Tips to help you take holidays

One of the toughest things about being a soloist is taking a holiday. Here are my top seven tips to help you do just that!

When was your last holiday? I mean a real holiday – you know, where you actually turned off your phone and ignored email.   

Having time off allows you to recharge and take a fresh look at where your business is heading.  Many a good idea has flourished after an afternoon beach walk or mountain trek.
Here are my top seven tips for taking a break from your business.

1. Get a business babysitter

Ever wished you could have someone look after your business while you’re away, just to ensure you don’t miss anything important? A business babysitter can do just that, allowing you to take a well-earned break.  

“ Be creative and make sure your potential clients don’t leave empty handed by sharing some of your best blog posts, videos or free resources in your email auto responders.  ”

Studies have shown that up to 75 percent of people won’t leave a message on an answering machine and that an ‘out of office’ email drives people elsewhere.
A good business babysitter can answer your phones, book in appointments, take orders and even prepare a to-do list for your first day back.

2. Use a scheduling tool on your website

Use a service like TimeTrade or ScheduleOnce to allow clients and customers to book appointments directly into your diary. These booking tools can be easily embedded into your website, or you can simply place the booking link in your ‘out of office’ auto responder.

3. Notify your customers ahead of time

Make sure you don’t surprise your customers. Notify them ahead of time by placing a reminder in your email signature or by giving your top clients a quick reminder call.

4. Set up direct debits

Stop the bills piling up by paying them ahead of time. Or for better cash flow management, set up direct debits for payments so they’re automatically paid on their due date.

5. Make your ‘Out of Office’ an automated marketing tool

Be creative and make sure your potential clients don’t leave empty handed by sharing some of your best blog posts, videos or free resources in your email auto responders. 

6. Be social

Schedule your social media messages ahead of time by using tools such as Hootsuite, Buffer, or my new favourite, Meet Edgar. Make your followers jealous and use Instagram to post your holiday shenanigans in real time. 

7. And finally, have a digital detox

Even though cloud computing has given us the ability to work from anywhere, this convenience is a pain at holiday time. The temptation is ever present to just ‘check in’, so make sure you ‘check out’ by turning off your phone, changing your voicemail message and only using your tablet device to read the books you bought six months ago!
No more excuses – with these tips under your belt, it is time to pack your bags and get ready to enjoy lots of little umbrellas in your drinks.


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Seven national principles for resolving disputes

To help raise awareness of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in the Australian community, the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Council has prepared seven national principles for resolving disputes. These are summarised below.

1. Taking responsibility is the first step

To resolve your dispute, each person needs to take responsibility for:

·         being clear about what is in dispute

·         genuinely trying to resolve the dispute

·         seeking support when needed.

2. Early resolution is good resolution

Resolve your dispute in the simplest and most cost-effective way as early as you can. You can still use ADR processes if you go to court.

3. Listen and participate

Show your commitment to the dispute resolution process by listening to other views and by putting forward and considering options to resolve your dispute.

4. Good information leads to good decisions

Seek out and use information that helps you to:

·                understand what is expected from different processes and service providers

·                choose an appropriate dispute resolution process.

5. Use ADR, then the courts

Aim to try to reach an agreement through ADR processes first. If you are unable to resolve your dispute through ADR, then use courts or tribunals.

6. Ask questions about ADR

Ask about and expect effective, affordable and professional ADR services that meet acceptable standards.

7. Know about ADR

Always describe dispute resolution processes consistently to assist you and other people to understand and be confident about using ADR.

To download the complete list of national principles, visit www.nadrac.gov.au.

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Disputes with a builder or tradesperson

Making a complaint to a builder or tradesperson is often straightforward. If you have a problem with a trader who has done work at your home, try the options below before contacting Consumer and Business Services (CBS).

Contact the trader

Contact the trader in person or on the phone and explain the problem to them. It can help to have any paperwork or receipts with you when you speak with them, in case they have questions. Remember to keep a record of your contact and include:

• the name and job title of the person you spoke with
• the dates you contacted them
• what was discussed, including what they suggested.

