Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Australia’s job boom sees unemployment rate fall Australia’s unemployment rate has fallen to 3.7% in February, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), with around 116,000 people starting jobs in February. Resilience of Australian Households and Businesses In its latest Financial Stability Report released today, the…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Cost of living relief coming, just not a big budget cash splash Australians can expect some fresh cost of living relief in May when the federal budget is unveiled, but Treasurer Jim Chalmers has ruled out a big cash splash. Business conditions improve in February February saw an uptick in business conditions as the…  Read more

Government announces changes to proposed ‘Stage 3’ tax cuts Despite previous assurances, and after much speculation, the Government has announced tweaks to the ‘Stage 3’ tax cuts that will apply from 1 July 2024. More particularly, the Government proposes to: reduce the 19% tax rate to 16%; reduce the 32.5% tax rate to 30% for incomes between $45,000 and a new $135,000 threshold; increase the threshold at which the 37%…  Read more

You might have a mental image of data breaches happening only at big institutions like banks, password managers, or even government agencies. But the truth is, any website that stores personal information can be vulnerable to a breach. Now, not all breaches are created equal, and the impact on individuals and businesses can vary greatly. But hey, don’t panic just yet! We’re here to lend a helping hand and shed…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Australia-India trade deal a win for exporters In December, Tim Ayres, Australia’s assistant trade minister, visited India to evaluate the advancements in the pact. The Economic Cooperation Trade Agreement, signed in April 2022 and effective from December 29, 2022, has already demonstrated positive outcomes. Australian economy predictions 2024: Grim…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Australia’s GDP is going backwards We have now had three consecutive quarters of falling GDP on a per capita basis. That last happened 40 years ago during the 1982-83 recession. That is not good. And it doesn’t get any better when you break down what drove what little growth there…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Jim Chalmers welcomes OECD prediction RBA has reached interest rate peak The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has welcomed a projection by the OECD that the Reserve Bank has probably reached its interest rate peak but played down the prospect of the government posting a second successive budget surplus. $392 million Industry Growth…  Read more

There are many types of insurance for individuals, and choosing the right ones for you can be overwhelming. These policies are distinct, yet they often overlap. It’s smart to review your personal insurance policies any time you have a significant life event. This ensures that you and your loved ones are cared for should you find yourself unable to work. Read on for a brief explanation of the different types…  Read more

Our client of the month for March is Von and John Barnes from Pinnacle Properties Qld a real estate agent located in Enoggera. Pinnacle Properties had its official launch last month which was formally opened by the Honourable Teresa Gambaro MP Federal Member for Brisbane. Xperion assisted Von and John in a number of areas for their new business venture, including; putting the right business structure in place setup and…  Read more

Owning a small business in the construction industry can be incredibly stressful. In addition to the long days and difficult working conditions, you have to worry about cash flow issues. It can take a long time to collect on payment from your clients or contractors who hired your business, and in the meantime you have to pay employees, cover fixed expenses, buy supplies and pay your own subcontractors. Here are…  Read more

While many small business owners prefer brainstorming new ideas to pouring over financial reports, getting a handle on financial analysis can be remarkably empowering. Taking the time to regularly review financial statements can help you assess and improve current performance, avoid risk and make scalable plans for future growth. Protect your company’s financial health by learning your way around these three financial reports. Cash flow statement The cash flow statement…  Read more

Advertising is an essential component of success for any business. Proper advertising ensures more sales, but if you choose the wrong options, it can be a very expensive proposition. Let’s look at five ways you can reduce your business’s advertising expenditure without affecting your results.   Referrals A referral program encourages your current customers to send their friends to your site, and to earn rewards for their efforts. It’s a…  Read more

Every businessperson knows that not all customers are created equal. Some customers are loyal, while others will stray if they’re offered a slightly lower price elsewhere. Some clients are demanding, while others only call when they wish to place an order.   Every business must deal with a variety of customers. But there are certain types of customers who do more harm than good to your business – they drain…  Read more

Billing schemes. Skimming. Check tampering. Employee fraud is a real risk for entrepreneurs of fewer than 100 employees. In fact, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners 30% of fraud cases take place in small businesses. This article will help you identify the most common signs of fraudulent activity before an unscrupulous employee destroys your business. Identifying high risk employees When an employee has something to hide, their conduct…  Read more

Stale inventory is a costly nuisance for any business owner. Ideally the rule of thumb is to sell the goods taking up space on your sale floor within 90 days; after the three month mark stale inventory becomes dead inventory. Products are much harder to move and nearly impossible to get top dollar for. Fortunately there are a number of ways to recoup at least part of your investment on…  Read more

Inventory is the lifeblood of your business. It is the largest asset on your balance sheet and your company’s biggest revenue-generator. It goes without saying that poorly managed inventory can do serious damage to your bottom line. Businesses without clear strategies for streamlining the in and out flow of goods will have trouble meeting their customer’s demands and will see mismanaged stock corrode their profits. Follow these tips to ensure…  Read more

Preparing for tax season is really a year-round endeavor. Tip number one for SMB owners is to update financials on a monthly basis, using a streamlined software or cloud-based system. This way, come tax time, everything you need is all in one place. And well organized SMBs are better positioned to minimize their tax bill while avoiding penalties associated with missing or inaccurate information. Here are four more ways to…  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…  Read more

Many entrepreneurs operate with their business processes and systems in their heads. They know what they need to do each day and the way they want to get things done. Unfortunately when a business grows and staff need to be hired – or the owner needs to take time away from the business – it’s a real liability not having processes and systems documented in one place. Read on to…  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

With social media, you can connect with business associates quickly and creatively. But this communication mode is not without risk. A thoughtless post can offend customers and other business partners and damage relationships rather than build them. By following a few ground rules you can be confident your comments and posts will be appropriate ones.   Abstain From Posting or Tweeting Certain Information If you aren’t sure it’s acceptable to…  Read more