RBizz Corporate Accountants - Resources #Business Plans

The Importance of "Working Capital" for Business Growth

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:20:15 +1000

The Importance of "Working Capital" for Business Growth

Many business owners focus solely on profit, but profit doesn't pay the bills—cash does. In 2026’s fast-paced market, understanding your Working Capital is the difference between a business that can seize new opportunities and one that struggles to keep the lights on.

What is Working Capital?

Working capital is the money your business has available for its day-to-day operations. It is the liquid funds used to pay for raw materials, inventory, salaries, and overheads while you wait for your customers to pay you.

The Working Capital Cycle

The "cycle" represents the time it takes to turn your net current assets and liabilities into cash. For example, when you buy stock, that cash is "trapped" until the product is sold and the customer pays the invoice. If your cycle is too long, you might find yourself "asset rich but cash poor."

How to Improve Your Working Capital Position

Optimise Inventory: Holding too much stock ties up cash. Use "Just-in-Time" inventory management to keep only what you need.

Shorten Payment Terms: Instead of 30-day terms, consider 7-day or 14-day terms, or offer a small discount for early payment.

Negotiate with Suppliers: Try to extend your "Accounts Payable" terms. If you can pay your suppliers in 45 days but collect from customers in 15, you have a 30-day "cash cushion."

Audit Your Expenses: Regularly review recurring subscriptions and overheads to ensure no "leaks" are draining your daily operational funds.

Why Working Capital Matters for Scaling

Growth requires an upfront investment in people, marketing, or equipment. If your working capital is tied up in unpaid invoices or dusty inventory, you won't have the "fuel" needed to accelerate. By mastering this metric, you ensure your business remains agile and resilient.

Sustainability Reporting: New ASIC Training

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:58:03 +1000

Sustainability Reporting: New ASIC Training

“We recognise many smaller companies may be concerned about what the sustainability reporting requirements mean for them. ASIC is committed to helping industry build the capability required to meet these important obligations.”

ASIC Commissioner Kate O’Rourke

ASIC has partnered with the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) to release a set of educational materials aimed at providing training on sustainability reporting.

These training modules will help your smaller company understand and apply the foundational concepts underpinning Australia's new sustainability reporting requirements.

What modules are available through ASIC?

If you’re new to mandatory sustainability reporting, the requirements can seem daunting. The goal of ASIC’s training is to give you, or your report preparer, a good foundational understanding of the basics of reporting and meeting your ESG compliance requirements.

Here’s what the modules include:

Module 1 sets out how stakeholders should engage with the materials and introduces the basics of the new sustainability reporting requirements in the Corporations Act.
Module 2 covers the basics of climate change.
Module 3 covers climate-related physical risks and how they may affect an entity.
Module 4 focuses on explaining climate-related transition risks and how they may affect an entity.
Module 5 introduces climate-related opportunities and shows how they may apply to an entity through practical examples.
Module 6 introduces emissions accounting and provides foundational knowledge on Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions.
Module 7 focuses on the process of climate-related scenario analysis.
Module 8 provides an overview of how entities might integrate climate risks and opportunities into governance and risk-management processes.

Supporting your sustainability reporting requirements

You can find out more about the available training modules on ASIC’s sustainability reporting website. If you’re unsure about the sustainability reporting rules for your business, please come and have a chat with our team – we can run you through the compliance requirements.

5 Benefits of Working with a Business Adviser

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:09:18 +1100

5 Benefits of Working with a Business Adviser

You know that an accountant can look after the books and keep your numbers in good order.

But have you ever thought about the additional services and advice that an accountant can bring to you as a fully fledged business adviser, coach and mentor?

Let’s explore what other business-critical services your adviser could offer:

1. Providing an outsourced finance function

Managing your everyday finances can eat into your available business time.

By outsourcing your finance function, your accountant can manage the day-to-day bookkeeping, payroll, accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR). This not only eases your financial workload, it also gives you improved, real-time oversight of your finances.

2. Cashflow forecasting and scenario-planning

Cash is king, but managing and forecasting cashflow can be a complex task.

Your accountant can provide in-depth cashflow forecasts and help you create best-case, worst-case and business-as-usual scenarios for your cash position. With this future view of cashflow, you can make better decisions about hiring, inventory and debt management.

3. Strategic planning and goal-setting

Every business needs a strategy to drive it forward. But who’s writing your strategy?

Working with an experienced business adviser brings an objective viewpoint to your strategic thinking. Your adviser helps you align the financial targets of the business with your own personal and professional milestones. And your strategy can be tracked and regularly reviewed to see how you’re tracking against these key goals.

4. Reporting KPIs and dashboards

Your business is generating all kinds of different data – but are you reporting on this data?