If a trader tells you to contact the manufacturer, advise them that under Australian Consumer Law, they need to contact the manufacturer for you. 

Contact the trader in writing

A complaint letter or email that clearly states the problem and any purchase information – eg copy of the receipt – can help the trader understand what needs to be fixed. This is also a record of your contact with them.

Using our sample letter of complaint to a builder or tradesperson can help you include all the information needed by the trader.

Making an official complaint

Consumer and Business Services (CBS) acts as a neutral third party, offering advice and information that can help you reach an agreement. CBS can help if:

• your claim isn't currently being heard in court
• work was done in South Australia
• products or services were advertised or bought in South Australia
• the work or products were for personal use.

You will need to show that you have tried to contact the trader – eg a copy of a letter describing the problem, diary entries that show dates and times.
Lodge an official consumer complaint

Reporting a trader

You can also report a trader without making an official complaint. To do so, phone Consumer and Business Services on 131 882 – extension 5. The advice line is open Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm (except public holidays).

After you have made an official complaint

Consumer and Business Services (CBS) will contact you to let you know when your complaint has been accepted. Your case officer will then:

• gather information and record all the facts
• provide information
• work out if a report from an expert is needed
• offer advice.

You may be asked to:

• write another letter to the trader
• arrange inspections
• contact other organisations
• obtain and pay for reports from experts.  

The trader needs to be willing but most problems can be solved through these discussions. CBS doesn't provide legal advice. If the problem isn't solved through these discussions, any information or advice you receive from CBS can be helpful if you decide to go to court. 

Confidential information

All information collected by CBS during an investigation is kept private. It isn't available under the Freedom of Information Act. However, during negotiations the trader may need to be aware of certain things. Please tell your case officer of any information you don't want the trader to see.

Special needs and concerns

Talk to your case officer if you have specific needs or concerns. CBS can adjust the way they do things to help people who:

• are older
• are living with a disability
• have mental health concerns
• are more comfortable speaking in a language other than English.
• 
  

Compulsory conciliation conferences

The Commissioner of Consumer Affairs can ask for a compulsory conciliation conference instead of court action. The Commissioner will decide how the conference takes place – eg telephone, video conferencing – and will consider the following before calling this meeting:

• the number of complaints against a trader
• how the trader handles customer complaints
• any legal issues.

The trader and you must attend the meeting. If there is a good reason for cancelling, another date can usually be arranged. Traders can be fined up to $10,000 if they don't have a reasonable excuse.
If the trader and you agree to a solution, it will be:

• documented
• signed by you, the trader and the commissioner
• copied – you and the trader will be given a copy.

The trader needs to obey the terms of the agreement. If this doesn't happen, you or the Commissioner can apply to the Magistrates Court to enforce it.

Taking action through the court

If the trader and you can't agree to a solution, you can take action through the court. Your case officer will tell you about your options.
Civil claims aren't as difficult as some court actions but it can still be stressful and take up your time. Getting independent legal advice, before lodging a claim, can help you decide whether to take the matter further.

Civil Claims on the Courts Administration Authority website guides you through each step of formal legal action.


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Your opinion on bad builders

We have been in the building industry for many years now, and I am ashamed of some builders out there...

How do people sleep at night, knowing they are doing the wrong thing, putting peoples hard earned money to waste.....

Some builders, put a bad taste in people's mouths.

As the old saying goes.....BAD NEWS TRAVELS FAST.

Do your homework, there is always something on the net about a company.

Have you ever had any dealings with bad/dodgy builders?

NSW building laws will expose consumers to dodgy building work: Opposition

New building laws will leave property owners with fewer protections and expose them to potentially shoddy work, the New South Wales Opposition says.

Legislation taking effect today introduces 12-month prison sentences for builders who repeatedly perform unlicensed construction work.

