Expert Advice

Last time we discussed why it can make sense for some companies to spend huge sums of money for a single airing of an ad during the United States Super Bowl. This time we look at how an Australian company uses a different approach to achieve the same goal of positively positioning itself with consumers for long term benefit. ActewAGL...

A number of years ago, while completing my Diploma of Property Services, the class that I was attending had a brilliant mantra on the whiteboard which has always stuck with me. The saying was written in the form of a question and answer as follows; Question: What if we train our staff and they leave? Answer: What if we don't,...

Digital Marketing is an over-used yet under-explored phrase now a days. Many claim to know it but only a few seem to get it. If you are an offline or 'bricks & mortar' business and looking to generate more leads and sales using online marketing, this article will cover the basics for you. These are the 5 digital tools every...

One of the questions we get asked frequently is: what is the difference between PAYG withholding & PAYG Income Tax Instalments? So what are these two taxes and how do they affect your business. What is PAYG Withholding? Under PAYG Withholding rules, you have an obligation to collect tax from payments you make to employees and some businesses so that...

With close to 10 years of working experience in the Australian Third Sector, I have come to learn that the sector is a dynamic, vibrant, and meaningful place to work, where people share the common vision that is, to make a difference. However, most of them struggle with basic administration tasks like documentation, bookkeeping and/or accounting. Among the difficulties organisations...

It has now been over four years since the Personal Properties Securities Act 2009 (Cth) (PPSA) took substantive effect on 30 January 2012.However, many businesses remain oblivious to the PPSA and the serious consequences that can follow its oversight. So what is the PPSA and what is the risk in ignoring it? The PPSA established a new, national system for...

Keeping costs under control and saving money. It's what smart businesses do, so here's some advice. If you operate a business (outside the home), have fewer than 10 full-time equivilant staff or electricity bills under $20,000 (incl GST), it's worth exploring Actsmart's Small Business Energy and Water program. Actsmart will provide your business with a FREE energy and water assessment...

The Family Law Act requires that, when a Court is making a decision about parenting orders after separation, it must apply a presumption of "equal shared parental responsibility" (ESPR), unless there has been abuse or family violence. Sometimes parents think that this is a presumption in favour of "equal time" or week about arrangements after separation. That is not the...

Starting a new business is an exciting time. Although cash flow can be tight when starting out, this is an important time to receive professional advice, as it limits the risk of unintended issues arising later. What are the legal issues / advice / documents you will need before you start your business? There is no such thing as "one...

Many Australians that are getting close to retirement have more money tied up in the family home than they have in income producing assets that they will need to fund their retirements with. While the family home is exempt from capital gains tax, it is a non-income producing asset and will require a substantial amount of money to maintain each...

A new report by Hays, The DNA of an HRD, polls HR directors on what it takes to get to the top, with stakeholder engagement voted as the most important skill to have. For the report Hays spoke to 461 HR directors in Australia and New Zealand. The results show that 64% of HRDs are women, while HRDs are typically...

In February, it cost $7 million to air a 30-second ad during the United States 'Super Bowl'. The cost of making these ads can be millions more and many ads are aired just once and not seen again. Crazy right? Well, maybe. The event had an enormous audience of well over 100 million viewers. It also had a spectacular half...

If you have been paying close attention to the strata title property market in recent years, you may have heard the term "volumetric subdivision". If you haven't heard of it you soon will. As far as Canberra is concerned, property can come in two simple forms; either a single title piece of land or a unit in a strata titled...

Steve Jobs once said; design is not just what it looks like or feels like, it is how it works. Every user is different and so is every website or app. In many cases, the engagement and interactivity boils down to one thing; how user-friendly it looks and feels to your users. User experience (abbreviated as UX) is exactly that;...

'RSM Australia has identified a number of key areas that SMEs should focus on in 2016: 1. Future trends - new and emerging technology helps smaller businesses streamline processes and transform sales processes from passive to proactive. SME owners who research the solutions available and choose the right one for their business needs will be ahead of the curve. Social...

'2015 is coming to an end, and truth to be told, I couldn't be more excited about the New Year. In 2015, there were significant improvements in the cloud accounting industry. Xero has doubled its number of customers in Australia, Intuit (famous for its Quick Books software) Australia moved into a swanky new space in Sydney CBD, and here in...