Business Update – 21 June 2023

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Biden gambles that delaying sanctions and playing down espionage will improve China relations The Biden administration has delayed punitive economic measures against China and played down Beijing’s intensifying intelligence-gathering to avoid jeopardizing its efforts to revive diplomatic talks between the two governments, according to former U.S. officials, congressional aides,…  Read more

Business Update – February 15, 2023

Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Amazon takes half of each sale New figures show that Amazon takes half of the profit that each small business makes on its Amazon Marketplace platform. Stock market starts the week strong ahead of inflation data Wall Street started the week noticeably higher as investors await inflation which will…  Read more

What is inflation and how does it affect my savings?

You can’t get through the news these days without hearing about inflation and how rapidly it’s increasing. Rates were generally low for quite some time and we all got used to it. Suddenly, however, everyone is getting squeezed by inflationary pressure. But what exactly is inflation, and how does it affect the money you have in the bank? Read on to learn more about what it is and what it…  Read more

8 ways to protect yourself from personal financial fraud

Unfortunately, fraudsters are out there. They want your money, your identity, or both, and they’re getting more sophisticated all the time. There’s a wealth of opportunity for swindlers to take advantage of people because so much of what we do is now online. There are ways for you to protect yourself, both by taking action and being aware of what’s going on. Here are 8 ways to protect yourself from…  Read more

Start your personal 2023 budget off right

New Year’s resolutions are often top of mind this time of year; some will stick – but many won’t. Try not to beat yourself up about it. There’s always next year, after all. However, your personal budget is one area where you should keep your resolutions from slipping. While it’s true that there’s also next year when it comes to your financial goals, putting it off has real consequences that…  Read more

What is a fractional CFO?

A fractional CFO, or Chief Financial Officer, is a finance professional who works on a part-time, retainer, or contract basis. They bring the experience and expertise of a high-level CFO to your business – without the cost of hiring a full-time, in-house employee. Fractional CFOs service several clients at once typically on a part-time, retainer, or contract basis. Their specialty is providing outsourced CFO services to small and medium businesses.…  Read more

4 end of the year financial planning tips

The end of the year is typically a reflective time. Something about that lull between holiday festivities and New Year’s Eve sets the stage for introspection and review. While you’re busy reflecting on the year that’s ending and the new one about to begin, make sure you take some time to consider your finances. Here are some financial tasks that should be on your must-do list before the calendar rolls…  Read more

3 Ways to Delight Your Online Customers

Businesses are increasingly moving online to expand their reach and provide the best possible experience to their customers. Being online, however, means more competition, so business owners must come up with ways to amp up their game to gain a bigger market share. If you own an ecommerce business or are looking to start one, read on to learn about ways to delight your online customers. Put the buyer’s journey…  Read more

3 Tips for Working Smarter and Gaining Personal Time

You’ve probably heard the maxim that it’s better to work smarter than harder. Working smarter means allocating your time, energy and money so vital tasks get done more efficiently, freeing up your personal time. Too many business owners think they must keep working harder—taking on more responsibilities and working longer hours—to be successful. It makes sense, because you’re responsible for your business, but that route leads to work overload and…  Read more

3 Reasons Why Business Partners Break Up and How to Prevent Them

For many business owners, partnerships are an ideal way to run a business. Operating a business with a partner means you don’t have to make all the decisions on your own. It means you have someone there with you, to help you carry the burden and share ideas with. That can be a great thing, when it lasts. Unfortunately, many business partnerships fail. Although they fail for a variety of…  Read more

3 Tips to Make the Most of the End of Financial Year

Preparing your End of Financial Year (EOFY) information often feels stressful—there are receipts to sort out and reports to review, and you need to make sure you have all the necessary information about your income and expenses. It can be overwhelming, and it can make the EOFY feel daunting. The end of the financial year isn’t just a time to collect receipts and find invoices, however. It’s also a time…  Read more

3 Consequences of Avoiding Your Bookkeeping

If you ask 100 business owners what they like least about running a business, chances are good that bookkeeping will rank high on the list. It’s an annoying and frustrating chore that takes up a lot of time and is easy to put off until tomorrow. Avoiding your bookkeeping is dangerous, however. Not knowing your company’s financial situation can result in a series of missteps that could ultimately cost you…  Read more

3 Ways to Motivate Workers

The question of motivating employees is often on a business owner’s mind. It can be difficult to find ways to genuinely motivate employees at work, and often the old standards—performance-based bonuses, increased rewards and commissions—only work in the short-term, if they work at all. In fact, some tests have shown that the usual motivational tactics aren’t always effective. So how can you authentically motivate workers? 1. Share positive feedback Too…  Read more

10 Daily Habits of the Rich and Powerful

It’s the little things that make up the big things. Here’s a list of ten traits of some of the movers and shakers in the world today (and from the past). 1. They Stay Healthy Health is make-or-break. If you have it, your life will take on meaning like you couldn’t otherwise know; but if you don’t have it, you will only accomplish a comparatively small percentage of what you…  Read more

10 more quick growth tips for small business owners

Help grow your business through collaboration, expansion, improved marketing and some of the following quick tips. 1. Improve your customer service Businesses with good customer service retain consumers and attract new business through word-of-mouth. Even if you think you’re already providing good service, make it a priority to provide refresher training to frontline staff at least once a year. Alternatively, hold regular meetings to discuss any issues as they arise.…  Read more

10 Money-Saving Tips for Freelancers

While working at home as a freelancer sounds like the ultimate dream for anyone who tires of the rat race, freelancers still have more than their fair share of financial matters to worry about. In fact, perhaps the most important trait that any freelancer should have is the ability to be fully responsible and accountable to themselves, and saving money is something that you will be wholly responsible for. 1.…  Read more

3 Mistakes That Strangle Growing Businesses

Businesses want to grow and help a larger audience, but too many make mistakes that cripple their growth. Even worse, they keep repeating them! Don’t do the same; avoid the blunders outlined below. Hiring Toxic Personalities Businesses hire more staff as they grow. But if they expand too quickly, they will feel pressure to fill positions on their team, even if the job candidates have a few personality flaws. While…  Read more

10 quick growth tips for your small business

Small businesses can grow in boom times as well as periods of difficulty by working smarter and taking advantage of opportunities. Put these following effective tips into practise to help grow your business. 1. Utilise new technology Modern technology can save you time, improve productivity and reduce your operational costs. Make use of Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other social media tools to market your business. Dropbox is a cloud-based service…  Read more

3 easy and inexpensive ways to look more professional when you’re starting out

For bootstrapping young businesses, making a professional first impression as you build your brand is key. Although hiring a branding expert may be too large an expense in the early days, you can still help your business stand out in the best possible way without breaking the bank. Just follow these simple marketing moves that will help people to know, like, and trust you. 1. Build credibility with your own…  Read more

17 ways to get repeat business

Q. I am finding it tough. Sales are slowing but I can’t figure out exactly why. No-one seems to be unhappy with what we do, and no competitor has entered the market.  People seem to be buying less often and in lower numbers. Your existing customers are your most valuable asset. This is because it’s easier and far less expensive to get an existing customer to buy off you again…  Read more

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