An adviser can help you visualise your financial and non-financial data by setting up custom dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs). This turns these dry numbers into real, actionable insights – insights that can inform your business decision-making.

5. Business coaching and mentoring

Working with a business coach gives you the support you need as an entrepreneur.

Your adviser can be a confidential sounding board – someone you can go to when you need advice, an independent viewpoint or just a shoulder to lean on. We’re there to guide you through the big leadership challenges and operational challenges you may face along the way.

Book a Strategy Session with Our Team

Ready to see where your business could go with the right guidance? Our team is here to offer deeper insights, strategic advice, and 1-2-1 coaching tailored to your unique goals—book some time with us today to start your transformation.

Cash Flow Forecasting Puts You Back in Control

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:20:30 +1100

Cash Flow Forecasting Puts You Back in Control

We all know that positive cashflow is the beating heart of any successful business. And with so many external pressures on your cash right now, it’s important to have one eye on the future.

Cashflow forecasting is an increasingly important tool for any finance team. With a better view of your future cashflow position, you can make well-informed decisions about your finances.

But how does cashflow forecasting work? And how does it help you maintain a positive cashflow position throughout the year?

What does a cashflow forecast tell you?

The cashflow process is all about balancing your income (cash inflows) against your expenditure (cash outflows). If your cash inflows are greater than your cash outflows, this is called a ‘positive cashflow position’. In other words, you have cash left over, even once you’ve covered your costs and paid your bills – cash that can then be reinvested in the business.

Forecasting apps, like Float, Fathom and Futrli, use historic cash data to project your cash position forward in time. This helps you see where your cash may be in future periods.

Running detailed cashflow forecasts means you can:

Understand your future operational cashflow – helping you spot any cashflow holes, seasonal dips or predicted months of high expenditure before they become an issue.
Plan your costs and expenditure effectively – allowing you to stick to your planned budgets, manage your costs and plan for any steep price increases.
Avoid the cashflow issues before they happen – using your forecasts to look ahead, plan and get tighter control over your cashflow management.

Talk to us about setting up cash flow forecasts

Staying in a positive cashflow position is a challenge in the current economic situation.

When supplier prices and operational costs are fluctuating and revenues are hard to predict, it is difficult to juggle your inflows against your outflows.

We’ll help you get a tighter grip on your cashflow. Setting up detailed forecasts helps you understand your financial story and puts you back in full control of your cashflow.

Get in touch. We are here to help.

Setting Goals for the New Financial Year

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 17:31:44 +1100

Setting Goals for the New Financial Year

The new financial year is a new beginning. As a business owner this a great time for you to reflect on where you are at and think about your business goals for the financial year ahead.

Setting goals is an essential part of personal and professional growth. These could be lofty goals, or even setting out a plan to achieve some more mundane (but equally important) projects. Whether that is getting paid faster, reassessing expenses or bigger things like automation of processes and new markets. You may be looking to expand your business or create more time for yourself.

Having a clear vision and actionable goals can help you achieve your long-term plans. Here are some tips to get you started:

Envision your future: Reflect on what you truly want from your life and how your business can help you achieve those aspirations. Consider where you want your business to be in the next five or ten years. Having a clear endpoint in mind will make it easier to set goals that align with your vision.
Set measurable goals: Vague goals can be challenging to track and evaluate. Instead, focus on setting goals that are measurable. Think about the key metrics you already monitor in your business and how you would like to see them improve. For example, aim for a 3% increase in net profit year-on-year, a 2% reduction in expenses, or acquiring two new customers per month or grow your prospect database by 50%. If you set specific targets, you can easily track your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Develop a plan for each goal: Once you have identified your goals, it's crucial to create a plan of action to achieve them. This can be as simple as jotting down your ideas or engaging in a brainstorming session with your team or advisors. Having a well-defined plan in place will help you stay focused and motivated to follow through.
Monitor your progress regularly: It's essential to regularly check in on your progress towards your goals. Set reminders on your calendar or align your monitoring process with your invoicing cycle. By consistently evaluating your progress, you can identify any areas that need improvement or come up with fresh ideas to help you reach your targets.
Celebrate your achievements: Celebrating milestones along the way is crucial for maintaining motivation and momentum. Plan a reward for yourself when you achieve a significant goal. It could be treating the team to a morning tea, having a day out of the office together or planning an event for the end of the year. Choose something that brings you joy without breaking the bank.

Not sure how to get started?

We can help you with the strategy and identifying the information you’ll need to track, so you can monitor your progress.

Setting goals is just the first step. By implementing these tips and staying committed to your vision, you can turn your long-term plans into reality.