The new laws also change licensing rules to crack down on so-called phoenix companies, which resurface under a new trading name after going broke.

General construction work worth less than $5,000 can now be done without a licence, but specialist work including plumbing and electrical jobs still need a licence, no matter what the cost.

That change brings NSW into line with Victoria, WA and Tasmania, the Government said.
Labor's fair trading spokeswoman Tania Mihaluik said that change could expose consumers to greater risks from general construction projects in their homes.

"These backward steps are opening the door to unqualified and unskilled labour coming into consumers' homes and potentially working with asbestos, lead and other dangerous materials commonly found in households," she said.

"These changes are ill considered, with the Baird Liberal government having not consulted with associations or tradespeople within the industry."

Ms Mihaluik said she was also concerned that under the new laws homeowners would only have two years, instead of six, to pursue claims against shoddy work and building faults unless the fault is deemed a "major defect".

Owners Corporation Network of Australia executive officer Karen Stiles said the changes could see homeowners slugged with bills for repairs that stemmed from builder errors, with no avenue to recoup the money from developers.

"The new rules for major defects make it basically impossible for homeowners to meet the test," she said.

"What might be a hairline crack in year two could grow into something far more serious by year five."

She warned that homeowners would continue to fight the new laws.
"The Government seems to forget that homeowners are voters, and there is an election coming up," she said.

But Fair Trading Minister Matthew Mason-Cox said the new laws sent a strong message to the industry.

"People have been stung time and time again by building companies that simply haven't performed and have run away from their obligations," he said.

"So this, for the first time, will ensure that those people who hide behind these companies will be held accountable and the warranties that apply will actually continue to apply despite those types of practices.

"We have clarified the definition of major defects and included for the first time waterproofing and fire safety systems. And this is an area where there's been a lot of litigation and problems.

"So we have clarified that six years' protection will apply for waterproofing and safety systems and minor defects will be covered up to two years."


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What Qualification Does a Builder Need?

If you're asking, "What qualification does a builder need?" you're asking the right question, because the success or failure of your building project depends on your builder's qualifications.

Why is a Builders Licence Important?

There are 3 reasons why your builder's trade licence is a pretty crucial document:

1. Only licensed builders are allowed by law to carry out most building work, including extensions and renovations.
2. A builders licence can only be obtained if a builder has proven they have the necessary qualifications to build a structure to minimum building codes and standards.
3. Builders must carry the proper insurances for the jobs they do.

Currently, the administration of trade licensing is still carried out by individual states and territories. While differences exist, there are some qualifications all areas of Australia share in common:

• Throughout Australia, a builder must prove they have the necessary experience and/or education. This can be through a combination of an apprenticeship and/or selected TAFE courses or via an accredited university degree program.
• Different classes of builders licences are available depending on the nature of the work to be carried out.
• Builders must provide proof of insurance before they obtain a licence.
• Licences must be renewed periodically.

In the near future, trade licensing is set to become standardised throughout Australia with the introduction of the National Occupational Licensing Authority (NOLA). For more information, check out our hipages.com.au article, What is NOLA?

What Qualifications Does My Builder Need?

When you get quotes from builders, making sure they hold a current builders licence is your first priority. This is the basic qualification your builder will need, but you will still want to know more before you decide on a builder. Whilst their licence is an indication that the builder is qualified, it does not guarantee that the builder is the most qualified for you. You also want them to:

• Provide you with references.
• Show you examples of their previous work.
• Be able to give you a detailed quote that leaves no unanswered questions about the cost or time frame of the project.
• Give you proof of insurance, including eligibility to receive Home Warranty Insurance (or Builders Warranty Insurance), if necessary.

For more information about trade licensing, read Trade Licensing -- What You Need to Know and click the link at the bottom of the page for more information about licensing in your state or territory.


