Cybersecurity Best Practices for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses In our digital age, cybersecurity is a crucial aspect of running any business. Cybersecurity breaches could lead to not only data theft but also reputational and financial loss. Hence, it’s imperative to establish robust cybersecurity measures to protect your business and customers’ sensitive information. Here are some cybersecurity practices that could help safeguard your online presence. 1. Invest in Security Software: One…  Read more

2023/24 Budget Update On 9 May 2023, Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the 2023/24 Federal Budget. Some of the measures announced by the Government (including some which were actually announced prior to the Budget), include:       from 1 July 2026, employers will be required to pay their employees’ superannuation at the same time as their salary and wages;       providing businesses with annual turnover of less…  Read more

Debt can be a significant burden on one’s financial life. It can cause stress, anxiety, and make it difficult to achieve financial goals. However, with a little planning and dedication, anyone can create a debt repayment system and get on the path to financial freedom. Here are some tips for managing debt and creating a debt repayment system: Take Stock of Your Debt The first step in managing debt is…  Read more

Starting a small business is both exciting and daunting. While the entrepreneurial spirit may drive you to take the leap of faith, the reality is that you may be entering a market that has already attracted some large competitors. It can be intimidating to think about competing against larger, more established competitors, but it’s not impossible. Here are some steps you can take to help your small business take on…  Read more

  Managing family finances can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and mindset, it can be a smooth and effective experience. Here are some essential steps for managing your family’s finances, including budgeting, saving, and planning for the future. Budgeting Budgeting is the cornerstone of managing family finances. It involves creating a spending plan that outlines your family’s income and expenses. A budget helps you to keep…  Read more

  As businesses grow, managing inventory effectively becomes crucial to staying competitive and maintaining profitability. One key aspect of inventory management is reducing waste and spoilage, which can have significant financial and environmental implications. In this blog post, we will explore best practices for inventory management that can help your business reduce waste and spoilage, creating a more sustainable and cost-effective supply chain. Implement a First-In, First-Out (FIFO) system A…  Read more

  MINIMISE YOUR BUSINESS TAX 2023 TAX PLANNING GUIDE Imagine what you could do with tax saved? You could: Reduce your home loan Top up your super Save for a holiday (when we can travel again!) Deposit for an Investment Property Pay for your children’s education Upgrade your Car Here’s a guide to the strategies you can use to minimise your business tax. IS YOUR BUSINESS A “SMALL BUSINESS” ENTITY?…  Read more

  Among those activities, financial reconciliation plays a vital role in keeping your finances–and your business–on track. Here’s what you should know about financial reconciliation and how it can help your business. What is financial reconciliation? Financial reconciliation is a process of ensuring your financial records are consistent and accurate. Basically, when you conduct a financial reconciliation, you review financial statements and compare them with your bank statements, credit card…  Read more

On 16 February 2023, the ATO issued Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2023/1 in relation to deductions for working-from-home related expenditure. The new rules actually apply from 1 July 2022. Working from home deductions before 1 July 2022 There were 3 choices: The shortcut method – which was available from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2022; The fixed-rate method – which was available from 1 July 1998 to 30 June…  Read more

As a small business owner, it’s essential to find ways to manage your inventory effectively to reduce costs, optimise warehouse space and ensure customer satisfaction. How you manage your inventory affects your cash flow, your customer relationships, and your relationships with vendors. That’s why it’s vital you use a system and process that works best for your business. Among the many methods of managing your small business inventory is the…  Read more

When it comes to running a small business, maintaining a healthy cash flow is essential for sustainability and growth. Your business can be incredibly profitable but still ultimately fail because of improper cash flow management. To prevent that from happening, here are some best practices that can help you better manage your cash flow and maintain the financial health of your small business. Remember, the key to success is to…  Read more

When you invest your money, it’s a given that you’re willing to take on some amount of risk. There are strategies you can employ to ensure the risk you’re taking is minimal, but it still exists. If you’re comfortable with a lot of risk to enjoy a greater reward, it’s important to understand that you could lose everything you put in. Of course, most of us aren’t putting our money…  Read more

Starting a business is not for the faint of heart. A certain level of stress comes with carrying the responsibility of ensuring your company’s success. If things go wrong, it all falls back on you. That said, the freedom and sense of accomplishment of running your own business make the challenges well worth it. With good planning and strong business practices, you can avoid the pitfalls and drive your business…  Read more

  Significant change to claiming working from home expenses Before 1 July 2022, an individual taxpayer that incurred additional deductible expenses as a result of working from home, had a choice of three methods to claim these expenses. These choices were: – The shortcut method – which was available from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2022; – The fixed-rate method – which was available from 1 July 1998 to…  Read more

  It is well established that financial literacy is a key component of financial independence. The more you know and understand about finance, the better equipped you are to make important decisions. Historically, women have had lower financial literacy scores than men for many reasons, including social norms, a lack of access to resources, and needing to focus on other issues. That said, women are living longer than men and…  Read more

Deciding to purchase something to help your business is a big decision. It can be difficult to part with hard-earned money, especially in the early days. To understand the right time to invest by purchasing something for your business, you must calculate whether the Return on Investment (ROI) would be profitable. The cost is the amount of money you spend making the purchase, plus any indirect costs (such as training…  Read more

  2023 is expensive. The cost of living is higher than ever, interest rates keep rising, and it keeps getting harder to stay afloat, let alone get ahead. As a result, carrying debt has become commonplace. But, with the challenges of the past few years, many of us have more debt than we’re comfortable with. How do you get ahead while you’re still trying to catch up? Here are some…  Read more

  You’ve likely heard the phrase “in the black.” Your balance sheet is the tool that shows you whether your business is indeed “in the black.” Your balance sheet includes a section for your assets (things you own or will receive that have value), your liabilities (what you owe to others) and equity (retained earnings and funds from investors) at a specific time. The relationship between these three sections shows…  Read more

Super guarantee contributions for the December 2022 quarter A reminder to employers that their December 2022 superannuation guarantee (‘SG’) contributions were due by 28 January 2023. Do not forget the two changes to SG that commenced on 1 July 2022:  The rate increased from 10% to 10.5%  Employees no longer need to earn $450 per month to be eligible. Employers now need to make super contributions for all eligible employees,…  Read more

You can’t get through the news these days without hearing about inflation and how rapidly it’s increasing. Rates were generally low for quite some time and we all got used to it. Suddenly, however, everyone is getting squeezed by inflationary pressure. But what exactly is inflation, and how does it affect the money you have in the bank? Read on to learn more about what it is and what it…  Read more

You can’t get through the news these days without hearing about inflation and how rapidly it’s increasing. Rates were generally low for quite some time and we all got used to it. Suddenly, however, everyone is getting squeezed by inflationary pressure. But what exactly is inflation, and how does it affect the money you have in the bank? Read on to learn more about what it is and what it…  Read more