Category: News

Most business owners don’t have a budget problem. They have a clarity problem.

I keep having the same conversation lately. A business owner comes to me, things are going well, money is moving, but when we talk about the future they know the big picture, they just don’t know how to get there.

So I ask: do you have a budget? And I get one of two answers. Either they don’t have one at all, or they built one at the start of the year, felt good about it for about a week, and haven’t looked at it since.

The problem isn’t discipline. It’s that nobody’s explained what a budget is actually for.

What is a business budget actually for?

A business budget is not a forecast you have to nail. It’s not a test you pass or fail every month. It’s a planning tool. Specifically, a tool for working backwards from what you want so you can track whether you’re on track to get there. The goal was never precision. The goal is visibility.

Why I’m talking about budgets (I’m a tax agent, not a budget coach or your CFO)

I’ll be honest, this isn’t strictly my lane. I’m a chartered accountant and registered tax agent. Tax strategy, minimisation, compliance – that’s my jam.

But here’s the thing. If you’re not making profit, you won’t have a tax problem. And if you don’t have a tax problem, you won’t be in business for long. So while budgeting isn’t my core specialty, helping you build a business that’s genuinely profitable very much is. That’s why this conversation keeps coming up.

What this looks like in real life

Recently I sat down with a client who has a goal she hasn’t told many people. She wants to quit her 9-5. Her business is running well, genuinely well, but she had no idea what revenue number she needed to hit to actually make that leap with confidence. She was waiting to feel ready. And without a number to aim at, ready was never going to come.

That’s where the budget came in. Not as a scary spreadsheet. Not as a test she had to pass every month. As a tool.

We reverse engineered it. What does she need to pay herself to replace her salary? What does the business need to generate to cover costs and tax and still make that happen? Now she has a number. Every month she’s tracking against it, not perfectly, but she knows exactly where she stands and what she needs to do.

That’s what a budget actually is. It’s not there to be perfect. It’s there so you can reverse engineer your goals and know whether you’re on track to reach them.

Why most budgets don’t work

Most budgets fail because they’re built on the wrong foundation.

The most common approach is to pull up last year’s numbers and add a percentage. That works if your goals are identical to last year’s. For anyone trying to grow, change their drawings, or hit a specific milestone, it misses the point entirely. You’re using the past as the template when the whole exercise should be about the future.

The second reason budgets fail is that they’re treated as a one-time event. A budget sitting in a folder is just a document. A budget reviewed monthly against actual results is a management tool, one that tells you early when something’s drifting, while there’s still time to respond.

It doesn’t need to be complicated. A simple, well-structured budget reviewed consistently will tell you more about your business than a detailed one that nobody opens.

What a budget tells you that your tax return can’t

Your tax return tells you what happened. Your budget tells you what’s supposed to happen and helps you catch the gap before it becomes a problem.

Tax returns are retrospective. By the time the numbers are finalised, the year is done and the decisions are already made. A budget reviewed throughout the year gives you visibility to course-correct while there’s still time. If your revenue is tracking under target by April, you know, with months still to go, that something needs to shift. Without the budget, you find out in July (or January next year when you finally do your tax) when your options are limited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an accountant to set up a business budget?

Not necessarily. A basic budget can be built in a spreadsheet around your revenue targets and known expenses. Working with an accountant helps ensure your budget accounts for tax obligations, superannuation, and any structural considerations specific to your setup.

How often should I review my business budget?

Monthly is the standard. It gives you enough data to spot trends early without overreacting to normal week-to-week fluctuations. Directional accuracy matters more than perfection. We check ours once a week though.

What if my income is irregular?

Irregular income is common for service-based businesses. Budget on a rolling average and focus on annual targets rather than trying to hit exact monthly figures. The goal is direction, not precision.

What’s the difference between a budget and a cash flow forecast?

A budget focuses on income and expenses over a period. A cash flow forecast tracks the timing of money coming in and going out. Both are useful, for most small businesses, a budget is the first step and cashflow can follow thereafter.

What if my actual results don’t match my budget?

That’s entirely normal (and actually the point). Variances tell you where to look. The goal isn’t to hit the budget perfectly; it’s to understand why you didn’t and decide what to do about it.

The bottom line

A budget doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to be used. Build it around what you want, review it consistently, and treat every variance as information rather than failure. That’s what separates business owners who feel across their numbers from those who find out in July that the year didn’t go the way they hoped.

If this is resonating, a good place to start is my free budget webinar, I walk through exactly how to use a budget as a real planning tool, not just a spreadsheet you ignore. Fill out the form below and I’ll send it straight to you.

When it comes to taxation, there are many acronyms and it can sometimes feel like deciphering a foreign language. One term you might come across is “PAYG Instalments” or PAYGI. If you’ve recently been notified about entering the PAYG Instalment system and find yourself scratching your head, you’re in the right place.

PAYG stands for ‘Pay As You Go.’ These instalments are essentially a method employed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to ensure taxpayers don’t get caught off guard with a hefty tax bill at the end of the year.

The concept is fairly simple. The ATO looks at your previous year’s taxable income and adjusts it for the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This adjusted amount provides an estimate of the total tax you might owe the next year and they make you pay it quarterly. Think of it as a systematic approach to tax payment, ensuring there are no surprises if your income stays consistent.

Practically, it may not be that straightforward. Say you enter the PAYG Instalment system midway through the financial year, like in December. Adjustments will be made to ensure you pay the correct amount up to that point. For instance, since December represents half the financial year, your instalment for that quarter might be double the typical amount to catch your payments up to date.