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Epic Construction Fails

Time for a bit of a laugh.....an oldie but a goodie hahahaha

Ten signs that your builder is shonky

Danger Danger Will Robinson

These are the sure signs your builder is dodgy.  
Collected from my builder and architect friends on the web. We really have too much time on our hands………

… his favorite saying is  “She’ll be right mate”

… he follows your teenage daughter on facebook

… he uses a nail gun on a steel framed house.

… He can make it cheaper for cash

… their voice mail greeting says they work for a different company

… the only time you see him is when a progress payment is due

…  He’s always carries his mobile, but your calls  go to voicemail

… if they give you a hand written quote

… he asks to borrow YOUR tools…

… he didn’t get those exact ones you chose, but something just as good!!

… he has been broke more times than he has been married!

… he sniffs for emphasis as in “You won’t get cheaper than that mate” (beat) SNIFFF

… he thinks the word “fecking” is an adverb as in “This is a fecking big job!”

And the final way you know your builder is shonky

… if he has two mobile phones running


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Four tips to help you grow web traffic

Read about ways to improve your website traffic so that you can improve your leads and sales.

There is an overwhelming amount of advice on the topic of improving your search engine rankings, and you could probably make a full-time job out of working on your SEO. But if you’re a busy soloist, here are some useful tips at a glance.

Make sure you are targeting the right keywords

You are probably aware of the need to use keywords to ensure that search engines categorise your site appropriately, but there is a lot more to it than picking the most popular words and slapping them on your site.
If you want to improve your site traffic it may be worth spending a little extra time finding the high demand keywords, which could have less competition, and to test them with a platform like Google Adwords. This will help you find out if the keywords will bring you the best results.
Whatever keywords you choose, make sure they are specific to what you are offering.

Produce regular content

“ Making the most of available tools and sticking to a regular content-posting schedule, can start to see a steady increase in your website visitors. ”

Regular blogging is one of the best ways to generate more traffic and build your subscriber base. If your articles are relevant, targeted and well written, they can yield excellent results.
To increase your exposure and build links to your site you can also approach other websites and industry publications for guest blogging opportunities.

Try new forms of social media

Maybe you’re already using Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, but have you considered some of the newer social media platforms? Google + is gaining in popularity, as are other sites including Pinterest, and Quora. It’s well worth checking them out to see whether they can help your business.
Although social media marketing can be time consuming, there are a number of tools available including Hootsuite, Buzzbundle and Sendible to help you manage and streamline your updates.

Use incentives and giveaways

A great giveaway can help increase your website subscribers and encourage people to spread the word about your website. A giveaway can be something as simple as a guide, information or a product. What matters most is that it is useful and relevant.
Increasing your website traffic doesn’t require a great deal of technical knowledge or hours of your time. By making the most of available tools and sticking to a regular content-posting schedule, you can start to see a steady increase in your website visitors, and hopefully, your sales.

What are your tips for growing website traffic?


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Seven types of busy

Frustrated with your current rate of progress? Here are seven types of busy that could be holding you up, plus tips on how to overcome them. Which one are you?

Everyone’s busy, but that doesn’t always equate to being productive. Identifying which kind of busy you are – and implementing some simple changes to your approach – can help stop the cycle of going nowhere, fast. 

Badge of honour’ Busy

You believe that being busy equals being significant. Keeping your schedule jam-packed makes you as important as everyone else – it’s how you create your worth. 

This can be a trap for solo entrepreneurs, particularly if, early on, your feel you need to ‘justify’ your new business to VIPs, such as partners, friends or family. Don’t fall for it. Instead, stand back and ask ‘what is the purpose of this task?’ before taking it on. Be ruthless and only commit to activities that will propel your small business (or family) forward. 

‘Nobody does this as well as I do’ Busy

“ You believe that being busy equals being significant. Keeping your schedule jam-packed makes you as important as everyone else. ”

You’d like to cut things out of your schedule, but you’d probably end up doing them anyway, because nobody else does things ‘properly’. You believe you’re the only one who can complete everything to your exacting standards. One of your most-used phrases is ‘Here – let me do it!’ 

