10 Ways to Protect Your Business from Online Threats

Businesses of all sizes are under constant threat from cyber criminals and malicious software, with even some of the world’s largest and apparently impenetrable organizations making headlines in recent years after falling victims to cyberattacks.   Although the risk is generally lower for smaller companies, since they don’t tend to be primary targets for hackers, it is still essential to take every precaution to make sure that you, your employees…  Read more

Why small business boundaries are important

Small business is at times, heartbreaking. You bend over backwards for clients. Always going above and beyond behind the scenes which clients don’t see. You work 24/7 including weekends to get things done on time. Perhaps you initially didn’t set clear boundaries as you want to help so bloody much. You explain the same thing what feels like 57 times – and then the client will send you yet another…  Read more

The ins and outs of employee performance reviews

When you run a small business, you’re involved in your company’s sales, accounting, marketing, and human resources, among other things. Being responsible for human resources isn’t just about hiring and firing people, although those are large parts of the role. It’s also about managing the people who work for you while they work for you. Conducting regular employee performance reviews is part of managing your workers. While performance reviews may seem…  Read more

4 questions you should ask your accountant

Ideally, you and your accountant are more than just “adviser” and “client”. With your combined skills, expertise, and shared mission to support a thriving business, you should be more like business partners. The key to achieving success in any partnership is, of course, knowledge and expertise, but more important than that is strong communication.  If you can’t ask your accountant the questions you need answers to, are they really going…  Read more

6 Common Employee Onboarding Mistakes

While most small businesses spend a great deal of time and effort in finding the right employees, they often fail to capitalise on their newly hired talent by ignoring (or not having) an onboarding process.   From long waits for workspace, equipment not being ready, non existent training to an overly negative recitation of ‘don’t do these things or you will be fired,’ employers consistently miss the opportunity to inspire…  Read more

Networking sucks (or does it?)

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

Bookkeeper of the year: What it feels like to be a finalist.

Every year there are awards for various industries and the Accounting and Finance industry is no different. So why do I enter awards? Is it worth my time, effort and money (and yes, some of them are certainly not free). And what do I, or my business, actually get out of it? “These are question I get asked each year, and for the life of me I used to think…  Read more

5 tips to avoid Jet Lag so you can return to work switched on

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

Can a business owner really have a stress free holiday? YES YES YES

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

Don’t let Payroll bite you in the arse

So business is booming and you need to hire staff.  You should be so excited (and proud).  But payroll is not for the faint hearted #understatementoftheyear Even with the best accounting software in the palm of your hands (or pocket), payroll and employer obligations can be a minefield, and difficult to navigate. There are minimum wage requirements, payslips, withholding the right amount of tax, paying superannuation, overtime, bonuses, annual leave,…  Read more

Comparison is the thief of your destiny

We all do it. Deep down we compare ourselves to others. Are we good enough, are we doing enough, are we earning enough, are we funny enough. The list goes on. But what comparison is doing, is robbing you of the chance to be truly happy as you. “There is only one you, and by trying to be someone else, you are not on the right path. So stop. Just…  Read more

An Introverts Guide to Attending a Business Retreat Solo

In 6 days time I am flying to Fiji to attend a business retreat with Nurture Change. I am not travelling with hubby or friends. I know nobody going. Zilcho. I am technically an introvert (although most people think I am an extrovert). How the heck am I going to survive? “No you can’t come in my suitcase. No you can’t come and carry my bags. No you can’t go…  Read more

How Listening Can Lead To Loyalty

When was the last time you really listened to your clients, your customers, your suppliers, your contractors, your employees – and actually gave them what they really wanted? Now of course everything within reason – I mean I would like a million dollars, a holiday to the Bahamas and also a house that cleans itself. “But every day, it is often the simple things people do that wins my loyalty…  Read more

Why I can’t survive on $5 per hour

I would love someone to help my business. MUST HAVE skills, experience, qualifications, knowledge, be a self starter and be able to work without supervision. MUST ALSO be prepared to work for under minimum wage. “God, oh please sign me up. I just can’t wait to work as your slave.” Seriously – how can that even be an ad for a job? How can a business woman advertise for someone…  Read more

Virtual teams: how to successfully work with people you have never met

Teamwork is something that a business needs to succeed. So how is it possible to build a growing brand and business with a virtual team? How do you flip the traditional business model into a virtual business model without losing the relationships? Well – I am so glad you asked. OK – so you didn’t exactly ask – but I bet you are wondering how the heck I have built…  Read more

Community Comes Before Competition (well it should)

I am a big believer that whilst I run my small business, community comes before competition. Relationships come before profit. And happiness comes before growth. Yes, I have over 100,000 competitors in the accounting & bookkeeping space in Australia alone – but I see those people as my mentors, my rocks, my shoulders to cry on, my support network to learn from and my community first and foremost. “Call me…  Read more

Why would an accountant start a milestone card business?

Why would an accountant start a milestone card business? Because I feel like a failure. I see things on social media and I feel like the most imperfect person, and it stresses me out. When I see those “perfect mums” who are running a business, have the perfect home life, make perfect dinners, get enough sleep, have a social life, have time to work out and still build a successful…  Read more

You can COPY me, but you will never BE me

Kind of pisses me off that I have to write this post….but I just can’t let it slide. I know I should be doing other things (like BAS lodgements or finalising my new business), but instead I sit here writing ranty blog posts because you choose to use my services, then sell the information I taught you, and pass my information off as your own to your business coaching clients.…  Read more

It’s time to upskill (or risk the consequences)

If you are a small business owner, an entrepreneur, a solopreneur, a mumpreneuer, the next Zuckerberg or a combination of all of these – you need to constantly upskill or fear getting left behind.  Or worse – get a knock on the door from the tax office because you have failed in some kind of business obligation that you had no idea about. And I am not just talking about…  Read more

I am not over qualified, I am qualified

I have many qualifications – not because I love studying, but because I love what I do. I am a numbers nerd through and through. I am a qualified Chartered Accountant, a Member in Practice, a member of the Institute of Public Accountants, a member of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers, I have an accounting degree and I have worked in the accounting space since I was 20 (so for…  Read more

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