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Last week we were flooded with enquiries from small business owners around Bankstown and Panania asking about MYOB Bookkeeping for the December quarter BAS that’s due 2 March 2010

If you are a small business owner in and around Revesby, Panania, Padstow, Picnic Point, and suburbs to Liverpool and Bankstown, we encourage you to focus on what you do best, and we’ll do the rest

contact our Panania Bookkeepers, your local mobile bookkeeping service today

Savvy business owners around Bankstown have contacted our Bankstown Bookkeepers, looking for a mobile bookkeeping service.

Rather than you struggling and getting stressed out over it, give us a call, and we’ll come to your premises and review your MYOB data files.

Our Panania bookkeeping service can help you with reconciling your bank account statements. We’ll run various checks and reports to ensure that all the data has been entered correctly and allocated in the correct accounts

The Australian Taxation Office [ATO] advise that almost 80% of BAS forms are lodged incorrectly - as many small business owners are challenged with the task of completing their Business Activity Statements

Contact our Panania bookkeeping team today

When potential clients contact our Revesby, Panania, Padstow, Picnic Point, and suburbs to Liverpool and Bankstown book keeping service, they often ask us: “what is your hourly rate for bookkeeping?” Read more… »

July and August are busy months for many registered tax agents and bookkeeping services around Campbelltown and Bankstown – as individuals hurry to lodge their income tax returns in the hope that they’ve been paying too much PAYG tax and hope to get a tax refund.

Wham, Bham, thank you, ma’am, and it’s all over!

This time of year brings many enquiries for our bookkeeping service. The main questions are, for a basic Tax Return: “How Long, and How Much Fees?”

Stroll through any large shopping centre around Campbelltown and Bankstown, and you’ll see that centre management have rented out the floor space in the middle of the mall to tax agents who’ve set themselves up like a fast-food outfit.

Wham, Bham, thank you, ma’am, and it’s all over!

Get ‘em in, sit ‘em down, fill in a form, and click a button …. Gone!!

We get quite a few enquiries from individuals, on a salary, with little expenses that they can claim, so their tax return is very straight forward. We are not registered Tax Agents and cannot advise / lodge tax returns on their behalf.

Normally if you go to Bankstown shopping centre you’ll most likely find a registered tax agent - they’ll most likely set up a table at this time of year, and be sitting with their laptop waiting for the next customer to come along - costs about $100 and takes about 20 minutes, with about 3 or 4 weeks to get answer from ATO

Some of these tax agents only operate for a few months of the year, specifically to help individuals with their tax returns.

Small business owners may find that the service offered by these quick-fix-tax-return booths are not set up to handle your needs, and that’s where a mobile bookkeeping service such as ours can be of great benefit to you

As bookkeepers, we can help with any bookkeeping requirements you may have, so please feel free to contact us to discuss your bookkeeping setup

The Rudd Government is telling everyone how the new stimulus package is helping small businesses with the Small Business and General Business Tax Break.

The package is such that small businesses can claim a bonus 50 per cent tax deduction for eligible assets costing more than $1,000 acquired from 13 December 2008 until 31 December 2009, and installed ready for use by 31 December 2010.

To benefit from this Tax Break a small business must have a turnover of less than $2.0 million a year.

Forget the tax break, shop at your locally owned store

This may look good on paper, but unless you actually need to make any investment in capital purchases such as motor vehicles or equipment, how does it actually help small business?

It certainly helps large businesses - the suppliers of motor vehicles, national stationary / office equipment suppliers, hardly normal electical chain stores and the like, but how does it help you, the small business owner in Robina or Burleigh?

Speaking to an accountant of one of our bookkeeping clients recently, he said that whilst the incentive looks very rosy, you should actually look at the costs involved in the purchase of a new vehicle.

“Ha Ha !! You don’t believe what the Government tells you, do you!!!”

