The 2023 calendar year has drawn to a close. For many, it was still a year of hangover effects from covid and poorer economic conditions. For many others, it was a year of substantial growth and increased profits. So what set those businesses apart? In this episode, our host Paul Sweeney reflects on some of […]
What do you need to consider when choosing an accountant for your business? It’s an important decision – getting the right accountant for your needs can help you build a profitable and healthy business. Here are some key factors to consider: What services does your business need? What are your values? What are the qualifications […]
One of the accepted risks of running a business is being audited by the tax department. Nowadays, there are multiple government agencies that you and your business may need to deal with, apart from just the Australian Tax Office and possible income tax audits. With increased data sharing between government organisations, it has become much […]
What can you do to give yourself the best chance of success in your business? Following on from our last episode on business health checks, Paul Sweeney shares the 7 steps you need to take to create some positive changes in your business. What kinds of outcomes can you expect? Your business will be more […]
In general, small businesses are not healthy. Here are some alarming statistics – Australian Small Business and Family Enterprises Ombudsman (ASBFEO) has found that 49% of small business owners make less than average wages, and two out of 5 micro and small businesses are not profitable. Interestingly, there are also businesses who are thriving in […]
Events have long been a go-to strategy for businesses aiming to showcase their products or services. However, it’s not uncommon for these efforts to fall flat despite the considerable investments of time, effort, and money. In this episode we address the questions of: How can we turn the tide and make our events successful? How […]
Knowing your business and providing amazing products or services is only part of running a successful venture. Another crucial aspect of business success is building positive relationships. From fostering business-to-business ties, to encouraging return customers, to keeping fantastic staff – how you manage relationships is integral to your business. We are joined by Jason Owen, […]
Business owners – here’s an important question to ask yourselves, “Do my customers actually know what I do for them?” We are joined again by Nathan Williams (Customer Return) to look at this crucial issue – and how the use of storytelling can help bridge the gap in understanding and build your relationship. You can […]
We hosted The Business Behind Your Business Meet Up – a fun celebration for our podcast community. All of our podcast guests and listeners have been a special part of our podcast and we wanted to say thank you, plus hear from everyone about their business journeys. It was a great opportunity to network and […]
One of the biggest issues for business owners is managing cash flow. Healthy cash flow is crucial for the success of any business. Cash flow is a term that is often confused with profit. Business owners often say, “My business is busy and profitable, so why don’t I have any money in the bank?” Find […]
We are joined by Anna Ruth from Freedom for Humanity for an eye-opening chat about modern slavery. Freedom for Humanity is an organisation committed to creating a world where human rights are upheld, and all individuals can flourish and thrive. In this conversation we delve into Anna’s profound insights, her passion for human rights, and […]
As a small business owner, have you ever thought about doing business with large companies and decided it was never going to happen because it was just ‘too hard’ or the differences between your business and theirs were just too great? Find out how to successfully bridge the gap between small businesses and larger businesses. […]
What’s the point of a business plan? My business is already up and running. Are business plans and goals the same thing? What do you need to include in your business plan? Are there any tools to help me create a business plan? Paul Sweeney, from Pretium Solutions (Chartered Accountant & Business Advisory) discusses why […]
Personal Goals play a valuable part in defining your business goals and the specific actions you need to take. A major cause of stress and anxiety for business owners is the failure of their business to enable their personal goals to be met. In this episode we explore why personal goals are very important in […]
It’s important to have contingency plans as part of your risk management strategy. What plans do you have in place, right now, to deal with scenarios where your business isn’t able to function for a period of time? From there, it is then essential to think about how your insurance can help you make these […]
We are hearing from business owners about opportunities that now exist. Many are planning on how they will capitalise on these opportunities. “Creating opportunity is about more than just thriving in an unstable, sometimes scary world. It’s about becoming the best version of yourself, and creating the life where you have all the opportunities you […]
Rita Morar from Keystone Business Advisory explains the five pillars of success. In Part 1 of this two part discussion Rita discusses the first and most important pillar of success which is our primary motivation. A foundation of success is to identify and utilize your primary motivators. Find out how understanding your primary motivators can […]
Rita Morar from Keystone Business Advisory provides Part 2 of our discussion of the five pillars of success. In Part 1 (Last Episode) we dived deeply into this discussion of what is a primary motivator and why people need to understand what motivates them to have a really successful personal life and business life. In […]