Delegating parts of your business is vital to success. If someone else can do it more easily than you, better than you or in a shorter time frame than you can, let them. Free your time for the aspects of your work and family that really matter.

Running away’ Busy

There is something big that you really should attend to: something tricky in your work or personal life that you’ve been avoiding. Instead of tackling what should be first on your list, you fill your diary with less necessary tasks so that you ‘don't have time’ to face the important stuff.  

It’s a trap! Stop running and start slashing through your top priorities. 

Comfort zone’ Busy

You want to launch something ultra exciting in your business – but it’s a big step and you’re scared. What if it doesn’t work out?

Staying busy keeps you in your comfort zone and protects you from taking risks. The busier you are, the longer you’re ‘off the hook’ and safe from potential failure.

The discomfort zone is where the action happens. It’s where you’ll meet success. It’s where your competitors hang out... so go and get uncomfortable.

'People pleaser' Busy

You have a need to be liked. ‘Yes’ comes out of your mouth before you even consider an alternative response. What if you say ‘no’ and they don’t like you as much? What if there’s conflict? It’s easier and safer just to take the request on and say yes, you’ll do it, even if you’re exhausted. 

Whether it’s business networking, advertising, ‘coffee chats’ or meetings with potential affiliates, business owners need to become savvy with the invitations they do and don’t accept. Be polite, honest and assertive in saying ‘this is not for me right now.’

Flapping’ Busy

You’re disorganised. You spend a huge amount of time looking for things that you’ve misplaced. You’re regularly late for appointments. You leave everything till the last minute. The first thing you do when you’re overwhelmed is write a Facebook status about it.

Your lack of organisation creates chaos and manufactures extra work. It takes you much longer to accomplish things than it could, because you’re focused almost entirely on flapping. 

What is one task that you can do today to move you further ahead than you are now? Starting small is preferable to not starting at all.

Scared to ask’ Busy

You feel like a fraud. You’re not sure you understand what you’re really doing. Rather than seek clarification from a mentor or friend, you go to enormous lengths to try to work it out yourself.

You’re scared of asking ‘silly questions’ and choose to complicate your life in an effort to avoid these. You’ll send emails rather than call, then waste time waiting for a response. 

Time. Is. Money. Successful business people dive into vulnerability and splash around in it, asking silly question after silly question. So strip off and jump in! 

Make this the year of the ‘right’ kind of busy. 


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Use financial reports to improve your biz

If you want your business to thrive, look for ways to continuously improve it. Here’s how the information contained in your own financial data can help you. 

Previous articles in this series have discussed the importance of running and understanding your profit and loss (P&L) and balance sheet reports, and of comparing these to a yardstick (for example a budget or a benchmark).

To get optimal value from this process, you’ll also need to understand what’s working, and keep doing it or improve; and understand what’s not working, and fix it.
Simply repeating what hasn’t worked in the past and hoping for a different outcome isn’t a sensible option.

A simple way to approach this is to use a model called the Deming cycle to help drive ongoing improvement through a series of steps summed up as Plan, Do, Check, Act. (Note that the word “cycle” is key here, because as soon as you finish one round of activity you start the next, with the goal of creating better and better results over time).

Plan

The first step is to formulate a business plan using terms you can use to measure the performance of your business over time. The most common way of doing this is to create a budget for your business that incorporates all your planned operational activities.

“ Simply repeating what hasn’t worked in the past and hoping for a different outcome isn’t a sensible option. ”

For example, if you’re generating lots of leads but taking too long to issue quotes, add a solution to this in your plan (whether that’s a software solution, hiring a person to fulfil this role or whatever), and include that expense in your budget alongside a target to aim for. In the example above that might be to halve the turnaround time it takes for quotes to be issued after a lead is received.

Do

Next, follow through with the decision you made and implement the actions in your plan by hiring the new person, implementing the new software or whatever else you decided on.

Check

Measure your results by running monthly profit and loss reports, and taking the time to analyse the data they contain so you can determine what’s working and what’s not.