Things change though right? They say that variety is the spice of life, and income is no exception. If you’re anticipating a dip (or spike) in earnings this year, the system is flexible. You can vary the instalment, but remember, this needs to be done before the payment’s due date. This adjustment involves estimating the tax you expect to owe for the year and paying instalments based on that projection.

Wondering if this applies to you? PAYG Instalments typically concern:

• Individuals reaping income from investments or rent.
• Companies, trusts, and even super funds under specific circumstances.
• Business owners or individuals earning beyond the regular wages or salary from their business.

Understanding PAYG Instalments is crucial for effective financial planning and avoiding unexpected year-end tax burdens. Whether you’re a seasoned investor, a budding entrepreneur, or somewhere in between, being proactive with these instalments ensures a smoother financial journey.

So, the next time you come across the term “PAYG Instalment,” you’ll not only know what it means but also how to navigate it. With the right knowledge, the world of finance becomes a lot less daunting and we love being the advisor for our clients.  If you want a new accountant we would love to chat just book in with us using our link above.

You’ll find most experts agree on one single thing in business: cash is king. While many metrics gauge the health of a business, few make or break a business as quickly as poor cash flow management.

Picture this: a thriving company with a steady stream of income suddenly faces bankruptcy. Sounds impossible, right? Wrong. Sadly, this is the reality for many businesses that overlook the pivotal role of cash flow.

At its core, cash flow represents the movement of money in and out of your business. It’s distinct from profit, which is what remains after expenses are subtracted from revenue. You might be making a profit on paper, but if your cash isn’t flowing efficiently, your business could be in trouble.

So how do you survive in business? Regularly track your cash flow. From ensuring that salaries are paid on time to procuring essential supplies, cash flow needs to be the lifeblood of your business.

A thriving cash flow often signals a healthy business. But here’s the kicker: even profitable businesses can have cash flow hiccups sometimes. When the inflow of cash doesn’t match the outflow, alarms should be ringing, but those alarms can only sound if they’re being monitored.

What are the implications if you don’t track cash flow?

Those couple of missed payments can snowball into larger debts. If you don’t have the cash to reinvest, growth opportunities could slip right through your fingers. Moreover, a tarnished reputation among suppliers and clients could be the final nail in the coffin.

On the flip side, mastering cash flow can unlock benefits. Ready cash can be a bargaining chip in negotiations so that you can secure discounts and stellar deals. It reduces the burden of borrowing, and stakeholders, from your employees to your suppliers, will undoubtedly appreciate the stability it brings.

Tips for your cashflow

We have a whole guide on our resources page that you can download but read on for some valuable tips to keep that cash river flowing.

1. Invoice your customers on time – seems counterintuitive, but sometimes as business owners we get stuck in the doing and forget that we haven’t done key things such as bill for the work we have done.
2. Chase up payments – turn on automatic reminders in your accounting system. You would be surprised at how much of a difference this makes to you receiving your invoices promptly.
3. Scrutinize expenses – cut out the fluff. You don’t need all of those subscriptions, be ruthless.
4. Emergency fund – so that you can weather any disturbances to your cash flow.
5. Offering flexible payment terms to clients or rewards for early settlements.
6. Check in on your cash balances and forecasts frequently – think fortnightly.

We’re living in a digital age, and there are so many tools at your disposal. Modern accounting software can be a lifesaver, automating cash flow tracking. If you don’t already have a killer accountant at the helm of your business they are worth their weight in gold – we might be biased here. Contact our office today if you need a hand with understanding those numbers and understanding your cash flow.

We are currently in the era of transparency and responsibility in business. In this vein, the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) introduced the Director ID. And before you ask, no, it’s not a new version of an Apple product.

What is a Director ID?

Remember the angst of waiting for that forever-anticipated 18th birthday, all so you could claim your unique rite of passage into Surfers Paradise? This ID is like that but for Directors. It’s your unique fingerprint in the corporate world. It’s a verified number so that everyone from your mate Dave the shareholder to regulators know you are who you say you are. Director’s IDs are essential to ensure that business in Australia is clear, transparent, and legit.

The good news? Applying is free and you only need to do it once, this ID sticks with you for life. Change companies, move countries, or even change your name — this ID is going nowhere.

How to Apply for a Director ID

I get it, time is money. So if you’re all about efficiency (who isn’t?), the online route is the way to go.  We’ve detailed the steps below for you or you can go straight to the ABRS website here.

1. Setup your myGovID
   1. Download the myGovID app from the App Store or Google Play;
   2. Enter your details; and
   3. Choose your identity strength (at least Standard identity is the minimum requirement; if you can do strong it’s easier in Step 2)

You will need at least 2 Australian identity documents (passport, driver’s licence, birth certificate, etc.)

2. Gather additional documents
   1. Depending on the strength of your myGovID:
      1. Strong strength – you’ll need your Tax File Number (TFN) or your residential address as held by the ATO.
      2. Standard strength – Tax File Number (TFN), your residential address as held by the ATO, information from at least 2 other documents (i.e. ATO notice of Assessment, Bank details held by the ATO, your superannuation details, etc.)
   2. Complete your Directors ID application online through the ABRS

Whilst we can’t apply for a Directors ID on your behalf, we can assist you with anything else you need as a director. Contact our office with any questions you have about being a director or about your business.  We can’t wait to assist you with navigating the tax landscape for your business.