Taking all things into consideration for this particular client, the client was going to be worse off purchasing a new vehicle compared to finding a cheaper second-hand vehicle

We asked our accountant about reducing the PAYG for this quarter - after receiving notification from the ATO that the quarterly payment had been increased.

“You can’t” replied the accountant - But what about the Government telling us that they’re reducing the PAYG installments to help small business?
“Ha Ha !! You don’t beleive what the Government tells you, do you!!!”

Many small business owners are understandably looking to save money wherever they can, believing that’s the only way that they can increase their income. Yet at the sametime, they also want to increase their turnover by attracting more customers or upselling existing customers.

Why do small business owners have a problem with supporting other small-to-medium enterprises?

Many of our bookkeeping clients take their shopper dockets from the major supermarkets, to get discount fuel, rather than paying a few cents more (perhaps) for fuel from independent service station operators.

The same clients buy all their fruit and vegetables, meat and other groceries from the large supermarket chains instead of supporting small independent green-grocers or butchers

Why do small-to-medium enterprises complain that your potential customers are going to the large companies or multi-nationals instead of shopping from you? Maybe we should stop pointing the finger at other people, and start asking ourselves, why do small businesses have a problem trading with other small businesses?

Do large companies really care about the local Campbelltown or Bankstown business owner? Not when the head office is overseas

The positive effect on the local economy would be far wider reaching than all of those small business owners that continue to support large companies who are only interested in making huge profits for their shareholders (many of whom are large multi-nationals themselves).

Go shopping at your local independantly owned business, take business away from large corporations and bring back competition to the market place - you’ll be helping the local econmy which will in-turn help your smal business

Desperate phone call from a bookkeeping client in Bankstown: What to do about unpaid accounts? Our professional bookkeeping can help small businesses chase up unpaid accounts.

You know the “good cop” / “bad cop” thing. Get the bookkeeper to get on the phone and chase up those unpaid accounts before it’s too late. As the recession that we had to have deepens, more small businesses will experience bad debts. It even happens at the big end of town.

If you don’t have a handle on your bookkeeping, then you can quickly find that those clients owing you money have nothing left to pay you with. Many operators get caught up in getting the job done, and forget to chase up payments of previous jobs.

Our bookkeeping service can help you keep a closer eye on your unpaid accounts. We can get on the phone for you. We can reconcile your accounts, track all your payments and receipts- and do so many other things to ensure that you have your financials in order.

Don’t get caught in the trap of skimping on your bookkeeping - it can be a false economy to look at saving money by spending so much time on your paperwork. Hand it over to the professionals and focus on what you do best: running your business. Contact us today for a free quote.

Could 80% of BAS forms really be completed incorrectly? Apparently this is the figure that the Australian Taxation Office estimate when reviewing Business Activity Statements.

Are You Paying More GST than You Should?

When you consider that many small business owners around Revesby, Panania, Padstow, Picnic Point, and suburbs to Liverpool and Bankstown believe that bookkeeping is an expense, rather than an investment, it is hardly surprising that so many people who have no idea what they are doing complete Business Activity Statements.

Many clients approach our professional contract bookkeeping service because they realise that a mobile bookkeeper can save them heart-ache and stress in getting their paperwork upto date.

Speaking to a client in Bankstown last week, it transpired that he had absolutely no idea what was involved in running a business from the financial aspects. As long as there was money in his pocket at the end of each week to pay the bills, he was happy.

When the first BAS form arrived on his doorstep he just figured he’d guess what figures went where and hope that it would all sort it self out at the end of the financial year

The crazy thing is, that by having to report quarterly Business Activity Statements, small businesses are being encouraged to record their business activities every three months.

If you leave it all for your accountant at the end of the financial year, then guess what? It’s all too late.

If you’re now faced with a large tax liability after the end of the year, there’s nothing you can do about it. Whereas if you are aware of the situation beforehand, then there maybe avenues that you can follow to reduce your tax liability. We are not registered tax agents and cannot give guidance in such matters, so you need to speak to your accountant.