For example, if you’ve managed to reduce the time you take to issue quotes from five days to one, how has it affected your sales? (Keep in mind that this is never an exact science, and there’ll be lots of different factors all at play at the same time).

Act

Identify corrective actions that will improve your performance, and incorporate them into your plans for the future.

In other words, if the actions you took to speed up quoting worked, keep doing it (and try to improve it further), but if not, determine why, and consider other things you could try instead, or as well.

Sometimes you’ll discover that your plan worked, but in doing so has created a new problem. For example, your quoting process might now be so efficient that you’ve got more sales than you can comfortably handle!

That requires a new plan – perhaps another new person in an operational role or an enhanced job management process. In either case this takes you back to the beginning of the cycle.

A tiny minority of small businesses thrive and prosper without any planning or business analysis. For the rest of us, the Plan / Do / Check / Act cycle is a simple but invaluable way to continuously improve business performance – especially when used in conjunction with the data in your financial reports.


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Motivational speaker: TONY ROBBINS - Raise Your Standards & Change Your ...

Wow is all I can say......TRUE, TRUE, TRUE.....

Richard Branson: Advice for Entrepreneurs

Good Advice :)
What do you think?

A Simple Plan for Starting a Business

Starting a business, whether it is a 'small business' where you work out of an office or a 'home based business' you run out of a corner of your bedroom, you can drastically change your life through a very simple plan.

Starting a business is not something you jump into. 

When you are working a simple plan, starting a business is something you GROW into.

How do you make a simple plan for growth when starting a business?




1. Groundwork of your simple plan is crucial when
starting a business.

Find someone that was successful in starting a business in your industry, watch them, interview them, find out everything you can about what they did when they were starting a business. 

Then, write a simple plan outlining what they do all day.In order to have what they have, you must do what they do, so find out what percentage of their day is spent, for instance, on the telephone making calls, receiving calls and the type of calls.

2. Divide your time.

The next step in your simple plan as you are starting a business is to divide your time like your mentor. Use the same percentage of the total hours, as you will not work the same hours they do.

The 'secret to success' is not in the hours, it is how you spend them! 

 By following the simple plan outlined here, you make the most of your hours, and get the most out of everything as you are starting a business with a simple plan of success.

3. Set your Goals.

A vital piece of success when starting a business is that you have a goal in mind and work your simple plan to get there.

Without a destination (a specific income amount, a personal item like a car or boat, or simply an amount set aside in savings), how will you know you arrived?

4. Track your progress.

Divide your goal into days, weeks, months and/or years to quickly know what is required to reach your destination.

Check your progress often. You will know quickly if you are sticking to your original goal or if you are ahead or behind schedule.

Just like a road trip, as you are starting a business, you will likely come across some detours, that's OK. 

On vacation, just as in starting a business, if you find a road blocked or a path impassible, you simply find another way.  And, just as on vacation, include in your simple plan a few hours here/there for such 'emergencies'. 

If you find you have no emergencies, simply choose something else that will get you closer to your destination, or just relax and enjoy where you are.

5. Work ON your business, not only IN your business.

In starting a business, you must set aside part of your time to plan, set goals, promote and advertise your business, not simply work along in your business, doing the things you do.

When starting a business, a simple form of advertising is a website. The more people that see what you have to offer, the quicker your business will grow.

You could go door-to-door, telling everyone about your website (not a simple plan!), or maximize your time by posting articles online where many people see them.

This is overlooked by many as they are starting a business, and one of the reasons they fail...

As your business grows, you will do less advertising and begin to work your simple plan toward the 'IN your business' phase.

6. Give excellent Customer Service.

Upset customers kill more business than you can imagine. Find a way to work with them, or simply give them their money back. Losing customers is something you cannot afford when you are just starting a business!

So many people simply do not make the time to provide quality service to their customers. 

Do not let that happen to you!

With a little planning and goal setting, follow through each week and simply repeating the process, you can change your business from flat to cash in a short amount of time.

