Tag: Xero

Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats. Sales, marketing, customer service, admin… and somewhere in the middle of it all, you’re expected to become an expert in bookkeeping, payroll and tax compliance too. It’s no wonder so many business owners decide to “have a crack” themselves. The problem? Your bookkeeping and payroll aren’t just admin tasks. They’re the foundation of every financial decision you make. When they’re…  Read more

A new financial year is the perfect opportunity to reset, review, and get your business finances working harder for you. While many business owners breathe a sigh of relief once EOFY is over, the start of a new financial year is actually one of the best times to build better habits, improve profitability, and set your business up for success. Here are some key tasks to tick off as you…  Read more

  With another round of price increases from Xero and recent stability issues frustrating business owners and bookkeepers alike, we completely understand why people are looking at cheaper accounting software options. On paper, saving money on your monthly subscription sounds like a smart move.  But cheaper software does not always mean lower business costs overall. In many cases, the “savings” disappear quickly once you factor in extra apps, manual workarounds, training…  Read more

Daylight saving doesn’t just mess with your sleep. It can also mess with your payroll. Twice a year the clocks change, and most people just reset the microwave and move on (if you can remember how to change the stupid clock ha). But if you employ staff, especially hourly staff or shift workers, the change in time can play havoc with pay calculations, overtime, and award compliance. It’s one of…  Read more

If you’ve just started working with Xero, it is normal to make a few mistakes while you’re learning. We see mistakes that are quite common – and unfortunately costly – so you should be aware of them if you want to get the most out of Xero’s powerful cloud accounting system. 1. Not connecting all the bank and credit card accounts dedicated for your business Make sure that you keep…  Read more

For small business owners, business conferences can be both a blessing and a curse. They give you the opportunity to develop new skills and learn strategies.  And they also provide you with the chance to meet new people and expand your business network. Unfortunately, they also pull you away from your business and they cost money.  So it’s important that you understand the return on investment for any business conference…  Read more

Management habits of a business owner can be incredibly effective if everyone works in cohesion, but there is always a flip side. The problem is that many employees won’t tell their manager what any weaknesses are, often out of fear of retaliation. So while managers conduct employee performance reviews pointing out areas for staff improvement, when do the management habits get reviewed? And who is reviewing them? There are a…  Read more

Ideally, you and your accountant are more than just “adviser” and “client”. With your combined skills, expertise, and shared mission to support a thriving business, you should be more like business partners. The key to achieving success in any partnership is, of course, knowledge and expertise, but more important than that is strong communication.  If you can’t ask your accountant the questions you need answers to, are they really going…  Read more

Do you know how many times we hear/see this question? Oh at least 3 times a week. We get it, you need to be getting value from your accountant/bookkeeper. And what your accountant or bookkeeper charges you needs to be reasonable. However, what are you factoring in when you get your answers to that question? Skill? Service level? How many people touch your data file? The scope of work included…  Read more

Small business owners know that to find a loyal customer base, they have to stand out from their competitors. One of the best, and easiest, ways to do that is to have outstanding customer service. How you treat your customers reflects your entire business. People think positively on companies that treat their customers and clients well. Unfortunately, many business owners focus their attention on their products and services, with customer…  Read more

So Xerocon 2019 is just around the corner. Two days in Brisbane for the conference and a cheeky extra day at the end (to work of course). Well it is going to be 27 degrees all week so why wouldn’t I take time to enjoy the sun?. But what are my “must have” items to pack for a two day conference? I travel to about 3-4 conferences every single year,…  Read more

Your resume is one of the most important documents you will ever create when job hunting, but a single mistake could send all that hard work straight to the recycle bin. Often, there are mistakes made before I even open the resume. Usually when applying for a job, you are up against a myriad of peope.  Various skill sets, experience and some more willing than others to want the job. …  Read more

I am going to be the first to admit, as a small business owner and working parent, it is bloody hard to get the work life balance right. At times I think it is as elusive as the magical unicorn. We all know it is important to run your business effectively and still have a life outside the office, but how? How do you manage it all so that you…  Read more

When you own a business, any time you speak in public you are representing your business, your brand and your values. That’s a lot of pressure, especially when you consider that most people are already nervous about speaking in front of people. There’s no magic cure for fear of public speaking (and secretly we love it – we could talk numbers all day long), but do I still get nervous…  Read more

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

Networking – just the word itself can create fear and dread in so many people. You are required to stand around and talk about yourself, you have to talk to complete strangers, there is generally no where to hide and half the time you just never meet anyone worthwhile. “Networking can be a total waste of time. But your attitude towards networking will either hold you back, or provide you…  Read more

With end of financial year fast approaching, we see many clients come to us “for a quick and simple review” of their numbers. I mean, they currently use a bookkeeper and whilst the business owner doesn’t keep on top of things in great detail, it all must be perfect right? In an ideal world yes, but I think we all know we live in anything but an ideal world. Most…  Read more

Sounds like it doesn’t make sense right? I mean you have spent ages thinking about your ideal client, who you want to work with, what kind of person they are, what they look like, how they think, where they hang out. So how can focusing on that ideal client cripple your business? Surely it should grow your business? Well here’s the thing. Your ideal clients should have the same attitudes…  Read more

Today, March 12th, 2018 Xero crashed.  And it was of epic proportions (well according to some).  Every second bookkeeper lost their shit five times over as Xero wasn’t back up and running within 30 minutes. I know it is an inconvenience, but really, it is out of our hands. “A problem is only a problem if you make it a problem.  So stop focusing on the problem, and start working…  Read more

Each time I seem to go into a business Facebook group I see the same comment…. “My Bookkeeper/Accountant is over charging me – surely it is a simple job. Why are they so expensive? They are ripping me off.” Now, before I get my “ranty pants” on – let’s reverse this for a minute. Think about the service you offer and imagine how you would feel if people (who did…  Read more