll. It’s a pretty big deal for any business that has employees. So…what do you need to know and how does it affect you? Keep reading to… Read more
20 years ago IT servers were a case of the bigger the better. These days it is all about getting your business in the cloud. Check out the top 8 advantages for small businesses switching to cloud computing. Cloud computing is fast becoming the norm because storing information and using software hosted on the Internet has many advantages. 1. Save money (hell yeah!) Traditionally, a small business spends money licensing… Read more
Although most entrepreneurs recognise the importance of careful financial management, few want to spend their time dealing with numbers. Unfortunately, not keeping a close eye on your income and expenses can be very costly and stressful for a business owner. Here are five of the most common bookkeeping pitfalls, and some simple tips for getting back on track. Mixing business and personal All too often, entrepreneurs adopt… Read more
Reflection: “2018 the year that was.” When we run our own business, we look forward to working with amazing clients, we look forward to building a team, we look forward to earning what we are worth and we look forward to doing it all with a smile on our face. “Naive? Maybe. Or am I just asking too much of myself? Probably.” 2018 saw some big leaps for our… Read more
Attending a work related conference takes a lot of considerations. It is not just the cost of the event itself, but also the time away from your business, the work you need to do afterward to play catch up, the time away from family, having someone change their schedule to look after the kids/pets and the most important thing for me – will it even be worth all the hassle… Read more
Networking – just the word itself can create fear and dread in so many people. You are required to stand around and talk about yourself, you have to talk to complete strangers, there is generally no where to hide and half the time you just never meet anyone worthwhile. “Networking can be a total waste of time. But your attitude towards networking will either hold you back, or provide you… Read more
You wouldn’t put all your eggs in the one basket, so you shouldn’t put all your income in one basket. Having various income streams helps share the load and reduce the risk and ultimately should help you reach your financial goals easier. Adding recurring income streams (and yes I mean multiple) can provide a predictable, ongoing source of cash flow which will improve the accuracy of your projections, increase profits,… Read more
We get asked all the time – how can you be both a bookkeeper and an accountant? Easy. Whilst they are both different in skill set, in mindset and in the work we do, we feel you get the best deal if you have a bookkeeper and accountant who can work cohesively together. If you are like many business owners, you may not be exactly sure of the differences between… Read more
With end of financial year fast approaching, we see many clients come to us “for a quick and simple review” of their numbers. I mean, they currently use a bookkeeper and whilst the business owner doesn’t keep on top of things in great detail, it all must be perfect right? In an ideal world yes, but I think we all know we live in anything but an ideal world. Most… Read more
After ten days in the USA (part conference, part holiday) I returned back to Australia yesterday. When you run your own business, recovering from jet lag over several days is just not an option. I need to be back on deck and 110% on my game by tomorrow. So how do I banish Jet Lag? Firstly, assuming you won’t suffer from jet lag is really not a great strategy. Whilst… Read more
As a business owner, for the past 5 years I have been running my financial coaching, accounting, training & bookkeeping business. And whilst it continues to grow and be successful, I have never had a stress free holiday in that time. I was always constantly attached to my laptop/iPad/phone and had to be on call for clients every day because my business was me. “I had created a monster. The… Read more
Sounds like it doesn’t make sense right? I mean you have spent ages thinking about your ideal client, who you want to work with, what kind of person they are, what they look like, how they think, where they hang out. So how can focusing on that ideal client cripple your business? Surely it should grow your business? Well here’s the thing. Your ideal clients should have the same attitudes… Read more