Help, I think my accountant / bookkeeper is charging me too much?

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

Three Reasons to Focus on Fantastic Customer Service

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

What to pack for a two day conference

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

Killer resume blunders that could kill your chances of getting a new job

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

Is it possible to get the work life balance right?

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

Avoid These Costly Accounting Mistakes

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

How to encourage word of mouth

Whether you are a service based business or a product based business, word of mouth is vital for organic growth.  And word of mouth (if done right) can be a great strategy to grow your business. If you have any doubt that word of mouth referrals are important, consider these statistics: According to Neilson, 92% of shoppers trust recommendations from friends and family more than traditional advertising 20% to 50%…  Read more

Are you ready for Single Touch Payroll? Single touch WHAT??

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

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

5 Common Bookkeeping Pitfalls – and How to Avoid Them

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

2018 Good Riddance (and bring on 2019)

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

How to Nail Your Job Description

Too many businesses brush over their job descriptions, and then wonder why they get so many unqualified applicants. Don’t make the same mistake. Let me give you some tips so you can write job descriptions that attract the best candidates (ie. the ones you actually want on your team).   Rule Number 1. Don’t Exaggerate Companies know that attracting the best job candidates means they have to sell their company’s…  Read more

MYOB Partner Connect 2018 – Just Getting There Was A Challenge!

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

Time for a business credit card – but where do you start?

It can be a challenge for new business owners to find a bank that will approve them for even a small business loan. Most will see a startup company as too high a risk to qualify for corporate lending. A credit card can serve as a short term solution for small scale financing, offering entrepreneurs a “foot in the door” with a lender. Think of it as a chance to…  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

How orange jelly beans can create fantastic customer loyalty

In this day and age customer loyalty can make or break a business. Service based or product based, if you don’t build genuine relationships with your customers, they will just go elsewhere. You need to pay attention to your customers smallest desires and you will have them for life. The rise of social media can make it feel like we have relationships with our customers or clients, but we all…  Read more

Same same but different: bookkeeper vs accountant

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

Why an average bookkeeper is a liability (and costing you your sanity)

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

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

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