As many of you are aware, in 2017 Horizon Business Systems expanded into New South Wales, in a joint venture with Victoria’s BizPro, to setup our Parramatta office Stratus Consulting. We did this with the view of ensuring that we remained a driving force in the ERP market in Australia and, now as of July 1st, both BizPro (Vic) and Horizon (WA) will adopt the brand Stratus across all three states.
What does this mean for you as a new Stratus client? This means that you will have the brains trust of three experienced teams across Australia and a stronger voice for product development (for example, priorities in determining fixes) plus a consolidated best practice approach to our client support, sales, development and consulting. We also have great new client benefits in the pipeline – from training, new development projects, to online seminars – we know that you and your team will enjoy being a part of our Stratus client family.
On a local level, however, very little will change at all as you will still be dealing with our great local team of support and consulting superstars! Our telephone number, bank account, mailing address and physical location will all remain the same.
What will change? Our website will be undergoing a re-badge (but our Horizon site will stay put until all is completed) and our correspondence to you will come from a Stratus email and with Stratus branding. Also, any emails coming through to our Horizon addresses will be redirected to our new email addresses for a little while.
As local WA business owners, Jon and I thank you for being a part of this new chapter of expansion with us. If you have any queries, feel free to contact me directly and welcome to Stratus!
Every business needs a good accounting system in place. This is the only way you can truly understand where your business has come from, and where it is heading. It’s your early warning system and overall health check, for any problems that may be on the horizon, such as cash flow issues or under-performing product areas.
Assessing your accounting software options can be challenging, with so many factors to consider. There are some great accounting software solutions on the market, which depending on your business requirements, can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you, to give you a clear, transparent view of your business.
Every business is different, when it comes to your accounting software needs, and there is a lot to consider. For most growing Perth businesses, you have three main options, when it comes to assessing your accounting software:
Wherever you are on your journey, it may not be the right time to change your current accounting process. This could be for many reasons, including the time of year, financial cost or other changes within the business. When you speak with a professional consultant about your current accounting solution, they may recommend you stick with your current process, until other factors in your business are resolved.
A lot of software solutions can be upgraded with specific add-ons, tailored to your specific requirements. These can fill and immediate hole in your process, and are a great short-term solution, to a lot of accounting software shortfalls.
If your business has outgrown your current software, it is probably time to invest in an accounting solution to help your business continue to grow. Many owners fear a large, upfront cost, but consider all the cost saving benefits, and long-term efficiencies. Make sure you speak to a professional consultant about all your options, to ensure you choose the right solution for your business.
So how do you know which option is best for you? Start by analysing your business process. Most businesses come down to three main aspects:
Your team play a crucial role in the success of your business. From an accounting software solution standpoint, there are a few things to consider when it comes to your team:
A lot of these requirements can be answered by choosing a cloud-based solution, which allows you to access the software anywhere, anytime, with multiple user functionality.
Your business process is the sequence of tasks or events, that result in your finished product or service, delivered to your clients. No matter your industry, it is essential you have a clear view of your business process, from start to finish, for your organisation to succeed. Your accounting software should assist you with some or all the following:
The nature of your products and services will also impact your decision-making process. How can your accounting software help you best deliver your products and services? Some things to consider include:
No matter what stage you are with the assessment of your business accounting system, you don’t have to make any decisions on your own. Horizon Business Systems can help. Our business consultants will meet with you to do a complete audit of your business and its accounting software processes. From there, we will make recommendations for the best way forward, be it with an upgrade or add on to your existing accounting software, or a tailored new solution. Contact our expert team today, to get you business moving forward, with the right accounting tools.
Not for profit and charitable businesses make up an important part of the economy.
If you have a drive for helping vulnerable and disadvantaged people, running a not for profit can be an inspiring way to give back to your community and make a difference.
But to be successful and cut through the competition, it must nurture the core practices of a successful and purposeful not for profit business.
In Australia, there are over 54,000 registered charities. Yet the impact, value and effectiveness of these organisations create a positive effect on a global scale.
There’s no denying the world still needs not for profits. Like most small businesses, not for profits are born out of passion and a strong desire to make a difference. If you run a not for profit business, here are the top tips to fuel its success.
The key to running a successful NFP in Western Australia is to treat it like a business.
The fundamentals of for-profit businesses and not for profits are the same. What makes an organisation NFP has to do with its purpose, public support and income.
Start by implementing the right systems, such as good management, accountability and a concise business plan to help you gain industry respect, public support and donor confidence. Other essentials that lead to business success include:
Not every organisation ticks all the boxes. Does yours?
To be defined as NFP, your business must operate for a purpose and not for the profit or gain (either direct or indirect).
To run a successful NFP:
One of the key factors that sets NFPs apart from profitable businesses is its mission and purpose.
It’s all very well defining this in the early stages. But to truly pursue its purpose and make your NFP sustainable, the key mission must be continually demonstrated across the board.
Mission statements crafted for NFPs must communicate its purpose, what groups it serves and how it’ll serve them. Every decision, action and funding campaign need to support what you’re working towards.
The NFP’s target audience, main business activities and donation programs should be reviewed annually to ensure they meet the mission and purpose.
Every successful NFP has a driven, passionate and skilled team behind it.
Staff is your biggest brand ambassador. Attract, recruit and retain the right people for fundraising, marketing and communication teams. These people should be relevant and supportive to the cause.
Use systematic approaches to also develop the right board. Provide key members with orientation, regular training and evaluation to ensure long-term success.