Cash flow forecasting puts you back in control

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 17:31:23 +1100

Cash flow forecasting puts you back in control

We all know that positive cashflow is the beating heart of any successful business. And with so many external pressures on your cash right now, it’s important to have one eye on the future.

Cashflow forecasting is an increasingly important tool for any finance team. With a better view of your future cashflow position, you can make well-informed decisions about your finances.

But how does cashflow forecasting work? And how does it help you maintain a positive cashflow position throughout the year?

What does a cashflow forecast tell you?

Forecasting apps, like Float, Fathom and Futrli, use historic cash data to project your cash position forward in time. This helps you see where your cash may be in future periods.

Running detailed cashflow forecasts means you can:

Understand your future operational cashflow – helping you spot any cashflow holes, seasonal dips or predicted months of high expenditure before they become an issue.
Plan your costs and expenditure effectively – allowing you to stick to your planned budgets, manage your costs and plan for any steep price increases.
Avoid the cashflow issues before they happen – using your forecasts to look ahead, plan and get tighter control over your cashflow management.

Talk to us about setting up cash flow forecasts

Staying in a positive cashflow position is a challenge in the current economic situation.

When supplier prices and operational costs are fluctuating and revenues are hard to predict, it is difficult to juggle your inflows against your outflows.

We’ll help you get a tighter grip on your cashflow. Setting up detailed forecasts helps you understand your financial story and puts you back in full control of your cashflow.

Get in touch. We are here to help.

Switching from Survival Mode to Growth Mode

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 17:31:00 +1100

Switching from Survival Mode to Growth Mode

“Small business owners continue to show strong intent to build and transform - exploring new products, new customer segments and additional income streams.”

Bruce Billson, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman

According to the latest Small Business Pulse results from the Australian Small Business & Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), Aussie small businesses are in good shape!

The ASBFEO Small Business Pulse increased by 0.1% in the three months to February 2026, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly increase, and is 1.2% higher than the same time last year.

Small business owners are actively exploring growth and transformation opportunities, with strong interest in expanding offerings, improving customer reach and considering new markets. Research into technology and artificial intelligence remains elevated, alongside demand for practical, hands-on support to turn ambition into action.

What can you do to explore your own growth and transformation?

The results of the latest Pulse are encouraging reading for small business owners that have been in ‘survival mode’ since the pandemic.

A cautious sense of optimism seems to be pervading the Australian small business market in 2026 – and that is leading owners to move away from survival and to rewrite their strategy for growth and transformation.

Here are 5 simple ways you can embrace this optimism:

Deploy the latest AI tools: Integrate AI into your back-office processes to automate the most repetitive and time-consuming tasks, so your people can focus on customers.
Target new and unexplored segments: Diversify your revenue streams (and build resilience) by researching and entering untapped customer markets.
Extend your digital reach: Invest in targeted social media and online advertising to improve your brand’s visibility and attract a broader, digitally-active audience.
Explore the benefits of mentoring: Work with an experienced business coach to get practical guidance on leading from the front and embracing new technologies.
Master the basics of compliance early: Make sure you know the latest requirements around tax law, employment rules and sustainability reporting, to keep the business compliant and ahead of the game.

What can you do to explore your own growth and transformation?

Staying in a positive cashflow position is a challenge in the current economic situation.

When supplier prices and operational costs are fluctuating and revenues are hard to predict, it is difficult to juggle your inflows against your outflows.

We’ll help you get a tighter grip on your cashflow. Setting up detailed forecasts helps you understand your financial story and puts you back in full control of your cashflow.

Get in touch. We are here to help.

Talk to us about switching from survival to growth mode

If you’re ready to step out of survival mode and to truly embrace growth, come and talk to our team. We can help you review and update your strategy to set the best goals for 2026.

Planning for all eventualities: the benefits of scenario planning

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 17:30:39 +1100

Planning for all eventualities: the benefits of scenario planning

In a business environment that's currently highly volatile and changeable, it pays to scenario-plan for all eventualities.

What is scenario planning?

Scenario planning is the process of using your existing business data to project and forecast the future path of your finances, sales and growth as a small business.

By running various scenarios, you get an overview of the potential opportunities, threats and financial pitfalls that lie ahead, giving you time to plan for these eventualities.

Let’s look at three specific scenarios and how they help you drive your success

1. Worst-case scenario

It pays to hope for the best outcome, but also to consider the worst outcome.

Using forecasting and your knowledge of the current market, you can plan the potential worst outcome for the business. If there’s a 20% price hike in your supply chain, what impact would this have on your operational costs, cashflow and profit margins?.

When you know what the big threats might be, you can develop a scenario plan that prioritises immediate cash preservation and spend management, while also minimising debt.

2. Business-as-usual (BAU) scenario

It may be that no significant changes happen in the market. What does this mean for you?