When starting a business, if you follow the simple plan we have outlined here, you are already a success!


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Self-employed people

Minding your own business

Many of us dream of being our own boss, and with hard work and careful planning, self-employment can bring financial and lifestyle rewards - along with enormous personal satisfaction. But without the backup of a regular wage or salary, running your own show calls for careful money management.

Manage your cash flow

Many self-employed Australians earn a good living. But while your overall annual income may be strong, the flow of money is not always regular. It can be weeks and even months between pay cheques.
So it's very important to manage your money carefully. Running out of cash before you get paid again could mean living on credit cards, which charge high interest rates.

Pay yourself a wage

Rather than treating all the income you earn from your business as your personal spending money, pay yourself a weekly wage. You should also maintain separate bank accounts for business receipts and personal spending.

Deposit or transfer your business revenue into a high-interest savings account, and only draw on this account to pay yourself a set amount as a wage, or to pay actual business expenses. Putting your business earnings in a high interest account is a simple way of earning extra income through interest.
Set a personal budget to help you live within your wage, and so that you don't dip into business receipts too often. Use our budget planner to work out your wages and spending.

Plan ahead for holidays

As a self-employed worker you won't enjoy the benefit of paid holidays: it's up to you to set aside funds. Saving a little extra on a regular basis will help you manage through any quiet business periods, as well as funding a well-deserved break. 

Set aside money for tax

A common pitfall for small business is failing to set aside money for income tax. As you become more established the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) might also require you to make quarterly pay as you go (PAYG) tax instalments. If you don't meet your tax obligations each year, you could pay hefty penalties. Talk to your accountant and read ATO: Key lodgement dates for business. At worst, the ATO can take legal action, including winding up your company or bankrupting you to recover unpaid taxes.
Unless you plan ahead for tax, it can be difficult to pay tax bills when they fall due. So it's worth making this a priority for your business.
Use our savings goals calculator to work out how to set aside money for your upcoming bills.

Divide your cash takings

Keep on top of your tax obligations by opening a separate savings account and regularly deposit part of your takings into this account. It can take discipline not to dip into the account, but a good incentive to leave the money aside until you need to pay tax is to remember that the ATO can charge high penalties for late tax payments.

Don't forget GST

If your business is registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST), you will also need to set aside money for that. 

Don't neglect retirement savings

Self-employed people often earn a decent income while working, but without the benefit of employer-paid superannuation contributions, find they have very little money to live on in retirement. Almost a quarter of self-employed Australians had no superannuation at all in 2012, according to research by the Australian Super Funds Association (ASFA).
Don't rely on selling your business to fund your retirement. Without your involvement, your business may be worth less than you think. Many business ventures can also be hard to sell. Instead, think about building a separate pool of retirement savings. You may also be eligible for the government super co-contribution. For more information see super for self-employed people.

Save for retirement, save on tax

Superannuation is a tax-effective investment for retirement savings. Adding to your super can also reduce the tax on your current income.
As a guide, you or your business may be able to claim a tax deduction of up to $30,000 annually for contributions to your superannuation fund (or $35,000 annually if you are aged 50 or over). It's an easy way to trim your tax today while building a nest egg for the future.
Be sure to make your contributions before 30 June to claim them as tax deductions, but be careful not to go over the contribution caps so that the penalty tax does not apply. 

Protect your income

One hazard of running your own business is being unable to work due to illness or injury. Without sick leave, your financial situation could take a turn for the worse if you become sick or injured.
Income protection insurance protects you financially if you can't work because of illness or injury. It's worth thinking about when you run your own show because bills don't stop if you're unable to work.
Premiums for income protection insurance are usually tax-deductible, which helps reduce the cost. Most large insurance companies offer income protection insurance, or you might be able to buy it through your superannuation fund. Do an internet search to compare different income protection insurance products and prices.

Keep control your cash, and draw a line between your personal and business' money, to help you make the most of self-employment.

