Business LEAP Newsletter June 2021
Welcome to our June newsletter full of information to help you grow and develop your business. The end of financial year can be a busy time in business with stocktakes, sales and making sure your finances are in order.
This is a perfect time to make sure that you are on the right track with your business goals and to take time to review and refocus. Are you happy with your business’ performance? Are you keeping up with marketing trends and your customer needs and wants?
The old saying of working on your business rather and in your business is now more relevant than ever in our changing times so make some time to plan and reflect – your business and customers will thank you for it!
Wishing you a warm and productive July!
– The Business LEAP Team
What’s in this issue?
- Upcoming events and workshops
- Client testimonial – CC’s
- Small business grants and funding opportunities
- Articles
- Business.gov | End of Financial Year – essential tasks
- Business.gov | Employment Contract Tool
- BusinessBalance
- Helpful links
Upcoming Events and Workshops
Inside Advanced Manufacturing 2021
Inside Advanced Manufacturing 2021 will be held statewide from 12 to 16 July 2021. During the week, a selection of Queensland’s top manufacturers will open their doors to showcase their innovative manufacturing techniques and technologies to other manufacturers.
(Bundaberg) Oreco Group, an agricultural and horticultural product manufacturer in the Bundaberg region, will showcase its state-of-the-art automated equipment including the nation’s largest industrial crop dryer and the largest range of baling and packaging equipment, during site tours at 8am and 12pm on Thursday 15 July 2021.
(Gympie) Nestlé, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, will host a tour at their Gympie manufacturing plant to showcase its advanced technology and intelligent reverse engineering processes at 9am on Thursday 15 July 2021.
For more information on Inside Advanced Manufacturing 2021 events, visit: Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water | Inside Advanced Manufacturing 2021
To register for the above events, visit: Inside Advanced Manufacturing 2021 Event Registration
Breakeven point for your Business Webinar
Join Entrepreneurship Facilitator Vicki Leeson and CEO of BIEDO, Prue Leng in this pre-recorded webinar where you will find out information about breakeven points, terminology used by accountants and keeping your business afloat.
In this webinar, ‘Breakeven point for your business’ you’ll learn valuable insights such as:
- what breakeven point means (hint: it’s one of the single most important things of selling a service or product)
- costs verses sell prices
- understanding what is eating away at the bottom line profits
To receive the link for this event, register your details at: Breakeven Point for your Business
Visit the Business LEAP website to view our upcoming business events and workshops or like our Facebook page to keep up to date with future workshops!
Business LEAP Client Testimonial
Hear from Business LEAP client and owner of CC’s Kitchen, Cecilia.
“100% of the time, [Entrepreneurship Facilitator] Lynne will always have people that she can recommend or there might be some workshops that they’re running…their focus is to really help people like us. This is my go-to place…”
– Cecilia “CC” Diaz-Petersen, Owner of CC’s Kitchen
Small Business Grants and Funding Opportunities
There are an array of funding and grant opportunities available to small businesses that are opening and closing soon. Contact your facilitator about options that are available for your business.
Round 2: Small business COVID-19 Adaption Grant Program
Between $2,000 and $10,000 is available for small or micro businesses to:
- Prepare for safe resumption of trading in the post COVID-19 recovery
- Introduce digital technologies to improve business operations, transition into a new way of doing business or to up-skill and re-skill business owners alongside staff to ultimately benefit the business
- Create and sustain employment to maintain potential long-term growth and continue to meet operating costs
Applicants have a maximum of 6 months from the date of approval to complete the project
For more information, visit: Small Business COVID-19 Adaption Grant Program
Back to Work Initiative – Employee Support Payment
The Back to Work program is designed to give businesses the confidence to employ Queenslanders who have experienced a period of unemployment. Support payments are available to eligible employers who hire a previously unemployed Queenslander who has experienced a minimum period of unemployment directly prior to commencing work with them.
The program is available throughout regional Queensland and in some areas of South East Queensland (SEQ).
Employers can make an online application through QGrants after the eligible employee completes four weeks of continuous paid employment. Initial applications must be received within eight weeks of the employee completing four weeks of continuous employment.
