Success is one of the hardest things to recognise. Not because success is rarely achieved, but because it is so often unclearly
defined. Intentionally setting the time to do an objective year-end annual review is one easy way to increase your chances of
recognising success in this year and to set yourself up for success in the coming year.
Annual reviews are a powerful business tool. They provide insight into the past year through analysing metrics and other data.
While the financial review is a valuable tool on its own, business owners have an advantage they should utilise when they conduct their annual reviews. Involving a strategic business accountant can provide additional insights into the past year and help shape goals and metrics for the new year.
Five areas most visited in financial reviews are:
Business owners know what they want from their business, but sometimes they forget to define what that is. An annual financial review with
your accountant is a great chance to have a fresh set of eyes looking at the books and asking questions. Use those questions to define your
next year and enjoy feeling more successful as a result.
After overwhelming demand and sold-out sessions in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Mornington in 2025, we’re inviting expressions of interest for 2026. If you missed out earlier or are ready to dive into hands-on automation training, we’re considering additional sessions in various locations across Australia in 2026.
LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - MELBOURNE CBD
15 & 16 December 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance
professionals, bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and
optimise VBA scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - SYDNEY
11 & 12 December 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance
professionals, bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and
optimise VBA scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
With more Australians living well into their 80s and beyond, managing your longevity risk is more important than ever. Learn how income products like annuities can support your lifestyle for the long haul – no matter how long your retirement lasts.
Retirement isn’t one-size-fits-all. We examine the three stages of retirement – and how each one affects your spending, planning and financial wellbeing.
Understanding the 3 stages of retirement and what they mean for your money, and how to future proof your retirement income.
LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - ADELAIDE CBD
8 & 9 December 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance
professionals, bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and
optimise VBA scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
In most cases, car loans in Australia can be paid out before the end of the loan term. However, depending on your loan type and lender, early repayment fees may apply.
Debt consolidation involves rolling several existing debts into a new single loan. Instead of managing five different repayments.
Choosing a principal and interest loan from the outset can lead to long-term savings and financial security.
Australia's housing market is heating up with property prices across capital cities rising at their fastest rate in almost four years.
This is a great time to explore your mortgage options. You may need to refinance your current loan or take out an investment loan.
Gold Coast unit prices have overtaken Sydney's for the first time, marking a significant milestone for the Queensland coastal market.
Equipment finance makes the most sense when it helps your business grow. If new machinery will increase productivity, open up new contracts, or allow you to expand your services.
SMART Business Solutions is proud to announce its recognition as the winner of Excellence in Local Community Connection (Medium–Large Business) and Excellence in Access and Inclusion at the 2025 Mornington Peninsula Business Excellence Awards.
A good rule of thumb is to match the finance term to the useful life of the asset. This ensures your repayments align with the equipment’s value to your business.
It might seem like a clever strategy - moving surplus business cash into your personal mortgage offset account to save on home loan interest, then shifting it back to the company around tax time. But there’s a catch: the ATO sees this, and they’re not fans.
Commercial property has rebounded strongly, reaching $15.9 billion year-to-date through the second quarter of 2025.
Retail has positioned itself as one of the strongest performing sectors in the commercial property market.
With $7 billion in Games-related infrastructure investment already underway, demand for office space in engineering, construction and professional services sectors is increasing substantially.
Running a small business has always been personal. Every sale, every setback, every sleepless night - it all comes back to the same person: the owner.
A staggering 93% of small business owners reported higher costs this year, while 64% saw profits fall. Taxes, wages, and insurance top the list of pressures, with taxes ranked as the number one cost by half of respondents of a recent report.
Australia’s small business sector has always been defined by its resilience - but the latest Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) and CommBank Small Business Perspectives Report 2025 shows that resilience is being tested like never before.
Online loan calculators can give you a realistic estimate of your potential repayments without affecting your credit score.
The ATO is tightening the screws. They’ve issued a clear warning to businesses: stop inflating or falsely claiming GST. And they’re not just making noise - thanks to advanced data-matching and technology, they’re more capable than ever of spotting discrepancies.
Debt consolidation works best when the new loan has a genuinely lower interest rate and a reasonable term.
Smart Private Wealth is proud to announce that Founding Director, Shannon Smit, has been recognised in the 2025 FS Power50, Financial Standard’s annual list of the 50 most influential financial advisers in Australia.
It’s human nature to make decisions based on how something makes us feel — but property investing is not the time for sentimentality.
Guyrobb Electrics’ success story shows how structure, visibility, and partnership can transform the way a business operates. With the right systems, advice, and regular strategic review, Jon has been able to grow confidently.
As a relatively new business owner, Sharyn was looking for an advisor who could go beyond compliance — someone who could translate financial data into strategy, build her confidence with numbers, and help her align her team around a clear business vision.
When progress stalls, most business owners assume they need to work harder. But in our experience, the problem isn’t effort—it’s visibility. You can’t fix what you can’t see.
Every business wants to grow. But growth without clarity can be just as risky as stagnation. Many business owners pursue expansion based on instinct or inspiration—launching new services, hiring more staff, or investing in marketing—without fully understanding what the numbers are saying. The result? Busyness without progress. Revenue may rise, but profit and control often fall behind.
ONLINE WEBINAR
23 February 2023 // 12:30pm
In our upcoming webinar we'll be diving into some common exit
strategies for successful succession planning, the pros and cons, and what you need to consider before making a decision.
You’ve worked hard for what you have – it’s time to protect it for the next generation.
Understanding the 3 stages of retirement and what they mean for your money, and how to future proof your retirement income.
SMART Business Solutions is proud to announce its recognition as the winner of Excellence in Local Community Connection (Medium–Large Business) and Excellence in Access and Inclusion at the 2025 Mornington Peninsula Business Excellence Awards.
It might seem like a clever strategy - moving surplus business cash into your personal mortgage offset account to save on home loan interest, then shifting it back to the company around tax time. But there’s a catch: the ATO sees this, and they’re not fans.