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

What is personal protective equipment?

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is anything used or worn by a person to minimise risk to the person’s health or safety and includes a wide range of clothing and safety equipment. PPE includes boots, face masks, hard hats, ear plugs, respirators, gloves, safety harnesses, high visibility clothing etc.

What standard of Personal Protective Equipment is required?

The standard of personal protective equipment used at a workplace must be:

• selected to minimise risk to health and safety
• suitable for the nature of the work and any hazard associated with the work
• a suitable size and fit and reasonably comfortable for the person wearing it
• maintained, repaired or replaced so it continues to minimise the worker’s health and safety risk, and
• used or worn by the worker, so far as is reasonably practicable.

What is the worker’s duty in relation to personal protective equipment?

A worker who is provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) by their person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must:

• use or wear the PPE in accordance with any information, training or reasonable instruction provided by the PCBU, so far as they are reasonably able
• not intentionally misuse or damage the PPE
• advise the PCBU of any damage, defect or need to clean or decontaminate any of the PPE they are aware of, and
• consult with their manager if the PPE is uncomfortable or does not fit properly.

If a worker refuses to wear or use the PPE, the PCBU can take action against the worker. A worker who does not wear or use PPE, or intentionally misuses or damages it, may also face prosecution.


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The Difference between a JSA and SWMS

We recently received an enquiry about the difference between a job safety analysis (JSA) and a safe work method statement (SWMS).

The term JSA has been in common usage in Australian industry for decades. A JSA is a form of risk assessment, which details step by step how the task is to be carried out safely, as opposed to many risk assessments which only consider static conditions such as a machine or chemical storage risk assessment.

In recent years some companies have expanded this term to “JSEA” to include environmental aspects as well. However, it is not necessary to keep changing the titles as a JSA can and usually does specify every aspect of the task including; safety, quality, energy efficiency, environmental aspects, cost effectiveness and quickest and easiest way to perform the task.

There are only three (3) main components for a JSA, and these include:

• Basic Steps (stages of the task eg start machine, load machine, clear blockage, unload etc)
• Hazards (for each step)
• Procedure (step-by-step instruction on how to safely carry out the task including equipment required, PPE to be worn and any special precautions).

So what is a SWMS?

The term SWMS gained common usage in Victoria following the introduction of the OHS Regulations 2007. A safe work method statement (SWMS) is prescribed for all “high risk construction work” per Reg. 5.1.9.

The regulations do not prescribe the format or details of a SWMS, other than in Reg. 5.1.5, which requires the SWMS to:

1. Identify work that is high risk construction work; and
2. State the hazards and risks to health or safety of that work; and
3. Sufficiently describe measures to control those risks; and
4. Describe the manner in which the risk control measures are to be implemented.

A guidance form on the Victorian WorkSafe website for a SWMS includes the same three components as for a JSA e.g. tasks or stages, hazards and control measures.

The usage of the term SWMS has increasingly been applied outside of high risk construction work and this is where some confusion has arisen.


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Staying Safe at Work

Workplace accidents and injuries can be avoided if appropriate care is taken by both the worker and the employers. Workers have a responsibility to take reasonable care of their own health and safety.

The following are some tips to help workers stay safe at work:

• Pay attention to any training you receive, including your workplace induction training.
• Know the health and safety procedures in your workplace, including emergency procedures.
• Always follow the health and safety procedures in your workplace.
• Ask for training when you are doing a new task or using/operating new tools or machinery.
• Asked to be supervised to make sure you are doing to the job correctly.
• Talk to your supervisor if you think a task is too dangerous or difficult for you.
• Always wear any personal protective equipment supplied by your employer.
• Report all hazards, near misses and injuries (no matter how minor) to your supervisor.
• If you can’t remember how to do a job safety, ask your supervisor or workmate to help you.
• Keep an eye out and help new or young workers.
• If you have a safety concern, talk with more experienced workers such as your supervisor or workmates.

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