What Retailers Expect This Festive Season – Plus Their Top Survival Tips

When you’re a small business owner running operations, managing accounts, hiring staff, and juggling customer service, it’s understandable that marketing can sometimes fall by the wayside. But neglecting it can cost you customers. We spoke with digital marketing expert and small business mentor, Amy Treacy , to uncover the simple yet essential steps to enhance your online presence and get more customers through the door. If there was one thing Amy Treacy could tell all small business owners when it comes to improving their digital marketing, it would be this: focus on the basics. “My whole business is about helping people get the basics right. There's no point racing off and doing Google Ads, if your website looks terrible or it doesn’t work properly, or if your phone number is listed incorrectly,” she explains. “The most common mistake I see is small business owners not optimising the platforms they have, and not using those that are cheap or free… They assume marketing is expensive, or involves really high level tech talk,” she continues. “Sometimes all it takes is a few simple steps to greatly improve your online presence.” So, what are these steps? 1. Use the tools you already have. Rather than adding more social media platforms or marketing tools to your arsenal, Amy’s first piece of advice is to optimise what you’ve already got: “Look at your current tech stack. Subscriptions can get out of control and often people feel overwhelmed because they've got that many logins and this doesn't connect with that. Not to mention, if they’re paid subscriptions it can cost them a lot of money. Take a breath, understand what you want to do. What you can get rid of. What you can simplify. Then go from there,” she says. A lot of the time, the platforms you’re already using offer the same functionality that you’re looking for elsewhere… It’s important to use all the features and functions that the platforms build in for you,” she explains. “For example, a lot of people don’t realise that you can add your location on Facebook and Instagram. This simple action sends a signal to those platforms of where you are located in the world, so then they'll show your posts to people. Similarly, business owners should be encouraging customers to leave a review on their Google Business Profile – it can have a huge impact on how they rank on Google.” 2. Secure your social media accounts. “A lot of businesses are very reliant on Facebook and Instagram, but what they don’t realise is that they can lose those profiles at the drop of a hat if they are hacked. It’s like putting all your eggs in one basket,” explains Amy. “Many small businesses haven’t yet invested in a website or an e-mail marketing system, but if they lose their Facebook account, they would have no way of contacting their customer base. They would have to start from zero, and a lot of businesses wouldn't be able to withstand that,” she says. It’s therefore essential to secure your accounts to mitigate the risk of being hacked. “It can be as simple as setting up a password management system and two factor authentication, but you also should make sure your Meta Business Account is set up properly as this is where I see a lot of problems arise.” 3. Get a Google Business profile. “Nowadays, we use Google for everything. If you’re looking for a coffee shop, you type 'coffee shop' into Google Maps. It’s the first place people go,” says Amy, “So, if you’re not there, you’re nowhere,” she continues. Having a Google Business Profile is a great, free way for businesses to maintain an online presence, especially if they can’t afford a website. “Plus it actually doesn’t take much work each month,” says Amy, “Once it's set up, it's pretty much self-sufficient.” What’s more, if you don’t have a website, a Google Business Profile can be a great way to help customers find what they’re looking for and reduce customer service enquiries: “There's a little feature called ‘questions and answers’,” says Amy, “Put your frequently asked questions in there. Not only will they be loaded with keywords, which will help improve your ranking on Google, but they will also help your customers find what they need without having to ring you.” 4. Invest in a website and show yourself on it. “A website doesn’t have to cost you $20,000. There are so many cheaper options,” says Amy, “But even the smallest businesses can benefit from having a website, just for that trust factor. That online presence helps people to know that you’re not a scam, and for SEO [search engine optimisation] it’s also so important,” she explains. Once you have a website set up, the next most important step is to explain what your business is about and why someone should buy from you. “One of the biggest mistakes I see is websites not having any call to action, no storytelling, nothing to convince me why I should buy from this business rather than finding a similar item at Kmart,” says Amy. “We're social animals and we want to connect with other people. That actually drives purchasing decisions. People want to know your backstory, the reasons why you're in business, all of those things can be easily shared on your website. They’re what make you memorable,” she explains. “Among my clients, the “About Us’ page is usually the second most visited page after the homepage,” says Amy. “Make sure you’ve got a photo of yourself on there and don’t forget to say where your business is based.” 