No matter how much money you currently have in the bank, it’s a good idea to consult with a financial planner sooner than later. There’s no better way to start mapping out strategies for investing – and saving – so you can meet your short and long term financial goals. Financial planners are there to help you save time and money as you prepare to buy a house or commercial… Read more
Managing cash flow is a vital part of running a successful business. Some business owners think managing cash flow simply means keeping track of how much money enters and leaves their business, but there’s actually more that goes into it. Cash flow forecasting, for example, is an incredibly valuable tool that helps you anticipate cash flow issues, plan for days when your cash flow is limited, and show the bank… Read more
As a small business owner it’s hard to juggle your work and outside responsibilities. It’s important to run your business effectively and still have a life outside the office. You need a good balance between work and play for your health and well-being. Small business owners often fall into the trap of working too hard, ending up exhausted from the constant work demands associated with self-employment. Why you need balance… Read more
In business, mistakes can be expensive and as an entrepreneur, although you’ll know many of the regulations that apply to your business, there are so many you can’t possibly remember all of them. Depending on the type of business you run, you could face laws regarding taxation, employment, product liability, premises liability, discrimination, health and safety and a variety of other regulations. Keeping on top of all the laws that… Read more
Most small businesses experience cash flow problems from time to time and urgently need working capital. Many business owners immediately think of the bank or loans when they’re short of money. But there are other resources you can tap before you ask for that expensive overdraft or overdraft extension. The money you need might already be there—locked up in inventory, assets or your debtors’ book. You can often free up… Read more
The start of a business partnership is an amazing time. Generally speaking, both people are invested financially, emotionally and professionally in the business. It may be stressful to start a business but doing so with a partner gives you someone to share the responsibility and workload with. When you and your partner collaborate and work well together, a partnership can be incredibly fulfilling. When a partnership doesn’t work—or when it… Read more
We now look at eight characteristics important to successful businesses. International researchers who have studied many small businesses have found that these characteristics consistently play a part in the success of small companies. The eight characteristics are: Owners leading by Example Having a simple business structure Information sharing among employees Staff are carefully chosen Staff commitment and loyalty A unique product or service A specific Customer focus Prompt follow up… Read more
One of the most important decisions you’ll ever make in business is your choice of business name. A good name can create the perception of integrity, professionalism, or value-for-money. It could be your business’s biggest asset. A poorly chosen name can discourage potential customers by making your business appear farcical, or even offensive. What’s in a name If you haven’t thought of any names yet or the names you’ve come… Read more
Too many businesses fall over because the owner has not established efficient business systems. This typically happens because the business owner is so caught up in the day-to day running of the business that the fundamentals of good business management get forgotten. Often too it must be said that the owner simply doesn’t like bookkeeping or other administrative tasks, so these get put on the back burner. The symptoms are… Read more
These days, you can use technology to take care of almost any issue facing your business. If you have a task you don’t like to do, there’s an app or software program to take care of it for you. It might take a few moments of your time to learn and understand how the software or app works, but doing so will save you valuable time and precious energy. It… Read more
Bootstrapping is figuring out how to reduce the cash you need to start, by eliminating any unnecessary overheads while finding out who will give you a hand. If for whatever reason you’re not able to raise enough capital to start-up you might be able to get what you need by ‘bootstrapping’ (finding what you need through unconventional or low-cost methods). Have others lend what you need You don’t have to… Read more
Happy New Financial Year! Welcome to this week’s update… State grants and support programs. Each state and territory has announced various grants and assistance packages which you may be eligible for. You can find a roundup of these grants on the Government’s Business website. Alternatively, you can also contact us so we can discuss which options are most suitable for your business based on your eligibility and needs. Victoria Reimposes… Read more
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – this has been an extremely difficult few months for all of us, but there is no better time to think seriously about your business. In this article, we have compiled a few tips to create value in your business. The key to building value in your business is to plan the process in a systematic way, whether you’re aiming to… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. We hope you and your family are safe and doing well. Read on for this week’s update. Second Round of Cash Flow Boosts If you received initial cash flow boosts, you’ll automatically receive additional cash flow boosts when you lodge your activity statements for each monthly or quarterly period from June to September 2020. The amount will be equal to the total amount of… Read more
If you’re like many small business owners you’re probably astounded by how the world has changed in a very short time. While we can all hope that the pandemic is a once-in-a-lifetime scenario, the truth is there is a lot in life and in business that is uncertain, and there is a great deal we can learn from the response to COVID-19 to help plan for the future. Yes, your… Read more
As small business owners look to operations after COVID-19, there are some important business questions to ask. These questions will help you determine what adaptations you want to keep, whether your business model is working, and if there are additional changes you want to make to keep your company operational through future economic downturns. It’s not always fun to do this sort of examination, but the answers to these questions… Read more
Have you thought about a COVID-19 Business Recovery Plan? Recent events have made a lot of people wonder what the future holds, both for themselves and for their business. This is the ideal time to stop and have a think about strategic business planning for the year ahead. Here are some tips to make that planning more productive. Get your team involved Business planning works best when it’s a team… Read more
It’s great to see more and more businesses are able to reopen now, but it doesn’t mean everything is back to normal. There’s still a lot of uncertainty around what business will look like and how long it will take to “bounce back”. With so many unknowns, we want to let you know we’re here to help. We can help you develop a plan to reopen your business safely and… Read more
Like other time saving apps, tools designed to automate your booking calendar are a huge boon to busy small business owners. Put an end to time-wasting telephone tag and those endless back and forth emails with any of these 4 popular scheduling apps. Calendly Calendly is a popular app for consultants, coaches, solopreneurs, freelancers and other professionals who regularly book client meetings. With a clean intuitive interface, invitees can choose… Read more
As the effects of COVID-19 continue to impact businesses across the world, the tendency is to cut costs and many people will look to pause their marketing as part of that. It’s a dangerous move as all successful businesses rely on new business and sales – and marketing directly impacts that. Here are some tips to work out an effective marketing budget post COVID-19. If you have any questions, please… Read more