Secrets to Keeping Your Employees Happy

Traditionally, employers have relied on giving employees raises as a way to retain their staff and reward them for being hard-working and loyal. Raises can get expensive, and there is often an upper limit for what you can offer when it comes to increasing salaries and wages. Keeping your employees happy makes business sense. You want to keep your good employees, and it costs money to find, hire and train…  Read more

Coronavirus and the Mental Health Impact on Accountants

I have no words to describe the past three weeks of being a business owner running their own accounting and bookkeeping business during the Coronavirus pandemic, but I will try. There has been so much negativity, so much uncertainty, increased levels of stress and anxiety, frustration through the roof, so many tears – and that is from both clients and from me. “We are not immune to any of it,…  Read more

Tips for switching off during the Christmas holidays

The Christmas holiday season is once again here, and with it comes time to relax, focus on family and friends and take stock in what is really important in life. Unless you are a small business owner! Every small business owner knows that being away from the office can be just as stressful as being in it. Phone calls from employees dealing with a minor crisis will pull your focus…  Read more

The ins and outs of employee performance reviews

When you run a small business, you’re involved in your company’s sales, accounting, marketing, and human resources, among other things. Being responsible for human resources isn’t just about hiring and firing people, although those are large parts of the role. It’s also about managing the people who work for you while they work for you. Conducting regular employee performance reviews is part of managing your workers. While performance reviews may seem…  Read more

Are you ready for Single Touch Payroll? Single touch WHAT??

Do you have under 19 employees? Then you need to be ready for Single Touch Payroll when it comes into play from 1 July 2019. Single touch what I hear you ask!! By now you may have heard the buzz around Single Touch Payroll. It’s a pretty big deal for any business that has employees. So…what do you need to know and how does it affect you? Keep reading to…  Read more

6 Common Employee Onboarding Mistakes

While most small businesses spend a great deal of time and effort in finding the right employees, they often fail to capitalise on their newly hired talent by ignoring (or not having) an onboarding process.   From long waits for workspace, equipment not being ready, non existent training to an overly negative recitation of ‘don’t do these things or you will be fired,’ employers consistently miss the opportunity to inspire…  Read more

6 Ways to Improve Your Workplace Productivity

The success of any business, large or small, depends largely on nurturing an efficient and productive workplace. While improving employee productivity should always be a priority, this process is often easier said than done. Below are some of the most effective methods of managing a productive, happy workplace while increasing output. 1. Establish Accountability Productivity depends on every employee understanding that the jobs they do come with specific responsibilities, and…  Read more

Three Ways to Move Beyond a Job Interview

Most people are familiar with a job interview: a nervous candidate meets with an employer, answers a series of questions about their experience, strengths, weaknesses and education, and sometimes takes an aptitude test. Employers have used employment interviews to choose between potential candidates since, well since before I even got my first job which is a long time ago now. But there is only so much you can learn about…  Read more

Family business – yay or nay?

Ever dreamed of starting a family business? Investing in a start-up opportunity with friends? Starting a business from scratch with your mates? Can a family business stand the test of time? Businesses owned and operated by families can have incredible staying power. Volkswagen, Samsung, and Nike – all family-owned companies – are among the world’s most successful, leading brands. “Working with family can be the best, but it can be…  Read more

Bookkeeper of the year: What it feels like to be a finalist.

Every year there are awards for various industries and the Accounting and Finance industry is no different. So why do I enter awards? Is it worth my time, effort and money (and yes, some of them are certainly not free). And what do I, or my business, actually get out of it? “These are question I get asked each year, and for the life of me I used to think…  Read more

5 tips to avoid Jet Lag so you can return to work switched on

After ten days in the USA (part conference, part holiday) I returned back to Australia yesterday. When you run your own business, recovering from jet lag over several days is just not an option. I need to be back on deck and 110% on my game by tomorrow. So how do I banish Jet Lag? Firstly, assuming you won’t suffer from jet lag is really not a great strategy. Whilst…  Read more

Can a business owner really have a stress free holiday? YES YES YES

As a business owner, for the past 5 years I have been running my financial coaching, accounting, training & bookkeeping business. And whilst it continues to grow and be successful, I have never had a stress free holiday in that time. I was always constantly attached to my laptop/iPad/phone and had to be on call for clients every day because my business was me. “I had created a monster. The…  Read more

4 Recruitment Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring Staff

Eighty percent of staff turnover is caused by bad hiring decisions, according to the Harvard Business Review. But few organisations question whether it is their own recruitment mistakes which are turning away potential talent. “In fact, I am sure most people blame the candidates if the work relationship turns sour.  But if your recruiting strategy exhibits any of the following obstacles, it’s time for a rethink.” 1. Self-Absorbed Job Advertisements Most…  Read more

Why a resume is not all that it is cracked up to be

Resumes. The old school way to judge someone based on what is written on a piece of paper. And you decide based on that information if you think they should work with you. Works every time right? WRONG. Well that is not how I hire staff. Not now, not ever. A resume doesn’t tell me your attitude – and your attitude will give me a far greater insight into you than any piece of…  Read more

Why I can’t survive on $5 per hour

I would love someone to help my business. MUST HAVE skills, experience, qualifications, knowledge, be a self starter and be able to work without supervision. MUST ALSO be prepared to work for under minimum wage. “God, oh please sign me up. I just can’t wait to work as your slave.” Seriously – how can that even be an ad for a job? How can a business woman advertise for someone…  Read more

Virtual teams: how to successfully work with people you have never met

Teamwork is something that a business needs to succeed. So how is it possible to build a growing brand and business with a virtual team? How do you flip the traditional business model into a virtual business model without losing the relationships? Well – I am so glad you asked. OK – so you didn’t exactly ask – but I bet you are wondering how the heck I have built…  Read more

I hate my business and I want out (dilemma’s of an entrepreneur)

I am writing this on behalf of every entrepreneur, every small business owner, every hustling parent – pretty much everyone busting their gut for the own business. I know deep down, you have also had days where you want out of your business. You want less stress, less hours, less hectic-ness, less fights with your partner, more happy times with your family, less constant struggles with balance and you want…  Read more

Should you outsource work to offshore workers?

The rise of the global workforce and the choice to offshore: the debate will not go away, so it is time to be educated and assess if you should hire/outsource parts of your business offshore. If you’re wondering whether it’s worthwhile to hire overseas workers and offshore part of your business for virtual admin support or other business services, cost considerations alone can make the prospect quite attractive. Before you…  Read more

Entrepreneurs need manners too #bringmannersback

Running a business, no matter how busy you are, does not give you the right to “mis-place” your manners. Common courtesy and respect seem to be not so common these days with the busy entrepreneur expecting, or perhaps it could even be classed as demanding, answers at the drop of a hat (and usually for free). So lets rewind a little bit and get old school for a minute. Do…  Read more

You have a 20cm blood clot – (lessons from a horrible boss)

Coming up to 8 years ago I was faced with a health scare – 6 weeks pregnant (first time mum – I should have been so excited), I had developed a 20 cm blood clot in my lower leg, I was in agony, I had a job I loved – and I was told I was unable to reduce my hours to part time, as my condition didn’t warrant it.…  Read more

Want to learn to love your numbers? yes please...Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax services Australia wide