5. Access your web and social media analytics and create a strategy. “No one likes the word strategy,” says Amy, “but it doesn’t have to be 10 pages long or set in stone, you just need to have a goal. It could be as simple as saying ‘this year, I want to make X number of sales on Fathers Day’,” she explains. “From there, it’s just about working backwards with whatever you’re capable of and whatever you’ve already got set up.” Most business platforms – whether it’s your website, social media page, or Google Business Profile – will allow you to access the data and analytics of your page. These metrics, such as the number of clicks, the number of page views, or the number of likes, are key to understanding whether your strategy is working or not. “You don't need to take note of every single metric,” says Amy, “Just pick the most important ones, then decide what you want to improve first,” she explains. “After a period of time, you can go back and see if you’ve made a difference.” You can also use these metrics to identify trends. “If your Facebook page has ticked along and all of a sudden we see a big spike in engagement, look into what you did that day and replicate it,” says Amy. 6. Keep learning and outsource when necessary. “If something scares you, don’t just put your head in the sand,” says Amy. “Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, or Google Business Profile, don’t assume you’re fine without it. Just keep learning,” she continues. While it might seem daunting at the beginning, these platforms do not require expert knowledge to use, and the benefits to your business will be considerable. “Business owners run for the hills when I mention SEO,” says Amy, “but it’s not as complicated as many may think.” SEO, the process of improving your website’s visibility in search engine results, simply comes down to sending the right signals to Google, so that it can help users find your business. “Adding information to your website, and optimising your Google Business Profile and social media can have a significant impact on where you rank in search results,” explains Amy, “It's not something you necessarily need to pay an agency for - some things you can certainly DIY.” Where you should outsource work is when it does indeed require expertise that you don’t have. “Don’t create your own logo if you don’t have any experience in design,” says Amy. “You can waste hours and hours and end up with a very amateur-looking logo which will be pixelated when you have to print it on a banner. Pay someone to do it. Engage an expert. The same applies to a bookkeeper or an insurance broker. Anyone who can take that load off,” she explains. Need a helping hand? If you’re a small business owner needing some extra support, be sure to check out the  Digital Solutions Program  which offers subsidised 1:1 mentoring, workshops, and courses on everything from social media, to SEO, web design, cybersecurity, and more. If you’re based regionally, join the free  Bush Biz Owners of Australia  Facebook group, where business owners can share, connect, and learn from one another or reach out to Amy via her website, Bush Biz Boost .

With tax time almost upon us, we caught up with Lloyd Richardson , CEO of Jim’s Tax and a Fellow CPA, to get his perspective on what small business owners need to keep in mind as the end of the financial year approaches. Lloyd has spent more than 40 years in the accounting world – he grew up in the industry, took over his father’s practice, and now heads up a 60-strong network of tax agents and bookkeepers across the country, so you could say he knows a thing or two about tax.  Read on to learn his practical, no-nonsense advice for small business owners looking to get the most out of this end of financial year.  Preparing your small business for EOFY tax. Question: How far in advance should small businesses start preparing for EOFY? Answer: Small business owners generally prepare BAS statements quarterly, and that’s when you should be thinking about your end-of-year tax too. A good bookkeeper will prep your financials quarterly and refer them to a tax agent, who can then estimate your tax position. It’s always better to plan early, but a lot of businesses wait until June and panic. You need a proactive bookkeeper. A Jim’s bookkeeper is trained to handle this, and then your tax agent (hopefully also a Jim’s Tax person!) will review it at tax time. But at a minimum, your accounts should be updated quarterly. Key financial documents for EOFY tax. Question: What key documents or reports should small businesses have ready? Answer: Importantly, you need a profit and loss statement and a balance sheet, ideally on an accrual basis. These help determine profitability based on your business structure – whether you’re a sole trader, partnership, trust or company.  