We’ll look at your bookkeeping and assess your requirements. It’s not uncommon for us to find some major savings for our clients. Contact us today for more information.

Bookkeeping – Tax- Free Stimulus Package Bonus to $900

Bookkeeping: A Tax Free Lunch on the ATO? As bookkeepers around Revesby, Panania, Padstow, Picnic Point, and suburbs to Liverpool and Bankstown, NSW, Australia, our clients often ask about meals as a tax deduction.

With the new Australian Government Tax- Free Stimulus Package Bonus to $900, how many free lunches would that get?

So if you want a free lunch, then the Australian Government one-off tax-free payments of up to $900 for eligible taxpayers, could be your ticket

As bookkeepers, we can sort out the documentation, set up a bookkeeping system, key the relevant data into an accounting software package, and get all the figures ready for your accountant or registered tax agent to then assist you with lodging your tax return. Contact our mobile bookkeeping service now to get your bookwork up to date.

We often get calls from bookkeeping clients requesting a bookkeeper to sort out their bookwork and get them upto date so that they can lodge their tax returns.

Our bookkeeping service can go to your premises and work on-site, or we can organise pick-up of your documentation and work at our offices.

The Australian Government Stimulus package of Tax Bonus payments refers to your personal tax return. So if you are self employed sole-trader, have a business partnership or a small business owner, you’ll need to have the figures prepared for your business so you or your accountant can calculate your earnings for the year 2007-08. Contact our mobile bookkeeping service now to get your bookwork up to date.

The ATO advises that you won’t have to pay tax on your payment nor will you need to report the receipt of your tax bonus on your income tax return. The tax bonus won’t be included in your separate net income for tax purposes.
To benefit from the Australian Government’s Tax Stimulus Package Bonus you’ll need to get your bookkeeping upto date and have your 2007/08 tax return lodged by 30 June 2009

Is the ATO using this to chase up tax returns, or is the government trying to stimulate the economy?

Apparently already 7.4 million people have already lodged their 2007-08 tax return, and they’ll start receiving their payments from Wednesday 8 April 2009.
If your 2007-08 taxable income was $100,000 or less and you paid tax, you could be eligible to receive a tax – free bonus payment of up to $900.

Is the Government trying to stimulate the completion of tax returns, or is it trying to stimulate the economy?

We should stress that we are not registered tax agents, and so any matters regarding taxation must be referred to your accountant or tax agent.

Contact our Revesby, Panania, Padstow, Picnic Point, and suburbs to Liverpool and Bankstown mobile bookkeeping service now to get your bookwork up to date, so you can lodge your tax return and benefit from the Tax- Free Stimulus Package Bonus to $900, and have a tax-free lunch on the ATO

As bookkeepers servicing the suburbs to Liverpool and Bankstown area, we are often asked: “What Bookkeeping Records Do I Need?”.

When a business gets started, the first thing you should do is to make sure that you keep track of all the costs involved in setting up you business, so that you can set up a book-keeping system correctly from day one.

If you need some help in establishing your bookeeping, then contact us right now.

What’s become a nightmare for her, is a bookkeeper’s dream

A new Padstow bookkeeping client has been running her graphic design business for over a year operating on one bank account for everything. She’s made her book-keeping become a nightmare for her by using the same bank account for both her personal and business expenses. That makes our job as mobile book keepers quite an interesting challenge. We have to ask her which items on her bank account relate to business, and which are personal.

What Bookkeeping Records Do You Need?
The type of business you operate affects the type of records you need to keep for ATO purposes. You should have your bookkeeper set up your books using an accounting method that clearly shows your income for your selected tax year.

