You see after purchasing a product or service, a customer will be happy or dissatisfied and will act accordingly out there in your marketplace. Statistics show that happy customers tell some people, whereas unhappy customers tell almost everyone and anyone who will listen. As such how a customer feels after a purchase is almost as important as before! ‘Post-purchase dissonance’ literally means that the customer becomes unhappy with the purchase afterwards. Ever bought something and then for some reason felt like you’d done the wrong thing only days later? That’s post-purchase dissonance and most people have experienced it at one time or another. For some, it happens almost instantly. 


In this blog, you’ll find out just how important it is to truly differentiate your business in the eyes of your potential customers. And you’ll find out what a ‘Unique Core Differentiator’ is and how important this could be to your business. Important because it’s a critical tool to help your potential customers clearly understand the differences between your business and your competitors—in an instant. What are people really looking for?


A back end refers to that part of your business that sits behind your ‘front end’! Your front end is the products or services your customers initially purchase from you. You might consider these ‘initial’ products or services the mainstay of your business. A back end creates the opportunity for repeat sales. It means your customers can come back to you again and again. This makes dealing with that customer far more profitable. Another great benefit is that it reduces your need to go out and win new customers constantly (far more expensive than selling to existing customers), but it does much more than that.


As you can imagine, there are literally hundreds of variations on creating a system to capture referrals within your business. This information is designed to give you insight into some ways and means of putting together a great referral system. Find out just how powerful the 7 ways of gathering referrals can be for your business... 


How many times have you heard it? A business owner complains about the government, the weather, any number of other reasons, for the failure of their business. In fact, for most businesses, the statistics you’re about to see tell a very different story. A story that’s important to understand so that you and your team know just how much your own actions ultimately affect the success or failure of your business in a much more significant way…


Australian businesses are again feeling the pinch financially as the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold. Businesses along the east coast particularly are in a state of uncertainty - going in and out of lockdown like a swinging door. As a result, the Federal Government has expanded the range of financial support available...


As we approach the end of the 2020/21 financial year, the Australian Tax Office has indicated that several types of costs associated with working-from-home will not be eligible as a tax deduction…


Don’t miss our latest edition of the quarterly Business Accelerator Magazine, full of articles and news about growing and nurturing your business. This edition includes our Federal Budget roundup, articles on working ON your business, not IN your business as well as a Tax Return Checklist...


Victorian Business Costs Assistance Program (Round Two) - with the snap lockdown commencing Thursday 27th May the Victorian State Government has announced Round Two of the Business Costs Assistance program which opened for applications today (Friday 4th June) and the Commonwealth Government has announced a Temporary COVID Disaster Payment for employees...


In this fourth edition of our Recession Buster Newsletter we continue to examine the 4 Ways to Grow Your Business, specifically the 4th way – Improving Your System & Processes. In other articles we explore the importance of having a website. Other articles include the 3rd part of Ways to Turn Your Website into a Lead Generation Machine - this particular article looking at the importance of a good headline, Live Chat function, Social Proof (Testimonials) & Social Media Links - and finally we look at mining your customer database for gold...


There is an old saying, ‘The most fertile source of insight is hindsight’. That being the case, what can business owners learn from the COVID-19 pandemic? 


Every business owner wants to grow their business and their profits. While there’s no secret formula or recipe, the fact is, business growth and improved profitability are outcomes achieved as a result of processes including marketing, your expertise, customer service and your team’s performance...


Victoria's business community has been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and with the recent circuit breaker lockdown further impacting Victoria, the State Government has announced a further $143 million package to support impacted businesses... 


In this third edition of our Recession Buster Newsletter we continue to examine the 4 Ways to Grow Your Business, specifically the 3rd way - Increasing the Average Sale Value. In other articles we explore the importance of measuring, monitoring & testing your business, Other articles include the 2nd part of ways to turn your website into a lead generation machine - this particular article looking at the importance of Lead Magnets & Calls to Action - and finally we examine the importance of goal setting and future planning...


The JobMaker Hiring Credit system announced in the 2020-21 Federal Budget has now passed into law and if your business is eligible and you hired additional younger employees from 7th October onwards, you can now claim the credit (quarterly in arrears) from the ATO from 1 February 2021…


With the media flooding us with COVID-19 information and governments around the world using vocabulary that is normally reserved for war time we know we are living in unprecedented times. Historically, business start-ups tend to surge when there are high levels of unemployment and middle management lose their jobs. Amongst all the uncertainty, is it the right time to start a business?


As businesses reopen, we are being confronted with a new ‘normal’. More people are now working from home and increasingly, staff and customer meetings are being conducted online rather than face to face.  In the second edition we explore the 4 Ways to Grow a Business with a focus on the second way - How to Get Your Customers to Buy More Often. In other articles we look at how to turn your ‘electronic brochure’ style website into a lead generation machine and how to convert those leads into sales. Finally, we look at the importance of giving your customers a guarantee... 

Recession Buster Newsletter Edition #1

Recession Buster Newsletter Edition #1

The COVID-19 pandemic not only triggered a global health crisis, it also plunged Australia into recession for the first time in three decades. As such, a lot of business owners are in unfamiliar territory and we are here to help you navigate your way through this extraordinary and challenging period...