Fostering collaboration is critical for all businesses but NFPs rely heavily on corporate community partnerships and working relationships to drive results.
Benefit from collaborations with other organisations aligned with your cause to increase overall business effectiveness, drive broader changes and boost efficiency.
To effectively foster collaboration, not for profit leaders should be clear on limits, value-add and the organisation’s ‘why’.
The most successful NFP businesses continually plan for their future through evaluation and the flexibility to embrace potential changes.
They also focus on the mission, rather than the money. Knowing how to generate revenue and control costs is important, but if the focus shifts from mission to money, the NFP’s core values can be debated.
Running a successful NFP business, while potentially very rewarding, can be challenging. At Horizon Business Systems, we understand the needs of NFPs and have fully scalable accounting platforms to assist with efficient bookkeeping and invoicing. Contact our staff for more information.
If you run a small business with 20 or more staff, you should be preparing for the Single Touch Payroll initiative.
From 1st July 2018, the Australian Taxation Office’s Single Touch Payroll (STP) rollover begins. The new system, which changes the way employers report to the ATO, will require small business owners with 20 or more staff to upgrade or replace current payroll systems.
Single Touch Payroll is ATO’s latest compliance regulation. It offers a more streamlined reporting system, which enables you to track costs and analyse trends.
All employee tax, super, wage and PAYG withholding information will be reported to the ATO through the new software. This will be a significant change from the current system, which is lodged through paper or manual submissions.
To be eligible for the transition, your small business must have more than 20 staff (headcount, not full-time equivalent) as of 1st April 2018.
Once the new system is fully rolled over in 2019, the information you report on over the next financial year will be pre-filled into future activity statements.
This data will also be pre-filled into myTax, resulting in an easier process for anyone who prepares their own returns. Businesses will have real-time access to payments to allow for a smoother and more efficient reporting processes.
Single Touch Payroll reporting will enable everyone within the business to see more up-to-date tax, pay and super information. Making the switch comes with big benefits for small business owners and staff. Some of these include:
On April 1st, 2018 the ATO warned small business owners to do a headcount of staff to determine whether the new systems applied.
For small businesses with 19 staff or less, switching over to the Single Touch Payroll system is voluntary. However, the transition is scheduled for 1st July 2019 which is subject to the passage of legislation in Federal Parliament.
For everyone else, getting your business STP ready is mandatory this year. Here’s what you can start doing now:
Free STP checklists can be downloaded from the ATO website.
Horizon Business Systems is Perth’s leading business accounting software solution provider. We pride ourselves on our tailored customisation of products to suit all business requirements, with superior ongoing support for our clients. Contact us today for more information.
We hear it all time – “work smarter, not harder”, but what does it really mean? With more competition than ever, businesses are finding smarter ways to grow their profits, without increasing their prices. The smartest way to increase profits is to look at your bottom line and find a way to cut costs, but before you start streamlining your business you need to know exactly where to start.
Having an accurate and transparent way to assess and report on exactly where your business is now, will help you find those essential (and sometimes hidden) cost savings. Here are few tips on places you can begin, when assessing the best ways to grow your business, without increasing prices.
Start by looking at your profit margins to see what works and what doesn’t. Focus on the products or activities that are the most profitable, and minimise the ones that aren’t.
Try to cut any expenses that don’t add value to your company or customers. Consider what can be done without, for example selling off old inventory that’s just taking up space.
Stabilising your production system can help you to reduce your amount of surplus stock. Often there are cost savings to purchasing stock in bulk, so look at where and how you can make long term savings with your stock control. This will then free up your cash flow and profit margins. There may also be benefits to ordering more frequently, so make sure you do your research with suppliers. Having an accurate stock control will also help to avoid losses from expired or discontinued inventory.
Focus on supporting existing customers, and set yourself apart by competing in areas other than price. Maybe your business can beat the competition by speeding up its processes, or offering an additional value add service. If you identify your customer’s pain points, you may find a way to offer value beyond the product and price.
Helping customers to learn about your products or services, and what sets them apart, will improve their experience and ensure they’re getting the best value possible from their purchase. There is nothing worse than losing a customer to a competitor, for a product or service you offer, but they didn’t know about.
Standardising your procedures across multiple business sites or teams helps to ensure there is no wastage or inconsistent procedures followed, be it anything from stock control to sales. For example, using less energy when not required, or helping to improve staff productivity by omitting redundant procedures or upgrading technology.
Business management software such as MYOB helps give you a holistic view of all aspects of your business to ensure correct procedures are in place and omits costly errors.
Utilise your workforce’s full potential by creating channels for feedback and suggestions. If your whole team understand the company goals and aims, they can all contribute to ways to increase profits.
Reduce your operating costs by ensuring your team is equipped with accurate, up-to-date information. Streamlining the decision-making process will encourage efficient and informed business decisions, saving you time and money in the long run.
Lock in long term contracts which are to your advantage, but regularly renegotiate where possible. Looking at high expenditures, such as your lease or technology provider, can uncover some amazing cost savings. With new competitors or changes in the market place, you might find your existing contract is well above the industry standard.
Keep a close eye on all outgoings, including power and water bills. You might be surprised to find you’ve been overcharged or even incorrectly billed for products or services not received. Have a process in place to regularly review all contracts.
A well-run business generates higher profits, without having to sacrifice competitive advantage on price. Cut your own time in half, as well as the stress and anxiety of managing your business by implementing business management software.
Horizon Business Systems have been helping businesses perform better for over a decade. Contact us today to see how you can improve your profits, without increasing prices.
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