From a bookkeeping viewpoint there are a few basic bookkeeping matters that every small business owners should focus on to reduce the fees you will otherwise have to pay your bookkeeper or accountant

Depending on your business, whether you are located in Bankstown or Liverpool, you should get into a habit of keeping records daily

• Identify the source income that you’ve received
• Ensure you keep your dockets for expenses, and a note of any petty cash expenses
• Keep a record of all your assets

The Australian Taxation Office requires you have supporting documentation such as invoices and receipts for all transactions incurred in running your business such as purchases and sales. You might generate invoices electronically using an accounting software package such as MYOB or Quickbooks, or you may hand write your invoices using an invoice book Read more… »

The importance of Book keeping: Here’s 10 Tips to help business owners in and around Revesby, Panania, Padstow, Picnic Point, and suburbs to Liverpool and Bankstown to you manage your cash flow

Bookeeping is an important part of any small business

Bookeeping is an important part of any small business – whilst it is historical, in recording past transactions of money coming into and going out of your business, book-keeping can also help with managing the cash flow of your business

Whilst world leaders have a money-tree policy to create cash, the average small business owner has limited opportunities when cash flow gets very tight, as in the present economy.

Contractors in the building industry can quickly run up large accounts with builders and developers, and forget that even large companies can fall over in a recession.

On Australia’s Gold Coast a large property developer has collapsed with millions of dollars debt, and often the sole tradesman or small business owner is at the bottom of the food chain, even though they are the ones that need the cash the most, not the Banks or Finance Companies

Our bookkeeping team of mobile freelance bookkeepers have put together ten tips to help you manage your cash flow:

1. As bookkeepers, we’re amazed by businesses that issue invoices with no specific payment date or credit terms. There’s nothing wrong in specifying the date on which you expect payment – after all, don’t the utility companies do just that on the invoices they send you?

2. Why not issue the invoice the day that you provide the goods / services, rather than waiting until the end of the week, fortnight, or month? Some business owners choose to issue their invoices monthly, knowing their creditors only issue payments monthly

3. There’s been a recent trend, again with utility companies, to offer an incentive to pay early, such as giving a discount. Notice that in reality they are adding a penalty for late payment rather than a discount

4. Ask your customer for a deposit in advance, particularly if they are requesting a high ticket item that you have to purchase from your supplier before receiving payment from your customer
Read more… »

Bookkeeping records the flow of money in and money coming out of your business. A fundamental factor of any healthy small businesses in and around Campbelltown, Bankstown, Sydney CBD and Northern Beaches, Australia, is whether there is more money flowing in, than is flowing out.

Tracking the flow of money in and out of your business occurs through the recording of each transaction by the person responsible for your bookkeeping. Contact us NOW and we’ll help you determine whether there is more money flowing in, than is flowing out of your business.

In basic terms there are four sources of income, and four reasons why money flows out of your business.

Depending on your business, income is generated through the sale of goods and services, or the sale of business assets. Other sources of income can be through loans to the business, either from yourself, or money that you have borrowed from relatives, friends, or formal channels such as financial institutions.

There are very few businesses that incur no expenses to generate the income. Thus money flowing out of your business will be to pay bills for overheads, such as power, telecommunications, rent, wages etc.

Other expenses include buying or replacing assets to run the business. Then there’s your remuneration, as drawings etc, and also your business may lend money to others.

The recording of each transaction by your bookkeeper is critical to protect all parties concerned. Each transaction should be supported by the appropriate documents. When the Australian Taxation Office decides to audit your business, they will often need to see all your supporting documentation.

Your bookkeeper needs to ensure that all the documentation is filed in such a way that it can be easily traced. Each transaction recorded in the bookkeeping system should be supported by the relevant documentation also.

Consider the day that a piece of equipment fails, and you wonder if it’s still under warranty. Your bookkeeper should be able to tell you when you bought the equipment, how you paid for it, and also be able to located the documentation relevant to that equipment.

A logical and ordered filing system is just as important as the balance sheet or P & L reports for your business. For more information or a free appraisal of your bookkeeping system, contact one of our Campbelltown, Bankstown, Sydney CBD and Northern Beaches bookkeepers NOW, and we’ll help you determine whether there is more money flowing in, than is flowing out of your business.