Employers now have a new issue that has come to the forefront that’s to do with a case concerning casual employment, and it has the potential to significantly change the way that employers look at casual employment. Before we actually look at this issue, it’s important to understand what is meant by casual employment and […]
Jason Smith, from Capital Plus Finance, shares his lessons learned from creating and successfully selling his business Cash Flow Advantage. Jason didn’t start his business with a plan of selling. But the decisions he made and the systems he implemented transformed his business into a profitable business that ran independently of him. When the time […]
Every business has risks. Identifying the cost to your business from losing one of your key people is the first step in protecting your business from loss. Jim Mills from Merit Wealth identifies the major risks to your business from losing a key person. How do you identify the impact? How do you create a […]
When processes and procedures aren’t documented… A customer’s issue may be handled incorrectly Customer service won’t meet customer expectations Errors will be made How much time is wasted by other employees learning how to do someone else’s job (badly) on the fly? How much of their own work do they not get done while they […]
Sandra Zalud shares some of the lessons learned from her experience of starting a business and provides some key advice for anyone getting started in business. Even with 25 years’ experience with lending and assisting a mortgage broker, there were lessons to be learnt when Sandra started her own mortgage broking business. Resources mentioned in […]
What are the traps businesses fall into with digital marketing? Where does your website fit in with your marketing strategy? Claire Wendell from Click Click Media discusses the problems many businesses face when trying to get started with digital marketing. Claire states, “You really want to try with your online marketing to showcase who you […]
With the end of Jobkeeper approaching in March for those businesses still meeting eligibility criteria, and other tax concessions being phased out, business owners need to look beyond March. The COVID-19 crisis has provided some indirect beneficial outcomes. It has in many ways been a catalyst for businesses to closely examine how they operate, who […]
When it comes to cyber security, the weakest link is the user – the actual human being behind the computer. You could have the best systems in the world doing what they do best, but if someone clicks on something or does something at a user level, then you can potentially compromise a lot of […]
In this episode, we’re going to delve into some of the practical steps that you can take to reduce your exposure to cyber crime. Luke Iacovelli (UNITECH Solutions) returns to help your business identify some of the practical steps you can take to reduce your cyber security risk and exposure. Many businesses are experiencing the […]
Is your business appropriately protected from cyber crime? Do you have specific cyber insurance coverage? Many small and medium businesses don’t understand the issues involved and are at risk of costly cyber attacks. In the past, it was the mega companies that were being hacked and they had teams of cyber loss control staff trying […]
PART 2 of our look at cyber security and the insurance you need to protect your business. In this episode, we look at what happens if there’s a cyber attack and I have to make a claim? What’s the process? Join Dave Ferris (Davelcorp Insurance Brokers) and Luke Iacovelli (UNITECH Solutions) as they dive into […]
Have you thought about trying networking but not sure where to start? Maybe you’re not sure what you’ll get out of it or if it will be worthwhile? Sandra Zalud from Liberty Network Services shares her experiences with business networking as a small business owner. Sandra found one important benefit that she received from business […]
Are you struggling to engage your employees who are working from home? Do you want better ways to support your remote team? Find out more about emotional intelligence and how a greater understanding of this skill can affect your business and help you all work as a cohesive team. Managing remote workforces has its challenges. […]
What is unfair dismissal? Who can apply for it? How does the Commission consider cases before it? For many employers, unfair dismissal can be a roadblock that prevents them from hiring because they don’t have a good understanding of unfair dismissal and it’s associated risks. It’s useful for businesses to understand which employees can apply […]
The Australian economy’s recovery from COVID-19 is well underway. The Federal Budget is focused on securing Australia’s recovery and rebuilding. It is a plan to invest rather than reform. Many have argued that it is a bland budget, missing the opportunity to deliver more tax cuts to help business owners. So how do the measures […]
Tax planning is a legitimate strategy all business owners can take advantage of to minimise tax. Tax planning is not just for big business. Every business can take advantage of some simple strategies to reduce tax this financial year. Paul Sweeney, Chartered Accountant and Registered Tax Agent, explains some simple strategies to reduce tax this […]
What is RegTech? How does it affect my business? What should I be doing? According to Deloitte, “RegTech (Regulatory Technology) is more than a buzzword, it is a very real movement that is already having an impact on regulatory compliance.” Deborah Young, CEO of the RegTech Association explains what RegTech is, and how RegTech is […]
Landing pages are often dismissed as a cheap alternative to websites. Phil Wendell from Click Click Media explains how every business can use landing pages as part of their marketing strategy to target new customers. By using landing pages, you can quickly and easily test your market and get feedback. How much did I invest […]