This baseline scenario relies on historical projections of your existing sales, customer retention and growth. Having managed the business through similar markets, you can use your experience to project your costs, spending and budgets forward in time.

This helps you plan for a stable and consistent business journey over the course of the upcoming periods, with detailed numbers to guide your hiring, resourcing, cash management and investment strategy.

3. Best case scenario

As an entrepreneur, you need to think positively and aim for positive outcomes.

Scenario planning helps you understand the impact if everything turns out as planned. By forecasting a surge in market demand or a successful product launch, you can see the outcome and plan your growth strategy and projections accordingly.

This kind of scenario planning focuses on scalability, showing you exactly when to invest in new tech, hire new staff or expand your inventory to maximise the potential profits.

If you want the key insights that scenario planning can deliver, now’s the time to sit down and start planning the most beneficial scenarios for you and the future of your business.

Book Some Time to Kickstart Your Scenario Planning

If you want the key insights that scenario planning can deliver, now’s the time to sit down and start planning for the future of your business. Our team is ready to help you run the numbers and build a resilient strategy—book a session with us today to explore your most beneficial scenarios.

The Power of Small Business Automation

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 17:30:15 +1100

The Power of Small Business Automation

In the fast-paced business landscape of 2026, the most successful small business owners aren't necessarily the ones working the longest hours—they are the ones working the smartest. As labor costs rise and customer expectations for instant responses grow, automation has shifted from a "nice-to-have" luxury to a fundamental necessity for survival and growth.

Why Automation is No Longer Optional

For many years, automation was seen as a tool for big corporations with massive IT budgets. Today, accessible SaaS (Software as a Service) platforms have leveled the playing field. Automation isn't about replacing the human touch; it’s about removing the "robotic" tasks from human hands. By automating repetitive data entry, scheduling, and follow-ups, you free up your team to focus on high-value activities: building relationships and innovating your product.

Three Areas Where Automation Delivers Instant ROI

Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Stop letting leads fall through the cracks. Automated CRM workflows can trigger personalized welcome emails the moment a prospect signs up, or remind your sales team to follow up after 48 hours of inactivity.
Financial Tracking and Invoicing: Late payments are a primary cause of cash flow stress. By automating your invoicing and payment reminders, you ensure a steady pulse of capital without having to send "awkward" manual emails to clients.
Social Media and Marketing Workflows: Consistency is the key to digital growth. Tools that allow you to batch-schedule content and automatically cross-post to different platforms ensure your brand stays visible even when you are busy running the day-to-day operations.

Overcoming the Fear of "Setting and Forgetting"

The biggest hurdle for many entrepreneurs is the fear of losing control. However, modern automation is highly customizable. You can build "human-in-the-loop" systems where the AI handles the draft, but a team member hits "send." This hybrid approach ensures efficiency while maintaining the authentic voice that your customers love.

Talk to Us About Automating Your Growth

Ready to stop working in your business and start working on it? Our team can help you identify the manual bottlenecks holding you back and implement the automation tools you need to scale. Let’s build a tech stack that works as hard as you do—reach out today to get started.

6 Secrets to Getting Prompt Payment

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:32:26 +1100

6 Secrets to Getting Prompt Payment

If you’re struggling with late payments, and around half small businesses are, here are some simple strategies to use.

Invoice without delay

Your customer can’t pay until you've invoiced them, so make sure you send your bill promptly. Customers are also more open to paying when they've just received the goods or services that you delivered. Cash in on the goodwill, there's no reason to delay.

Include all the information

Make sure your invoice has all the right information, including a description of the work or product, the date it was delivered, and any customer requirements such as a purchase order number. Some customers have very specific requirements so ask what they need to see on the invoice. Make the due date clear, too.

Ask for prompt payment

Customers used to get weeks to pay invoices, but that's changing. More than a third of businesses now request payment within a week. Consider doing the same. Starting off at seven days will help set an expectation of prompt payment.

Be easy to pay

Customers will pay faster if they can use their preferred method to hand over the money. Offer a variety of options, from credit cards, to PayPal and payment plans or installments.

Chase payments

Your job's not done when the invoice goes out the door. You'll need to follow up with the customer to make sure it’s being processed. If the invoice goes past due, it's time to make a phone call.

Systemise and Automate

Don't leave all of this to chance, do whatever you can to automate and systemise your processes around invoicing and getting paid. From initial invoices to chasing payment making sure you can focus on following up on the most important invoices manually. There are also options like factoring or upfront payments to consider.

Talk to Us About Improving Your Cashflow

If late payments are affecting your cashflow, come and talk to us. We can help you improve your invoicing processes, set up automation, and put strategies in place to help you get paid faster and more consistently.