Reducing overhead expenditure can be a pretty efficient way to increase profits, and as you head into another holiday season, lower overheads will ease the cashflow pressure. When it comes to your power, you may be able to reduce the amount you use - which is good for business and the environment. Once you have done a review of your useage, you’ll also want to check you are getting the best deal on energy costs. Are you paying too much for your power? The Australian Government and Xero have created a tool for small business owners, so you can compare your energy spend with similar businesses in your area. The tool is free, can be answered anonymously, and only takes a couple of min

Property investment is a proven way to accumulate wealth and personal security, although there are many pitfalls if you are unprepared or impatient. The purpose of an investment property is to bring in some kind of return, either through some income from the rent or the increased value over time or ideally, capital gain and ongoing income. Yet many property investors stick with a property that is actually losing them money, and this situation can often be traced back to their earliest moves into the property market. Here we look at some of the top property investment mistakes and how to avoid them. Poor research Always verify and double-check any information about a specific location and pri

Prepare now for your quarterly superannuation guarantee (SG) contribution lodgement and payment. Things to review before finalising the quarterly superannuation lodgement: Have you allocated all payroll related bank transactions to the correct accounts? Have you checked for errors such as duplicate pay runs? Have you checked that all payroll categories used this quarter have had super correctly applied or excluded? Have you checked superannuation accrual reports for accuracy? Do you have any salary sacrifice amounts to include? Have you had to make any termination payments this quarter? If so, check which payroll categories have super calculated or exempted. Do you have complete and up-to-da

Networking can get your business noticed. It can lead to referrals, valuable business opportunities and increased sales. But it can be daunting to put yourself out there, and tricky to get right. Remember that professional networking is a social activity. It’s about building relationships – so leave the hard sell behind. Instead, be open and get to know people. Here are 10 things you can do to get the most out of your networking experience: 1.Aim to build relationships 2.Make networking part of your job 3.Do your homework beforehand 4.Show belief in your business 5.Listen and ask questions 6.Speak to as many people as you can 7.Give out your business card 8.Keep a record of the event 9.S