It seems everywhere I turn at the moment, there is someone who has an opinion on how a bookkeeping and accounting business should run. It also appears that these “so called experts” are quite willing to judge me and my business without knowing a single thing about me, how I operate, how I attract and retain clients, how my staff operate – and they certainly have no freaking clue about… Read more
My business is 4 years old (nearly – but I am an accountant so I round up!). I am about to release into the world my third website in 4 years. Am I crazy, or have the updates been necessary? Is a website still relevant in this digital age? Well let me give you my perspective on whether an accounting or bookkeeping business NEEDS a website. Last year, I attended… Read more
Running a business, no matter how busy you are, does not give you the right to “mis-place” your manners. Common courtesy and respect seem to be not so common these days with the busy entrepreneur expecting, or perhaps it could even be classed as demanding, answers at the drop of a hat (and usually for free). So lets rewind a little bit and get old school for a minute. Do… Read more
Customer Service is not something you set up when you start your business and then you forget about it. It is not programs and processes that you implement and you kick back and relax, simply because you assume your process is working. Recently we had a potential client contact us before Christmas and sadly the contact form on our website was not working. Cue customer service fail. So their first… Read more
There is so much choice when it comes to accounting software. So how do you choose the right one? How do you choose the accounting system for your business – the one you really need. So not the one everyone tells you that you need – but the accounting system which is the right fit for YOUR business? We face this question with every new client we see. Not to… Read more
Coming up to 8 years ago I was faced with a health scare – 6 weeks pregnant (first time mum – I should have been so excited), I had developed a 20 cm blood clot in my lower leg, I was in agony, I had a job I loved – and I was told I was unable to reduce my hours to part time, as my condition didn’t warrant it.… Read more
We see posts all the time asking “How do I choose an accountant?” or even worse “My accountant is ripping me off, who can you recommend?”. I can’t stress enough that any service provider, whether it is an accountant or anyone else, needs to be offering you value. What you need to firstly understand is that there are various types of accountants. If you are looking to get a tax… Read more
I know when you start a business finances are tight and every cent is watched like a hawk but if I had a dollar for every time I heard a startup say “I couldn’t afford an accountant so I just googled the answer…but I think I have stuffed it up…can you fix it” – well let’s just say I wouldn’t be sitting here at 9:05pm writing this blog post from… Read more
As most of us in the startup phase of our entrepreneurship journey would know, getting cash to fund our dream is not an easy (or quick) task. There are many “No’s” before you hear the magical “Yes”. Or will you even hear the “Yes” at all? Your dream idea is only loved by a third party finance option, if it can see that the idea has the ability to generate… Read more
Now this may sound contradictory because surely if you provide great customer service you must be kicking goals in business right? Well I don’t think so. I don’t think you should be focusing on customer service, I think you should be focusing on having happy customers. “Yes, there is a difference. You can provide great customer service but still have unhappy customers.” So how does this possibly make sense, as… Read more
Why do I ask? Is my business in trouble? Hell no. But today I went to a Business Chicks breakfast where I heard from America’s original #girlboss Sofia Amoruso. She started the Nasty Gal empire along with a bit of a Girl Boss revolution in America. She has a podcast, fashion empire, books, soon to be released series on Net Flix – amongst other things. Well that was until a… Read more
Calling all business owners, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, mumpreneurs, dadpreneurs – or any other fancy titles that are out there at the moment – the sooner you realise that profit is not the same as cash – the sooner you will start to plan for a fabulous financial future. You see here is the thing – I speak to business owners all the time who simply get frustrated (*insert swear words here… Read more
Your level of exhaustion should not be used to measure your level of success. So many business owners I speak to – whether that be on social media or in person, tell me that they are just so exhausted. Their business is consuming every waking minute, and even those minutes where you should be sleeping you are instead running all your business scenarios through your head. It never ends. I… Read more
Dear Random Stranger (who doesn’t want to pay for my services) Thanks for you phone call tonight at 5:55pm (on a Friday) and asking me if I have 5 minutes for…. “just a really simple GST question”. Whilst I appreciate that you think your question may only take five minutes of my time, the reason it takes five minutes of my time is because I have a lot of skills… Read more
Social Media – it slowly starts to consume your life (if you let it). But as a professional serviced based Financial Coaching, Accounting & Bookkeeping business, I need to remind myself that I am not “in the business” of social media. “Social media is a tool. A tool I can choose to use, or a tool I can choose to ignore.” I think a lot of business owners (**disclaimer –… Read more
EOFY Payroll is easy right – I mean your accounting software does it for you so what have you got to worry about? A few clicks of a button and payment summaries are issued to staff. Done, feet up and champagne cracked open. But wait…. “If you don’t understand payroll and accounting terminology chances are your payroll is incorrect – FACT.” I know what you are thinking….my accounting data file… Read more
Unpaid staff sound great, but have you thought for a minute about the implications from a business, accounting, tax and legal perspective? I know, I know – starting a business is hard work. Cash flow is ….well….often non existent, so advertising for a volunteer role, or an unpaid role, unpaid staff (or any other variation of those terms) does sound like a solution to all your problems. Hallelujah. But… Read more
The 2016 Budget creates hype, excitement and a mad rush of spending…..but first lets make sure the rules actually apply to you. Last night the treasurer delivered his 2016 Budget and naturally, economists, accountants, business owners and politicians are all in a tizz (me included). But first things first, let’s break it down and take a look at the important announcements and how they may (notice I say may) relate… Read more
Isn’t it funny how we automatically assume a successful woman in business who is also a mum MUST have “mothers guilt” for working hard and assume they are missing out on quality time with their children. Recently I attended an event run by BSchool in Melbourne where the speaker was Carolyn Creswell from Carmen’s Muesli fame. I have always wanted to hear Carolyn speak – but our diaries never seemed to align… Read more
When customers buy from you, please don’t treat them like an idiot. Customers and fans are the future of your business. This week I was researching business products that I could purchase to then give to my clients at end of financial year. You see, as an accountant, EOFY is kind of a happy time for us -we tend to celebrate 30th June like it is Christmas. I found some… Read more