Is it better to buy or lease a company vehicle?

If you need a car to operate your business, you may wonder whether it makes more sense to purchase or lease. On the one hand, if your business owns the car you’ll have a long-term asset and may qualify for more tax deductions. On the other hand, buying a car is a huge expense and monthly lease payments tend to be lower than car loan payments; they may also be…  Read more

How to respond effectively to complaints

Complaints are an unfortunate part of running a business, but they do happen. No matter how hard you work to please your clients, eventually someone will have something negative to say. However, with the right approach, you can turn complaints into a useful tool to strengthen your business. Here are 6 tips to effectively responding to complaints: 1. Remember that this is not an argument The reason that a client…  Read more

Business Update – 6 July 2022

Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. How to keep your tax bill low With tax time upon us, here are 8 simple ways you can maximise your refund or keep your bill as small as possible. It’s a good time to catch up on your taxes It’s required to lodge your tax return every year,…  Read more

Should you lease or buy equipment?

Many small business people wonder whether it’s better for them to buy or lease capital equipment for their businesses. Your options regarding leasing or buying depend upon the nature of your particular business, but there are nevertheless a few guidelines you can follow to help you decide what you should do. If you have the money available, and the item is really necessary to your business, then it will usually…  Read more

Business Update – 29 June 2022

Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Lack of Chinese investment worrying A new report shows that Chinese investment in the Australian economy fell a staggering 69 per cent in the last financial year, reaching 2007 levels. The shift signals a change in the international financial landscape. ATO cracks down on family trust fraud, worrying tax…  Read more

8 ways to run more effective meetings

Meetings are often a source of contention in the workplace. Have too few meetings and people feel disconnected. Have too many meetings and people feel that their work is being interrupted. Meetings that are too short might not accomplish enough, while those that are too long lose people’s attention. With some planning and preparation, you can easily turn your meetings into a productive, pleasant experience. Your attendees will come away…  Read more

Email Etiquette: How to Respond to Rude Email

The worst thing about a rude message is the author presuming you’ll respond to a complaint or request when his communication lacks any hint of civility. When confronted with an obvious violation of good manners, you can easily delete the email without upsetting anyone who is aware of politeness standards. You can also punt the request to a co-worker, but that would make you the bad guy. It’s best to…  Read more

Business Update – 22 June 2022

Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. What an American recession means for Australia What exactly does it mean for Australia if the United States is headed for a recession? Sky News breaks it down here. ASX continues to drop Most of Australia’s biggest companies continued to see major slides in the stock market last week,…  Read more

Lean canvas – a new way to do business planning

Few business owners have extra time to devote to a lengthy business planning process. But every entrepreneur needs a solid blueprint to get their business successfully up and running. The Lean Canvas—designed by Sparks59 CEO and Running Lean author, Ash Maurya—is a simple, effective planning tool that helps entrepreneurs assess and test their ideas before investing too deeply in building a product. For the small business owner, the Lean Canvas…  Read more

How to choose the best investments for you

The world of investing is daunting for many people. There’s so much to learn and a lot of terminology that isn’t part of the everyday lexicon. Dividends, EPS, historical returns… and what exactly is an NFT? But once you’ve mastered the basics and the language of investing, there’s another question at play: how do you choose the right investments for you? Of course, the goal of investing is to grow…  Read more

Business Update – 15 June 2022

Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Changes to aged care payment system Services Australia is updating the aged care payment system. Residential aged care services events won’t be able to be submitted between 14 to 22 July. Read the details here. Food tech company NotCo expanding into Australia The company produces plant-based milk, beef, and…  Read more

5 Business Benefits Of Customer Loyalty Programs

Customer loyalty programs are surprisingly simple to implement, especially online, and can bring many benefits to your business. Beyond the simple fact of adding satisfaction for your regular customers, here are five ways your business can profit from starting a loyalty scheme. Customer retention The most obvious benefit of a customer loyalty program is that it improves retention. Customers want to accumulate points to get the rewards or exclusive benefits…  Read more

Business Update – 8 June 2022

Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. ATO reminds Australians about changes this tax season The Australian Tax Office anticipates that many will continue to be impacted by COVID-19, and is offering support to get your taxes right the first time. A summary can be found here. Cash rate expected to rise this week The official…  Read more

How to manage payroll effectively

Payroll is one of those things that starts out simply enough. You start your business, hire a few employees, and things tick along pretty well. It’s straightforward enough to keep everything in line at first, but what happens to most companies is… they grow! This is a great thing, but it also means that payroll becomes more complicated. As such an important aspect of your business, it’s important that payroll…  Read more

4 Tips for Improving Your About Page

Every website should have an About page. It exists to capture the very essence of your business by reeling in your target audience and inspiring them with your story. The About page is more than just a brief biography or a list of achievements; it should be something that forges a connection with your readers and gives them a reason why they should choose your business. Crafting an unforgettable About…  Read more

7 tips for combatting employee burnout

The working environment of the past 2 years has brought the concept of burnout to the forefront. Unexpected work-from-home situations, juggling the new normal, and mental fatigue have all contributed to the issue. Recognizing employee burnout and having a plan to address it will ensure you retain employees and keep your company healthy. 1. Ensure everyone takes their time off In an attempt to appear as though they can handle…  Read more

Business Update – 1 June 2022

Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. ASX carries momentum into a new week The local sharemarket started the week at a three-week high, coming off a rally from last week. Tech and payment firms were among the industries leading the charge. Bubs jumps 80% as deal struck to aid US Baby formula manufacturer Bubs Australia…  Read more

How to Create a Personal Brand

The words ‘personal brand’ are still somewhat controversial, and carry an unfortunate cast of self-promotion and vanity. The truth is that personal branding is more important than ever in the job market, and those without a clear personal brand or mission to create one are lagging behind the competition. What is a personal brand? How you present yourself has always been important in the workplace. In the corporate heyday, it…  Read more

How to keep your finances on track

When it comes to your finances, it’s a good idea to check in on your progress periodically, to see if any adjustments to your budget or changes in your habits are necessary. Even if you’ve set your budget for the year, you may learn a new strategy or have a priority come up suddenly that causes you to shift your thinking. Here are ways to take stock of your finances,…  Read more

Business Update – 25 May 2022

Australia Weekly Digest – 25 May 2022 Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Antony Albanese becomes Australia’s PM First Labor PM in nearly a decade vows to bring Australians together, and “promote unity and optimism, not fear and division.” ASX sinks again after Wall Street “bloodbath” The stock market was down again last week, taking…  Read more

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