The reaction today in Australia (if not around the world) as the US election takes place is nothing short of phenomenal. Trump v Clinton (Hillary that is). Multi millionaire & reality TV star (*use the term star loosely) v Former first lady and potentially first female president of the USA. Most of the world are glued to the TV screens in what was kind of publicised previously as a Clinton… Read more
Every single week I see people bitch and moan about the prices accountants charge, that they are too expensive, that the individual (or business owner) is not getting value, that people don’t understand what the accountant actually does, or even worse – that accountants just push buttons that you can do yourself so really are not worth their time. Now let me reverse this just for a minute. How would… Read more
Calling all business owners, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, mumpreneurs, dadpreneurs – or any other fancy titles that are out there at the moment – the sooner you realise that profit is not the same as cash – the sooner you will start to plan for a fabulous financial future. You see here is the thing – I speak to business owners all the time who simply get frustrated (*insert swear words here… Read more
Cash Flow is the major cause 56% of small businesses don’t survive past their 5th birthday. It is time to turn the tables on that horrific statistic and be in charge of your cash flow (with confidence) and remove the stigma and fear around asking for your invoices to be paid. The first thing to consider is that cash flow is not just chasing debtors. Cash flow is understanding – when… Read more
Yesterday I met an inspirational man. Michael Crossland. Someone I had never heard of until I googled him the night before attending MYOB Partner Connect Conference. Accountants are not supposed to have emotions – but let me tell you why I spent time on the beach crying after listening to his key note speech. During the day – I was learning, networking, seeking advice, making connections, seeing developments in the… Read more
I am not a travel operator. I am not a travel guide. I don’t even travel that often. But seriously, how hard it is to show some common sense and respect when travelling? Clearly much harder than I thought. So the past month has seen me “get around a bit” as I sleep my way around Queensland attending accounting/bookkeeping software conferences. Next up is MYOB Partner Connect conference starting tomorrow… Read more
Why do I invest so much in training, education & development? This month alone I have two conferences which are interstate that I will be attending. And when I say I am going to the Gold Coast to attend the MYOB Partner Conference, people say to me, “Oh, you are just going for a holiday!” And I know they are only saying that in jest (well I think they are),… Read more
Not all accountants are the same. We don’t all want to do the same things, we are not all extroverts (surprise surprise), and we don’t all love big accounting conferences and sitting down with people that we don’t know (even if they are in the same industry). Some of us even have a life outside the accounting space, and love, (dare I say it), AFL. So, yes, while I am going… Read more
Your level of exhaustion should not be used to measure your level of success. So many business owners I speak to – whether that be on social media or in person, tell me that they are just so exhausted. Their business is consuming every waking minute, and even those minutes where you should be sleeping you are instead running all your business scenarios through your head. It never ends. I… Read more
Dear Random Stranger (who doesn’t want to pay for my services) Thanks for you phone call tonight at 5:55pm (on a Friday) and asking me if I have 5 minutes for…. “just a really simple GST question”. Whilst I appreciate that you think your question may only take five minutes of my time, the reason it takes five minutes of my time is because I have a lot of skills… Read more
Social Media – it slowly starts to consume your life (if you let it). But as a professional serviced based Financial Coaching, Accounting & Bookkeeping business, I need to remind myself that I am not “in the business” of social media. “Social media is a tool. A tool I can choose to use, or a tool I can choose to ignore.” I think a lot of business owners (**disclaimer –… Read more
Each time I meet and gain a new client – we work on a plan. A plan to address their financial problems, financial fears, accounting, bookkeeping and business strategy issues – whatever is relevant. Often we draw up a weekly checklist – advising clients of specific tasks to do, things to be aware of and items to check – to eliminate the overwhelm. By facing their fears andgetting on top… Read more
As an accountant, fraud, and in particular financial fraud, really pisses me off. You see when you run a company you have obligations – morally and ethically, as well as financially and legally. “You can’t put your head in the sand and say “Sorry – I had no idea”. That just doesn’t cut it as a company director.” So when I read this article from Smart Company today about the… Read more
Often as business owners we are so focused on the “now” that we don’t think about the future. We don’t consider the “what if” as we can just do it all and be it all – so we carry on in the same manner….until disaster strikes. And then reality hits, we realise we can’t do it all – and you ask yourself “Have I Hospital Proofed my business?” What am… Read more
EOFY Payroll is easy right – I mean your accounting software does it for you so what have you got to worry about? A few clicks of a button and payment summaries are issued to staff. Done, feet up and champagne cracked open. But wait…. “If you don’t understand payroll and accounting terminology chances are your payroll is incorrect – FACT.” I know what you are thinking….my accounting data file… Read more
What does SaaS mean to you? Traditionally, it means Software as a Service. So generally the software is a subscription type model, where the user usually uses the software via a web browser. Now I have no issues of this type of product – my business wouldn’t be where it is today without cloud technology and the ability to work remotely. Especially as the three main types of this service… Read more
As an Accountant, Financial Coach and Cloud Accounting Guru to start-ups and entrepreneurs, I often see clients come to me after 30th June filled with stress, anxiety, fear and embarrassment. “It doesn’t need to be this way.” So, instead of heading into the end of financial year in a frazzle, follow our simple checklist to being organised. It will make the tax return process so much smoother and easier, and dare… Read more
It is 2016 and if you are not an agile business, you will simply get swallowed up by your competitors before you have a chance to adapt. Times are changing – and so are your surroundings. But are you aware of what is happening? Business owners are becoming far more savvy, their expectations are much higher and technology is moving at a rapid pace. So where does an agile business… Read more
Unpaid staff sound great, but have you thought for a minute about the implications from a business, accounting, tax and legal perspective? I know, I know – starting a business is hard work. Cash flow is ….well….often non existent, so advertising for a volunteer role, or an unpaid role, unpaid staff (or any other variation of those terms) does sound like a solution to all your problems. Hallelujah. But… Read more
I hate being taxed twice – I am going to write to the Government and give them a piece of my mind about GST and income tax. Yes – this was a comment from a recent (*new) client of mine who was still coming to grips with being a new business owner, being registered for GST and then paying tax via his “full time” job at the same time. … Read more