Business and Finance

As changing markets create a new lending environment there continues to be a trend of increased risk aversion by mainstream financial institutions (banks/lenders). In this article we explore how businesses can ensure they are ‘fit’ for finance in 2020 and beyond. Prepare your business’ financial statements It is essential for businesses to have up-to-date financial statements as it provides visibility on the overall performance of the business. Having accurate and timely financial statements can also assist in getting your business ‘fit’ for finance. When applying for finance, financial institutions (banks/lenders) require up-to-date financial statements. Getting these organised can take some...

When it comes to running a business of any size, managing its cash flow is crucial. So, why is cash flow so important for businesses and how can you ensure you successfully manage it? In this article we will explore: What is cash flow? Why is cash flow so important? How to analyse cash flow How to finance your cash flow What is cash flow? Put simply, cash flow is the money moving/flowing in and out of your business. Cash flows in from customers who purchase goods and services, money from investors, interest on savings or investments, and so on....

As 2019 comes to a close, now is a great time for businesses to reflect on achievements and challenges they faced over the past year and prepare for what’s ahead. To help you prepare for the new year we have put together a few tasks to add to your to-do-list: Review and create new goals This time of year, is a perfect time to review your short-term goals achieved throughout the year, as well as looking at the challenges or negatives you incurred along the way. It’s important to understand when these challenges took place and what you did to...

How does the cash rate impact (or not) the banks interest rates? The RBA conducts Australia’s monetary policy which includes setting the cash rate on overnight loans in the money market. The cash rate influences the banks’ interest rates, however there are many other factors which also affect rates including overall cost of funds, lending risks, competition etc. In June 2019, the RBA announced a 0.25% (25 basis points) cut to the cash rate to a historical low of 1.25%. Not all banks followed suit which provoked the usual media outcry. Closer analysis would have revealed that the bank which...

Corporate Scorecard: What it is and how it may affect you Corporate Scorecard is a subsidiary of Equifax that assists with the assessment of the financial capacity of organisations including for pre-qualification, pre-contract award and post contract award monitoring for contracts. This assessment has been around for several years and many of our clients, who are contracted to work for government organisations, are being presented with this as a mandatory procedure to complete (and pass) prior to contract approval. A Corporate Scorecard assessment is mandatory to all Public Authorities in the Perth Region and customers in Regional Areas and other...

When setting up a business, many prospective owners will be advised by their Accountants to operate through a discretionary trust structure as this allows flexibility in income splitting whilst also providing asset protection. Whilst this is a common strategy for family run businesses, it is important to be aware of the complications that may arise. If you are involved in a business structure, which has as part of that structure a discretionary trust, you should be aware of the possible issues relating to the structure of that trust. These could include: 1. Your trust should reflect the succession planning Whether...

Single Touch Payroll Extended to all Employers from 1 July 2019 Single Touch Payroll (STP) is currently only required for employers who have twenty or more staff, however from 1 July 2019 it will apply to all Australian employers – even those with only one staff member. This will be a gradual process and there are flexible options available. So, what is STP? STP is a reporting system that sends tax and super information from your payroll or accounting software to the ATO every time you pay an employee, effectively reporting year to date information to the ATO in real...