No business exists in a vacuum. Whatever sector or industry group you trade in, you’ll be surrounded by competitors, established industry leaders and upcoming challengers. Benchmarking is one way to understand how well your business performance compares against these close competitors, and what the wider-reaching challenges are within your industry. But how does benchmarking work? […]
04
Aug
Aug
Good inventory management is critical for any business. Not only does it help a business keep enough stock to satisfy customer demand, but it also helps businesses avoid common pitfalls associated with inventory, whether that be holding excess stock, holding too little, or tying up too much cash. Four tips for better inventory management Regular […]
28
Jul
Jul
Contracting or freelancing requires you to wear a lot of hats. Relationship-building, keeping track of your time, marketing your skills and actually doing the work. But one of your priorities should also be establishing how you handle your money and setting the groundwork for good habits. Understand your deductions Before you start, it’s essential to […]
21
Jul
Jul
Starting a business can be a challenging experience, especially when it comes to managing your numbers and staying on top of your financial management. Unless you’ve got some experience in finance, the bookkeeping and accounting requirements can be quite daunting. And even with today’s helpful cloud accounting platforms and fintech apps, there’s always the possibility […]
14
Jul
Jul
What the new anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules mean for our services From 1 July 2026, thousands more businesses—including accounting and professional services firms—are now regulated under Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws. This includes newly regulated sectors such as accounting, real estate, conveyancing, legal services, as well as dealers in precious […]
16
Jun
Jun
On 28 May 2026, the Fair Work Commission’s Expert Panel announced that National Minimum Wage and award wages will increase from 1 July 2026. This increase in basic pay is great news for Australian workers, especially during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, with costs of fuel and basic provisions still on the rise. What’s the new […]
02
Jun
Jun
From 1 July 2026, new Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) obligations will apply to certain services provided by accountants and public practice firms, regulated by AUSTRAC. AML/CTF laws are designed to help prevent illegal activities such as money laundering, terrorism financing and financial crime. As DLA Partners provides some services captured under the updated […]
14
Apr
Apr
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) make up over 90% of all firms and, on average, account for 70% of total employment and 50% of GDP worldwide. But MSMES are finding it increasingly difficult to access funding. According to recent figures from the International Finance Corporation, (part of World Bank Group) the MSME finance gap […]
10
Mar
Mar
In a business environment that’s currently highly volatile and changeable, it pays to scenario-plan for different 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 […]
29
Jan
Jan
Have you ever wondered about the best ways to protect you and your business? In this article, we’ll look at how you can use a trust to shelter your assets. What is a trust? Before we go any further, let’s explain exactly what a trust is and how they can be used. A trust is […]