Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Business confidence nudges up across Australia The Roy Morgan Business Confidence index was 95.1 in July 2024, up 3.6 points from a month ago and up 7.6 points from the same month last year. It comes after Stage 3 income tax cuts to consumers boosted the spending power…  Read more

Running a business is hard enough without having to wrestle with out-of-date accounting records. That’s where cloud accounting comes in—a modern solution that can make your life a whole lot easier. This article explores why small businesses should embrace cloud accounting and how it can drive your success. What is Cloud Accounting? Cloud accounting involves using online software to manage your financial records. Unlike traditional desktop accounting software, cloud-based solutions…  Read more

Running a small business comes with its own unique set of challenges, and dealing with toxic employees is undoubtedly one of the trickiest. A single troublesome team member can disrupt productivity, affect team morale, and ultimately harm your business’s success. Knowing how to handle such situations effectively can turn things around. Let’s look at the types of toxic actions, how to address them, and provide practical steps to manage these…  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

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Australia’s SMEs outshine global peers in latest Xero report Recent Xero data reveals the ongoing resilience of Australian small businesses despite a deceleration in sales and wages growth. Sales growth remains stronger compared to other XSBI markets. Experts say Australia at 1-in-3 risk of hitting recession next year A…  Read more

In the world of business, one constant factor you are likely to encounter is change, particularly in the financial landscape. One such change that can bear significant implications for small businesses is rising interest rates. Understanding how this impacts your business and identifying solutions to counteract these effects can be key to sustaining and growing your business. The implications of rising interest rates for small businesses Interest rates have a…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. ‘No rate cuts’: Horror call on Aussie economy Since the Reserve Bank Australia (RBA) first began raising interest rates in May of last year, the volume of commentary on when they would be cut has become greater with each passing month. With mortgage rates having risen to the largest and fastest…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Australian house prices smash records, fully reversing 2022 lows Home buyers and sellers have expressed confidence in Australia’s housing market, leading to the full reversal of the most rapid decline in house prices in recent history. Five key changes to welfare and work rules in Labor’s employment white paper…  Read more

Even if you have outsourced your financial functions, as a small business owner, it is crucial to have a solid understanding of key financial concepts to work with your advisor and ‘speak their language”. This article outlines several important concepts that every small business owner should be familiar with. Basics of income and expenses As a small business owner, it’s important for you to understand how you generate and spend…  Read more

As a business owner, it’s crucial to understand the power of social media marketing. Social media platforms provide an opportunity for businesses, no matter the size, to reach a larger audience, engage with potential customers, and drive sales. So, you’ve heard that your company needs to be on social media. Although this is true, it doesn’t mean your business is going to go from 0 to 100 overnight. Using social…  Read more

Starting a new business can be incredibly exciting, but it’s important to thoroughly evaluate your business idea before taking the plunge to ensure you’re creating a sustainable and successful venture. To get started, here are 9 questions to consider as part of an overall evaluation process. Save yourself money, time, and heartache down the line by investing a little time now. What customer problem does your business solve? Your business…  Read more

For a small business owner, managing finances can be a daunting task. Keeping track of expenses, payments, and cash flow can be overwhelming, especially if you’re dealing with debt too. A business loan, line of credit or a business credit card can help your company hire new employees, purchase inventory, purchase equipment, and finance growth, but too much debt can become an unsustainable expense. Debt management is vital to the…  Read more

As a small business owner, you always look to keep your business running efficiently. Expense reimbursement fraud is the last thing you want to face. Not only can it hurt your bottom line, but it can also damage your company’s reputation. Here we discuss what is employee expense fraud, reasons behind it, and most importantly, how to prevent it from happening to your business. What is expense fraud? Expense fraud…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. A survival guide for SMEs in the face of inflation Inflation is a challenge for all businesses, but the sting is especially painful for SMEs. With limited resources, they can find themselves struggling to absorb costs associated with inflation, potentially leading them down the path of price increases and…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Stoking the engine room of the Australian economy The nation’s fleet of small to medium-sized businesses boosting economic growth has been one constant amid the technological and demographic transformation of the Australian economy. Enabling them to be more successful is the focus of ANZ’s new Group Executive, Australia Commercial Clare…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Another 1.3 billion consumers will shop online by 2027 Online retailers should be gearing up for the addition of a further 1.3 billion consumers worldwide joining the ranks of online shoppers by 2027, says market research firm Juniper Research. Not fair on consumers, not good for business’: Financial complaints…  Read more

It’s hard to go a day without reading something in the news about the state of the economy. Whether it’s interest rates rising or the cost of living, there’s no getting around the fact that in 2023 there are many doing it tougher than a few years ago. But while there are some economic challenges for individuals and businesses, it’s important to not go too far down the rabbit hole.…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Tradies say raising pension age “unfair” after a life of hard work takes its toll Hardworking Aussies fear a decision to lift the pension age to 67 means they will be forced to work even longer in labouring jobs. Consumer watchdog says Australians paying too much for electricity As…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. One of biggest defence deals in Australia’s history inked in Berlin Australia will export more than 100 Brisbane-made Boxer heavy weapon carrier vehicles to Germany starting in 2025 under a $1 billion deal. The military vehicles will be produced in Redbank and will secure around 1,000 jobs. Gas ‘plays a…  Read more

Court penalises AMP $24 million for charging deceased customers The Federal Court has found that four companies that are or were part of the AMP Group breached the law when charging life insurance premiums and advice fees from the superannuation accounts of more than 2,000 deceased customers. The Federal Court ordered two of these AMP companies to pay a combined penalty of $24 million for the breaches. Both AMP Life…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Suncorp forced to pay back $32 million to underpaid employees Suncorp’s insurance arm paid $32m to over 15,800 underpaid staff for not paying them the minimum wage. Read More Australian inflation is stubbornly high. Some countries don’t have that problem There is no one underlying cause of inflation across…  Read more