Remember that GST is typically calculated on a cash basis – money in, money out. But small business tax is done on an accrual basis – what’s been invoiced. That’s why it’s so important to know whether you’re reporting on a cash or accrual basis, it affects when income is counted. You should have your financials up to date by the end of March. Then in early June you can sit down and ask yourself (and your tax agent), “What’s my profitability up to March? How much have I earned in April and May, and what can I do before June 30 to legally minimise tax?” Common EOFY tax deductions and overlooked claims.  Question: Are there any deductions or claims that often get overlooked? Answer: There are two sides to EOFY planning – income and expenses. On the expenses side, look at your debtors. Write off bad debts before 30 June or you’ll be taxed on them. Check your depreciation schedule too – sometimes there’s old plant and equipment that’s been written off or no longer exists. Write it off and claim the deduction. Also, pay expenses before the end of June and delay income if you can. For example, if I finish a job on 29 June, I might not invoice until 1 July (subject to cash flow, of course) and that pushes the tax into the next year. EOFY tax tips by business structure (sole trader, company, trust). Question: What steps should sole traders take that might differ from those with staff or a company structure? Answer: Sole traders pay tax on net profit. Super isn’t compulsory for sole traders, which catches people out. You can contribute up to $30,000 into super and claim it as a deduction – taxed at 15% in super instead of up to 47%. Companies should keep an eye on debit loans – directors drawing from the company. You’ve got to sort those before EOFY or they’ll be taxed as unfranked dividends. Directors can also contribute to their super – up to $30k per director) – and if you haven’t used your full contribution cap in the last five years, you can add more. If you’ve got staff and your pay run starts 1 July, consider paying it early on 30 June so you can claim the deduction this year. You can pay expenses up to 12 months in advance. And if you buy plant and equipment under $20k and receive it before 30 June, you can write off 100% of it. Over $20k, you have to depreciate it. 2025 ATO guidance for small businesses at EOFY. Question: Have you seen any recent changes in ATO guidance that business owners should be across Answer: The ATO is focused on trusts this year. If you operate through a family trust, make sure your distribution minutes are done before 30 June to allocate profit to beneficiaries. If not, the whole lot could be taxed at up to 47%. Be careful with trust distributions to companies too, that’s under scrutiny. If you’re in a company, sort out your debit loans before EOFY. If you don’t, they might be taxed as income. Super and wage adjustments can help, but don’t go throwing around massive bonuses, your structure has to support it. Overcoming EOFY tax stress. Question: For business owners who feel overwhelmed by EOFY, what’s your advice? Answer: Talk to a Jim’s Tax agent. The first step is getting your accounts up to date, at least to March, so you’ve got a clear idea of where you stand. What’s your actual net profit? What tax is payable? What’s already been paid through your BAS? Once you know those numbers, the fear factor drops and you can take action if needed. A lot of people get overwhelmed because they don’t have the right info in front of them. If your books are a mess, EOFY can feel like a mountain. But if you’ve kept things tidy through the year, or get someone to help you sort it out now, it becomes much more manageable. I do the same process in my own business – I check receivables and payables, think about super, and look at expenses I might bring forward. Also, another big benefit of using a tax agent is that your return can be lodged as late as May or June the following year. If you’re not using a tax agent, it’s due by the end of October.   Reviewing business performance at EOFY. Question: What should business owners be asking themselves (or their advisors) when reviewing the past financial year? Answer: Start by getting your accounts up to date – that’s non-negotiable. Then ask the basics: “What’s my net profit? How much tax is payable? What have I already paid?” Once you’ve got those answers, the next question is “What can I do before 30 June to reduce my tax?” That’s the conversation you want to be having with your tax agent. EOFY is also a good time to reflect on what went well and what didn’t go so well over the past 12 months. Were your margins healthy? Are you on top of your cash flow? Is your structure still the right fit? Those kinds of questions can lead to smarter decisions for the year ahead. Quick 2025 EOFY tax wins for small businesses. Question: What are some quick wins business owners can take in the final month of the financial year? Answer: Pay super before June 30, that’s a big one. If you’ve run a payroll and you know what super is owed, pay