As business owners, we need to learn from experience because history has a habit of repeating itself. Going forward we need to have a contingency plan in the event there is another virus outbreak or some other catastrophe …


The Government’s Stimulus Packages have given thousands of businesses a lifeline during the Coronavirus crisis. Unfortunately, with many businesses back in lockdown in Victoria, some businesses just won’t survive this time around. As accountants, our mission is to ensure you survive but if all avenues have been exhausted and it’s the end of the road, there are a number of things that need to happen to wind a business up…


The ATO has announced a rise in the cents per kilometre deduction rate for motor vehicle expenses for the 2020/21 financial year. Effective from July 1, 2020 it will be 72 cents per kilometre. The tax office is expecting to see a drop in work related car expenses claims due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions in the last quarter of the 2019/20 financial year ... 


Businesses have been forced back into lockdown, for some maybe for the first time under the current stage 3 restrictions in Victoria (Stage 4 in Melbourne) and one thing has become clear, it’s no longer ‘business as usual’. The world as we know it has changed and we have been forced to rethink our daily routines, spending habits, exercise regimes and social interactions. Many businesses will be in dire circumstances, but is this the time to be trimming your marketing, or just the opposite?


Sadly, many Australian businesses are a long way from trending back to 'normal' as we approach 27 September 2020, the original date that the JobKeeper Payment was set to end. Thankfully the Government has announced an extension of the JobKeeper Payment with reduced rates and additional turnover qualifications...


The coronavirus has been labelled the biggest global crisis for three generations. The economy came down 50 floors in the ‘elevator’ and it will be much slower and harder going back up via the staircase. To help your business survive and prepare for the period of regrowth we have put together this list of items to consider


As part of the Government’s response to the coronavirus and its financial impact on individuals, there is a temporary opportunity for individuals to withdraw up to $10,000 from their superannuation funds before June 30  


If you are one of the thousands currently working from home during the COVID-19 ‘shut down’, you may be able to claim a deduction for some of the expenses for your ‘office’ area. There are two parts to this, those employees working from home and businesses where their principal place of business is their home – effectively running their business from home.


American business magnate, Warren Buffet said, “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.”  When the economy is booming, we tend not to worry about our level of debt or expenditure on non-essential items. As the shock of the coronavirus wears off, it’s time to move into the planning phase and develop a clear strategy. The following checklist serves as a useful action plan ...


As the end of this quite extraordinary financial year approaches, we have created a Tax Planning Guide which highlights some end of year tax planning opportunities to help you minimise tax and take action on any items required pre June 30.   


Pivoting is something business owners normally do when they sense the business needs a change of direction. The COVID-19 pandemic's arrival with little or no warning has caused most Australian businesses, both big and small, to effectively go into hibernation. The question is, could your business benefit from pivoting in the current environment?    


The coronavirus has been labelled the biggest global crisis for three generations and has stopped the economy in its tracks. Thousands of businesses have gone into hibernation and self-isolation rules have changed the way we live. Business owners face never seen before challenges and to help navigate your way we provide a checklist and other resources to help our clients  


There is a lot of confusion about the JobKeeper enrolment process for employers. Last week some 800,000 employers lodged an expression of interest for the JobKeeper Payment System, but this DOES NOT mean you are enrolled.  


The Government have announced a ‘Job Keeper’ Program that provides wage subsidy payments to Australian businesses who have seen their turnover reduce significantly as a result of the coronavirus. Registered employers will receive a flat $1,500 each fortnight for each eligible employee, including those that have been stood down or recently rehired.


Our clients are looking for help as the COVID-19 pandemic tracks towards being the greatest social upheaval the world has seen since World War II. The updates and announcements are coming at a breakneck speed. With some industries more severely impacted than others the question is 'What to do next?' In response, we have put together this action plan checklist   


Business owners are facing unprecedented challenges with uncertainty surrounding the COVID 19 (coronavirus) outbreak. The pandemic will eventually pass but the big question is, when and what can you do to minimise the damage?   


In light of the recent health warnings from the Australian Government and World Health Organisation, we would like to share with you what we are doing to assist with managing the impact of coronavirus and social distancing on our clients and team members   


The Federal and State Governments have announced a range of relief benefits for small businesses impacted by the recent catastrophic bushfires. Ranging from grant funding, concessional loans, financial support and other measures such as Land Tax relief in effected area   


Happy New Year. It’s the start of a new decade. Is this the time for you to finally make that big change and buy that business you’ve been thinking about? Let’s examine the Five Phases of Buying a Business  


Christmas time can be a make or break period for some types of businesses, retailers, accommodation, wholesalers & the information and communication sectors for example experience their peak sales at this time. For other industries this can be an especially tough time of the year with many business owners experiencing low demand, staff absences and supply disruptions...


In this short video, Fiona Margariti outlines the benefits of utilising cloud-based bookkeeping software, like Xero, that can save you time and money. With benefits such as

  • automated daily bank feeds
  • mobility and availability of your numbers anytime, anywhere
  • simple invoicing options
  • no installation or IT maintenance
  • financial dashboard monitoring your overall financial position
  • add-ons such as Receipt Bank, Debtor Daddy and stock control and point of sale


Have you fallen behind on your Superannation Guarantee obligations? Legislation enabling the Superannuation Guarantee amnesty that was proposed back in May 2018 is before Parliament right now and if enacted, will apply from the original amnesty announcement ...


There have been some much publicised, high-profile cases in the media recently regarding the underpayment of staff. How can this happen and how can you make sure your business doesn't join this "Rogue’s Gallery"?


Businesses fail for a multitude of reasons. Lack of sales and cash flow, inadequate capital and failing to adapt to change can all contribute to the collapse of a business. Let's explore some of the major reasons why business start-ups fail.


Consumer behaviour has changed and your website is now your marketing hub. In this article we look at three key website issues that confront most business owners - not enough website traffic, poor conversion of leads to sales and a lack of strategy…