Business Services

Benchmarking

Have you ever wondered how your business performs compared to your competitors? What is their average bottom line? Are you spending enough on advertising? Are you paying too much rent? Are your staff costs too high? Surviving in today's business climate requires you to spend more time working on your business than in it. We can provide you with accurate, timely, informative benchmarking reports that enable you to:

• See how your business compares to your competitors
• Understand more about how the rest of your industry works
• Analyse the key performance indicators in your industry

Equipped with this information, we'll work with you to develop action strategies that improve your bottom line.

Bookkeeping

Modern business requires up-to-date, accurate financial information. We can relieve you and your staff of the enormous burden of all your bookkeeping and accounting needs, including preparation of your annual accounts and periodic management accounts for tax, business appraisal, and planning purposes.

We will discuss your requirements with you and provide information relevant to your particular situation, as well as constructive advice, on a regular basis.

Budgeting

A good budget is a necessity in a good business plan. It is one of the best business tools you can have, enabling you to set financial targets and measure your performance.

In addition to goal-setting value, budgets will often improve your chances of acquiring funding. Financiers often require budgets as a prerequisite for funding approval.

The techniques we utilise to form financial projections enable you to consider future scenarios and provide you with goals to strive for in your business. There are many types of budgets. We can help you design the right budget for your requirements.

Let us show you how a budget can provide feedback that helps you prepare for the future of your business!

Business Start-Up

If you have a good idea for a new business venture but don't have expertise in the legal or financial aspects of creating a new business, we can help you:

• Decide on the most suitable structure for your business - Sole trader, partnership, or limited company
• Prepare a business plan, cash flow projections, budgets, and trading forecasts
• Assess your finance requirements, advise on the best sources of finance, and draw up the necessary proposals
• Establish a good working relationship with your bank
• Register for an Australian Business Number with the ATO
• Complete registration procedures with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
• Deal with company secretarial issues
• Set up a recording system for your internal use and for complying with statutory requirements

Let us help you turn your business idea into a reality!

Cashflow Forecasting

Are you holding too much inventory? Is this the right time to expand your business? Are you going to have enough cash to pay all your expenses every month? Surviving in today's business climate requires you to spend more time working on your business than in it.

We can provide you with accurate, timely, informative cash flow forecasting reports that enable you to:

• Realise and understand when cash is available
• Plan and prepare for expansion, stock control, and taxes
• Analyse and anticipate key expenses

Equipped with this information, we'll work with you to develop action strategies that improve your bottom line.

Financial Planning

Financial planning involves developing comprehensive, effective strategies to strengthen your financial security and ensure your financial goals can be met. These strategies provide a separate source of income to your business or employment income.

Our qualified, experienced team can discuss your financial options with you and provide a three-stage service in financial planning that includes:

• Initial financial advice
• Implementation of a financial plan
• Ongoing investment portfolio management

A variety of investment options are available, including corporate bonds, term deposits, local body and Government stock, Australian and overseas shares, and managed investment funds, to name but a few.

Don't take unnecessary risks with your future! Allow the professionals at Smith & Jones Chartered Accountants to guide you towards achieving your financial goals.

Financing

A wide range of financing options exist each with their pros and cons. At Smith & Jones Chartered Accountants we know the financial market and have the experience to assist you in securing the best financing option for your personal and business goals. Our experience in the market means we can also structure debt upon acquisition to maximise tax advantages.

Let our experienced team explore the best financing options with you to get your business closer to its goals!

Management Consulting

Our aim is to ensure your business achieves the potential it is capable of. We have the know-how and experience to offer advice that helps you run your business more effectively.

We are practiced in acting as a sounding board for management, bringing years of experience in business growth to the relationship. We can identify key performance indicators in your business, through which you will see positive changes occurring with the help of our professional consultants.

We check that your business is as competitive, focused, and profitable as it can be, then offer flexible strategies, designed to address the issues affecting your business.

Let us give your business a health check! Take the practical advice we can provide to ensure the ongoing success of your venture.

Office Duties

Here at Smith & Jones Chartered Accountants we understand that day-to-day office duties are not everyone's cup of tea and are happy to help out with some or all of the following services:

• Processing wages
• Paying creditors and processing payments
• Collecting and banking debts
• Various secretarial tasks

Payroll Services

Administering your payroll can be time-consuming and divert you from your core business activities. Added to this, payroll and employment legislation are growing increasingly complex.

We can relieve you of this burden by providing a comprehensive, confidential payroll service that includes:

• Customised payslips
• Administration of PAYG, statutory sick pay, and annual leave
• ATO filing
• Summaries and analyses of staff costs
• Administration of incentive schemes, bonuses, and termination payments

Even if you only have a few employees, you will save by engaging us to administer your payroll.

Portfolio Management

The experts at Smith & Jones Chartered Accountants offer a portfolio management service that makes handling your investments easy! We provide the people, tools, and methods you require to effectively manage your investment portfolio.

Your portfolio manager keeps abreast of the changes in the investment market, saving you the trouble of doing the research yourself. You maintain control of your investments while eliminating unnecessary risks and delegating the everyday tasks and complex decisions to your experienced investment manager.

At Smith & Jones Chartered Accountants we design and manage portfolios with your individual requirements and objectives in mind. This means your investments are handled in the most efficient manner possible and ensures your goals are met.

Contact us today for specialist assistance with investments!

Risk Management

A multitude of risks exist in today's business environment. At Smith & Jones Chartered Accountants we pride ourselves in our proven ability to accurately assess risk and protect you from vulnerabilities inherent in your enterprise. An effective risk management strategy improves the performance of your business, enables you to complete goals, and protects the value of your business.

Our risk assessment includes:

• Assembling relevant information about your business and market
• Identifying the major risks facing your organisation
• Developing a risk strategy
• Implementing the risk management procedures

Software Solutions

Let us help you make the right choice of accounting software. A decent accounting system will help you keep track of your cash flow and let you complete GST returns easily.

Choosing the right system for your business can be difficult. After all, there are over sixty accounting packages available in Australia. Here at Smith & Jones Chartered Accountants we invest considerable resources into ongoing staff training to ensure we can recommend the best accounting solution for your business.

We are also BankLink Professional Advisors, Myob Certified Consultants and Xero Gold Partners.

Strategic Planning

The pressures of daily business can often mean strategic planning takes a back seat, but to have a successful business it is vital to plan ahead. We'll help you develop a strategic plan that examines where you want your business to be in the next 3-5 years and exactly how you and your team can achieve these aims and objectives.

Your strategic plan will:

• Define the characteristics of your company in three to five years
• Identify your competitors
• Define your objectives and financial goals
• Include an effective implementation strategy to achieve your goals