With cryptocurrencies gaining notoriety, many people are unclear on how or when they can be taxed. Despite widespread belief to the contrary, you can be taxed on gains made as a result of obtaining or using cryptocurrency. If you’ve made a profit from trading cryptocurrency, for example, you need to declare it at tax time. Here is some important information on cryptocurrencies and their implications for your taxes. How cryptocurrency… Read more
Car-related expenses are among the most commonly claimed tax return deductions in Australia, accounting for approximately 40 per cent of all work-related deductions. However, I still find many clients are confused about what they can and can’t claim when it comes to their vehicles. Most people understand that the car in question must be used for work purposes and that driving to and from work is generally not considered… Read more
Preparing your End of Financial Year (EOFY) information often feels stressful—there are receipts to sort out and reports to review, and you need to make sure you have all the necessary information about your income and expenses. It can be overwhelming, and it can make the EOFY feel daunting. The end of the financial year isn’t just a time to collect receipts and find invoices, however. It’s also a time… Read more
A Quick Overview The Superannuation Guarantee (SG) is scheduled to increase to 10% from 1 July 2021. If you have employees, you need to be ready for this legislated increase. What is Superannuation Guarantee? The Superannuation Guarantee is the minimum super an employer must pay to their employees super fund. The current SG percentage rate is 9.5% of employees Ordinary Time Earnings, but this is changing. Ordinary Time Earnings or… Read more
The end of the tax year is right around the corner and though you may be dreading 30 June, there are things you can do to feel better prepared and make the most of your tax deductions. Because this year has been different for many people in terms of their employment situation, there are changes to tax reporting that may affect you. Here are some things to know about your… Read more
If you ask 100 business owners what they like least about running a business, chances are good that bookkeeping will rank high on the list. It’s an annoying and frustrating chore that takes up a lot of time and is easy to put off until tomorrow. Avoiding your bookkeeping is dangerous, however. Not knowing your company’s financial situation can result in a series of missteps that could ultimately cost you… Read more
Accounts receivable is about getting paid for the work you do – in business, it doesn’t get much more important than that. The process covers every part of the payment lifecycle – finding customers, communicating expectations, billing correctly and following up on late invoices. Here’s how to build an effective accounts system in your small business: Pick the right clients – Before you take on new customers, run credit checks and… Read more
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has released the 2021 Federal Budget and confirmed Australia’s economy is performing more strongly than was expected six months ago. This article has a summary of the “Winners and Losers” of the Budget and we’ve compiled a recap of the key points below. Get in touch with us if you have any questions. A Quick Budget Overview This budget assumes our international borders won’t reopen until mid-2022.… Read more
Having total financial control can give you an amazing sense of freedom. However, it takes a lot of discipline and hard work for you to be able to achieve this. In this article, we’ll share some useful tips that you can start now to live a better financial life. Build multiple sources of income Whether it’s through your business, a side hustle, or investing, building your income network can help… Read more
After a difficult year and ongoing lock-downs, you need to get back in touch with your customers and re-assess your marketing. Australians have all been through a tough and transformative time over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. The world that existed pre-Covid has gone and we live in a post-Covid landscape where many areas of life, business and society have changed radically. For example: The standard 9-5 office-based work… Read more
At face value, it seems like a great idea. If you’re a small business owner with just a few employees, you probably think that hiring a payroll specialist is an expense that you can avoid. You feel that you can handle it yourself. You have the best intentions to keep your staff paid right and on time. What could go wrong, right? Well, lots actually. Below are the reasons why… Read more
So you’ve set up your business and sold some products and services. Now, you have to send an invoice to collect your payment. But what should you include on your invoices in order to get paid faster? Even if you’ve been running your business for a while, you might be missing other information that you should include. So here is a step-by-step guide on what to include on your invoices.… Read more
It’s not easy to request payment right now, but it is important to keep cash flowing into your business so you can cover expenses and meet your obligations to others. As with all business dealings right now, a little empathy and a lot of open communication can go a long way. The following tips might be useful to keep in mind when you are asking for payment. Communication – Connecting with… Read more
Managing employee leave might seem like quite a basic task for many businesses – especially smaller ones with only a few employees – and it can be tempting to take a relaxed approach. But unless you diligently track, manage, and pay leave for every single employee, your company could be at serious risk of making costly errors. Recent, high-profile cases of large Australian employers not staying on top of leave… Read more
Keeping track of your inventory, the time it takes to sell and the profit made on each product is essential if you want to manage your business effectively. What counts as inventory? Inventory is anything you buy to on-sell, including fully-completed items to sell in your store, products that you install in people’s homes or businesses or materials used to manufacture products. Work equipment, tools or anything else used in… Read more
When is a worker an independent contractor or an employee? Plenty of people ask this question as it can expose businesses and individuals to significant risk and costs under tax and employment law. Sometimes, a person might seek a contracting relationship for perceived tax benefits or the company might want to keep employment flexible. However, by law, it is the nature of the employment relationship that defines whether someone is… Read more
When the future looks uncertain, what can you do to prepare and strengthen your business? Recent times have certainly shown us that the future path of your business can change in an instant – usually, due to influences that are far beyond our own control. The Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing global economic recession have both had a negative economic impact on the business world. So, when a downturn strikes,… 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
Owning a small business in the construction industry can be incredibly stressful. In addition to the long days and difficult working conditions, you have to worry about cash flow issues. It can take a long time to collect on payment from your clients or contractors who hired your business, and in the meantime you have to pay employees, cover fixed expenses, buy supplies and pay your own subcontractors. Here are… Read more
What’s the best way to establish a price for your products or services? Getting your pricing right is crucial. Put your prices too high and your customers may desert you; put them too low and you’ll generate sales but won’t have a large enough profit margin to create healthy revenues and cashflow for the business. Whether you’re a new startup, or an established business, choosing the right pricing strategy is… Read more