#Cashflow
Slow paying customers and cashflow worries revealed as top concerns for Australia’s tradie economy
New research by St.George Bank reveals that 75% of tradies have aspirations to be self-employed in the next 12-18 months and female tradies are alive and kicking with 40% of representation in the research. The St.George Bank Tradie Economy Report surveyed over 600 people across Australia who identify as a tradie or someone working in […]
New Xero report: Late payments cost small businesses $7billion a year
A new report from Xero, the global small business platform, reveals for the first time the magnitude and impact of late payments to Australian small businesses, putting the value of outstanding, late payments at $115 billion a year. The research finds that half of all trade credit invoices are paid late and that solving the […]
A sale is only a sale once payment is made
Most businesses trade on credit terms with their customers, letting them purchase as they need and pay later. This can be a great way for businesses to build their customer base and gain more work or sales, since customers will often buy more if they don’t have to pay immediately. However, extending credit to customers, […]
Australian SMEs still suffering; says broker community
The people that small business owners turn to for independent advice believe that cashflow management and access to finance are only getting harder for SME businesses. A recent poll of the finance broker community, commissioned by Apricity Finance, has demonstrated that the key challenge of cashflow continues to drive the demand for small business finance […]
The ten reasons why startups fail
Fail in high school and you are usually graded an F; the same is true of startups. Depending on who you ask, there are a multitude of reasons why startups fail. Each strand of startup DNA contributes its own reasons for failure, but all of them relate directly to one of the ‘3 Fs’: Founder […]
Achieve your potential in overseas markets
The size limitations of the Australian domestic market mean that in particular sectors, small businesses struggle to achieve their growth potential. For many small businesses, these limitations can be resolved by tapping into much larger foreign markets that offer greater opportunities. The beauty industry in Australia is a good example. This market is a […]
On fire or burnt out? Self-care for SME owners
A new year often gives business owners time to reflect on how to do things better in their organisation. What if the answer was: self-care for the boss (you)? ‘Busy’ is a common state for many business owners, but with great activity comes great responsibility – not just to ensure your staff are well looked […]
So, your business is up and running…now, which growth stage do you aim to reach?
To beat the odds in small business, the focus for the first year must absolutely be on revenue creation. Without revenue, you have no business. But how much revenue should you be aiming for? Putting together your budget is the ideal time to define your longer-term vision for the business and ask yourself how big […]
Small Business Ombudsman unveils register promoting best practice in B2B payments
Businesses are being encouraged to promote their commitment to good payment time practices by signing up to the National Payment Transparency Register, established this week by the Australia Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO). The Ombudsman, Kate Carnell, first called for a national register in her report into payment times and practices, published in […]
Turnbull Government paying 60% of its small business invoices within 20 days, report shows
Federal Government agencies are paying 96% of their small business contractors within thirty days of receiving an invoice, according to a new report. Minister for Small Business, Michael McCormack said the latest Pay On-Time report also found agencies were paying 60% of invoices up to $1 million within 20 days, and that the overall results […]
How to survive the Christmas blackout period
The Christmas Blackout period can bring Australian small businesses to a halt as wage bills take priority and payments begin to dry up. With everybody looking to preserve the cash they have available, business to business transactions begin to slow down from November through to February, leaving some business owners scrambling or tying themselves up […]
Major barriers to SME investment explored by new report from Small Business Ombudsman
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has today released a study into factors impacting small to medium enterprise investment. According to Ombudsman Kate Carnell, SME investment is being impeded by limited access to capital as well as red tape and energy prices and that removing these barriers would “give them confidence to grow […]
How to master risk management in an SME
Every business owner understands that the rewards of running their own company are immeasurable, but the tradeoff is that you also bear the brunt of the consequences if things go wrong. This is why it’s important to have a risk management plan in place. Having a strategy for the common pain points that your business […]
Small business ombudsman Kate Carnell calls for prompt payment of government subbies
Stating that small business subcontractors are vulnerable to delayed payments, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell has announced she is examining payment terms and conditions for “subbies” working on government projects. “Most government departments pay their invoices within 30 days, but when a prime contractor is appointed to manage a project […]
Why cash is king for small businesses
The strange thing is you can have a full order book and see that your business is really taking off, but if you don’t have a firm grip on the cash flow situation you could struggle to stay afloat and achieve long-term success. It is important to understand why cash flow matters so much to […]
How a debt detox could help your small to medium business in the new financial year
Many SMB owners think that that debt management is frustrating, repetitive and even awkward, but it doesn’t have to be. When approached with professionalism and a clear plan of attack, the right debt strategy could save weeks’ worth of work per year, while also doubling or tripling working capital. So, why isn’t everyone doing a […]
Review your industry, socialise (in the real-world) and other ways to get an EOFY leg-up
The phrase ‘tax time’ can all too easily translate to feelings of boredom, dread and uncertainty for the small business owner. There’s the income tax return, BAS, payroll tax, super, and more. However, instead of viewing the annual marker as a time-sapping and difficult box-checking exercise, it should be seen as a spring board to […]
Change afoot for credit card interchange: what the new rates mean for small business
Australians will feel the impact of the upcoming new credit card interchange regulations — we’re a nation of points junkies with 11 million Qantas Frequent Flyers * alone. But while everyone’s thinking about how the reverberations of these changes affect consumers, it’s easy to forget that new interchange rates raise a number of big questions […]
Late payment research from Amex and Xero highlights the cashflow burden for SMEs
Coinciding with the anticipated release of the Small Business Ombudsman’s report on its inquiry into payment times and practices, American Express has released research showing mid-sized Australian businesses owe $8 billion in outstanding payments to suppliers, with more than $2 billion currently overdue. According to Martin Seward, VP, Small & Medium Enterprises at American Express Australia, […]
Need-to-knows before diving into importing
Australian SMEs and start-ups are increasingly taking advantage of the changing global economy and importing goods that may not be available locally or can be produced at a cheaper price overseas. While importing can be an excellent way to grow your business and keep production costs to a minimum, it is important for SMEs to […]
Overcoming the cashflow barrier to export
The Australian export market is buoyant, having grown by 4.2% in 2016, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This is an excellent example of the hard work and innovation that is making Australian small businesses a global success. Yet small businesses still face a number of challenges before they grow successful […]
Could your business use a financial detox?
Regardless of the successes your business achieved in 2016, a ‘financial detox’ is an invaluable opportunity to take things to the next level this year. Like a personal detox, a business cleanse is focused on boosting energy levels and performance. Specifically, it’s all about understanding your financial vulnerabilities and cash flow pressures and creating a foundation to fund […]
How to improve your cashflow within 60 days
Cashflow is the lifeblood of any business and more SMBs have been destroyed through cashflow issues than from any other cause. The last thing you need is to be stressing about whether you have enough cash to pay your own suppliers when you should be running your business. So, you’re not ready to hire an […]
‘Tried and true’ cash flow methods costing businesses $6.12b in growth opportunities
Australia’s mid-size businesses are missing out on $6.12 billion in growth opportunities annually due insufficient or variable cash flow, according to new research from American Express. The company’s new report, Behind the balance sheet: unlocking hidden value in credit, involved a survey of 355 Chief Financial Officers from companies with annual revenue values between $2 […]