it a few business days before 30 June so it lands in the fund on time – then you can claim the deduction this year. If you miss the cut-off, you can’t claim it until next year, even if you pay it in early July. Delay income where it makes sense, bring expenses forward where possible and write off bad debts. Review your depreciation schedule — if you’ve bought any assets under $20k and started using them before 30 June, you can claim the full deduction this year. It’s not about magic tricks, it’s about good management. The small things can make a big difference when they’re done right and done on time. Business restructuring or system changes at 2025 EOFY. Question: Should business owners consider restructuring, changing systems or adjusting payment schedules at EOFY? Answer: If you’re thinking about changing structure, say from sole trader to company or trust, EOFY is the time to do it. You can wrap things up neatly on 30 June and start fresh on 1 July. It’s much easier from a bookkeeping and reporting point of view, otherwise you’re dealing with a crossover year, and that just creates more complexity. The same goes for system changes. If you’re switching accounting software, or introducing a new payroll or invoicing system, 1 July is a clean starting point.  EOFY is a natural point to review how your business is running. If something’s not working, now’s the time to make a change, but always get advice first so you’re not creating a bigger headache down the track.

As a business owner, you don’t have time to be visiting bank branches and chasing paperwork. At Zeller, we understand that. It’s why we’ve built an entirely online sign-up process designed around speed, security, and simplicity. The majority of businesses can access their Zeller Account and begin accepting payments, sending invoices, and managing their finances the very same day. To help you breeze through the sign-up process, this article outlines what to expect and the documents you’ll need. It also explains the security measures we take to protect your data and account, and answers common questions to help you feel confident in choosing Zeller. How Zeller’s sign-up process works Signing up to Zeller is easy and can be done on a desktop computer via our sign-up page or directly on Zeller App . Here’s what to expect from the process: Register online – Open your Zeller Account with your email address, and phone number. We’ll send you a verification code via SMS, so make sure you’ve got your phone nearby.  Enter business details – If you have an ABN or ACN, you’ll enter it here. If you can’t remember what it is or don’t have it handy, you can quickly find it using the ABN Lookup tool.  Upload business documents (if applicable) – For some business types (associations, partnerships, trusts, and government agencies) we’re required by law to collect additional information to verify your business. If you are signing up for one of these business types, ensure you have all your relevant business documents handy, you may need to upload things such as trust deeds, partnership agreements, or business bank statements.  Also, if your business is registered with a federal or state regulator, (for example, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) you will need to provide the name of the regulatory body as well as a reference number.  Enter personal details – We ask for your name, DOB, and current residential address. Verify your identity – In this step, you'll confirm your identity using your smartphone. You’ll take a photo of your physical ID (either passport or Australian driver licence) and then record a quick video selfie, which will be matched against your ID photo.  Your security is our priority. Read on to learn how we keep your data safe. How Zeller protects your account and your data At Zeller, your security comes first. It’s why we’ve built comprehensive biometric verification into our sign-up process, to ensure nobody but you can open an account and access your sensitive business information. Taking a photo of your physical ID and a video selfie is simply an extra layer of protection to stop fraudsters and scammers from getting in the door. Then once you begin transacting with Zeller, our team of anti-fraud experts and 24/7 monitoring will ensure your account stays secure. You can transact with confidence knowing that our dedicated team works hand-in-hand with advanced tools to successfully identify and act on suspicious activity.  Zeller is certified for Level 1 of the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards) – the highest and most stringent level of compliance, ensuring your data is processed and stored within the most secure payment infrastructure, and industry-leading encryption and access controls. We also only request essential information required for risk and regulatory compliance purposes. Signing up for Zeller is quick and easy. With Zeller, getting started couldn’t be easier. In just a few minutes, you’ll have access to everything you need to take payments, manage your money, and grow your business – all in one place. Sign up today and see for yourself.