Cashflow

The Senate inquiry into the ability of SMEs to access finance began this week after an increasing number of small businesses have complained about the lack of access to financing.

Australians prefer using other methods of payment over credit cards, with RBA statistics showing only 41.88% of card transactions involve credit cards, compared to 50.34% five years ago.

Super’s not an easy thing to get your head around and it’s not the most exciting of topics. But there are some serious tax benefits to self-managing your super. So could it work for you?

The National Institute of Accountants (NIA) has recommended to the Federal Government that small businesses should be compensated for the time they spend being unpaid tax collectors. Increases in the level of complexity of tax laws have meant compliance has become more onerous with the costs on small business being disproportionate to their ability to […]

Business owners are no longer risking their personal assets to fund business growth as they ride out the effects of the global financial crisis (GFC). Debtor finance specialist, Oxford Funding observed that business owners are more concerned about risk exposure and are choosing funding strategies such as debtor finance that separates personal wealth and enterprise […]

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) are expected to hand down their interest rate decision today, amidst frenzied speculation of a guaranteed rise that will see many homeowners and small businesses feeling the pinch. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has backed Treasurer Wayne Swan’s warning to financial institutions that there is no excuse for raising interest […]

Drake Australia’s chief executive officer, Matthew Tukaki has refuted an analysis of the job market released this morning by ANZ Bank warning of fragility in the current economic recovery phase. ANZ Bank’s monthly survey of job advertisements, measured by the number of major metropolitan newspaper and internet-based job advertisements, showed a drop of 8.1 percent […]

You have made your New Year’s business resolutions, now it is time to sit down and write down some plans to make sure they happen.

Smart SMEs today are focused on fleets that are cost-effective, appealing, environmentally sound, and reflect their core business values. The days of large corporate fleets made up of Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons are long gone for Australian businesses. With this in mind, what does your fleet say about your business?

In tough economic times, small businesses are often the first to go under, and with the recent financial crisis, many have struggled to survive.There is a fine line between failure and success; one that small businesses have to tread very carefully. So why do small businesses fail and how can you avoid the same fate?

Business travel in Australia is defying the economic downturn, according to a new survey, and more than 70 percent of regular business travellers say they haven’t cancelled trips because of the GFC. It never hurts to get the best deal though, does it?

There are all kinds of reasons why a dedicated business credit card makes sense, from separating company and personal expenses, to reward schemes, free purchase and travel insurance, credibility and more. Find out how a dedicated company credit card as well as other kinds of cards can help your business.

Economically things are going up, but the wholesale industry still has challenges leading up to Christmas with managing cash flow. So how can businesses keep the cash flowing this Christmas?

The key to productivity isn’t about cutting costs, it’s about seeking out every possible opportunity for improvement. So how can you get the best out of your business?

In tough economic times, many small businesses struggle to manage their cash flow adequately. Where they once thought they were cruising along nicely, a bump appears in the road and they are thrown off course. All business owners should undertake what the experts call a ‘stress test’ of the business and have risk management strategies in place to ensure the business survives bumps along the way.

Venture capital remains an option for businesses in the current economic climate, but watch it doesn’t transform into vulture capital.

Owning and operating your own small business can be a rewarding experience. However, in the present environment, you’re faced with challenges such as decreasing margins, pressure to pay debts and increasing operating costs. Now is the time to get smart with your money to ensure your business survives the crisis.

As the credit crunch really starts to bite, increases in salary are few and far between and bonuses seem to be a thing of the past, so employees need to make the best use of the dollars they get in their pay packets. Salary packaging with a novated lease is one option that delivers considerable benefits to both employees and employers.

We have all heard the saying, ‘cash is king’, but when it comes to running a business ensuring you have sufficient cash to pay staff, GST obligations, debtors and other operational expenses is crucial to maintaining the ongoing viability of your business.

There are often great parallels between the way we conduct business and participate in team sports. Just like in sports when we blame the referee for a poor decision which costs us the game, in business we tend to blame economic circumstances – the global financial crisis – on our bad business performance. But how long can we keep blaming the GFC?