For more information, visit: Back to Work Initiative – Employer Support Payment
Business Boost
Business Boost grants of up to $15,000 will help small businesses to improve their efficiency and productivity through organisational development and upgrades through automated software and CRM systems. Grants can be used for website development and upgrades, strategic marketing, training and coaching, advisory services and planning for business continuity and succession.
Applications are expected to open late July 2021.
For updates on this grant: Business Queensland – Grants Schedule
Articles
Business.gov | End of Financial Year – Essential Tasks
The end of the financial year is an important time for your small business. You’ll need to complete bookkeeping, tax returns and plan for the new financial year. Learn how to prepare for the EOFY to get your business organised and work smarter in the year ahead.
- Check what record keeping and other tasks to complete
- Find out what tax deductions and concessions you can claim
- Check your tax agent is registered
- Keep up-to-date with tax changes
- Be wary of tax refund scams
- Review your finances
- Review your business and marketing plans
- Review your business structure
- Check your insurances
- Backup and secure your files
For more information on end of financial year tasks, visit: Business.gov | EOFY – Essential Tasks
Business.gov | Employment Contract Tool
This tool, developed through the business.gov.au website, helps small business employers to create a basic employment contract that complies with workplace laws. This tool can be used for full-time, part-time and casual employees who are covered by an award.
In the tool you’ll find:
- conditions that you must provide to your employee
- optional clauses to help set expectations and protect your business.
To start creating an employment contract, or for more information on employment contracts and awards, visit: Business.gov | Employment Contract Tool
BusinessBalance
Supporting Small Business Mental Health and wellbeing
Small Businesses are significant contributors to the Australian Economy – yet they suffer more from symptoms of depression and anxiety than the general population and are under increased financial and emotional pressure as a result of the COVID -19 pandemic. To address this, the Australian Government’s BusinessBalance initiative is providing $7 million in 2020-21 to support small businesses. This Includes:
- $4.3 million to provide free, accessible and tailored support for small business owners by expanding Beyond Blue’s NewAccess program in partnership with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, and
- $2.2 million to expand a free accredited professional development program that builds the mental health literacy of trusted business advisers so that they can better support small business owners in times of distress, delivered through Deakin University
BusinessBalance will help small business owners take proactive steps to improve their mental health.
NewAccess For Small Business Owners
The Australian Government is providing funding to expand Beyond Blue’s NewAccess program to deliver tailored, free and confidential mental health support to small business owners.
NewAccess for Small Business Owners is designed to support small business owners manage life stress by providing up to six structured sessions with a trained mental health coach who has a background in small business. No doctor’s referral or mental health treatment plan is required. The program is available nationally and can be accessed via phone or video call.
Counting On U
The Australian Government is providing funding to Deakin University to deliver Counting on U – a professional development program for small business advisers. Counting on U is run in partnership with Institute of Public Accountants, CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers, Beyond Blue, WorkSafe VIC, and Mental Health First Aid integrates mental health first aid training with relationship – centred, business mentoring that will empower small business advisers to better support the mental wellbeing of their small business clients.
Helpful Links for Businesses Impacted by Covid-19
- Increasing the Instant Asset Write-Off
- Backing Business Investment (BBI)
- Boosting cash flow for employers
- Supporting apprentices and trainees
- Queensland COVID-19 job support loans
- Deferring returns due to Coronavirus
- Market diversification and resilience grants
- Financial Resilience Webinars
- For more information on the above websites
Other Helpful Business Links
- Register your ABN
- Check trading name and domain availability
- Check trademarks
- Registering a Company
- Licenses & registrations you require
- Business Queensland
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
- Free online training for Queensland Small Business (Small Business Skills Hub Queensland)
- Skill Focus Queensland
- Well HQ Gympie – Online wellbeing space
Reach out to one of our Business LEAP facilitators
Business LEAP provides practical assistance and support to help you develop business plans and gather information about what is required to start or grow a small business. Business LEAP can help understand aspects of business operation, including legal requirements, licenses, permits and registrations, marketing, financial management, taxation requirements and more. They can also provide referrals to services to help you start and run your own business, and provide tailored mentoring.
If you are looking to book a session with an Entrepreneurship Facilitator or looking for more information on Business LEAP’s Entrepreneurship Services, check out www.businessleap.org.au, phone 1300 249 482 or email a facilitator:
