Girl Friday Sydney

Girl Friday Sydney Girl Friday Australia Bookkeeping: reliable, efficient and experienced. Simplify your accounts with us.

Do you ever feel like you spend more running your business than working it? We at Girl Friday can help you get out from behind your desk, so that you can concentrate on what you do best, by offering virtual office solutions for busy professionals. This is an affordable alternative to the commitment and expense of an in-house employee. No task is too big or too small, everything gets 100% attention from our team. Check our services then contact us for your personal quote.

📉 Here's a number that should be on every small business owner's radar: insolvencies are rising.The combination of RBA r...
30/04/2026

📉 Here's a number that should be on every small business owner's radar: insolvencies are rising.
The combination of RBA rate hikes bringing the cash rate to 4.10%, sticky inflation, rising wages, fuel cost pressures, and tighter consumer spending has created a genuinely difficult operating environment in 2026. APRA's tightened lending standards are also making it harder for businesses to access credit when they need it most.
Business insolvency doesn't usually happen overnight. It builds — through months of warning signs that get rationalised or ignored.
🚩 Watch out for these red flags in your own business:
🔴 Regularly using your GST or PAYG withholding funds to cover operating costs
🔴 Stretching supplier payment terms beyond agreed dates
🔴 Relying on a credit card or overdraft to cover wages
🔴 Avoiding opening the ATO's letters or notifications
🔴 Not knowing your current profit or cash position without checking with your accountant
🔴 A growing gap between what you're invoicing and what's actually in your bank
The businesses that survive difficult cycles are the ones with clear financial visibility — not the ones who wait until they're in crisis to look at their numbers.
If any of those red flags feel familiar, the most valuable thing you can do right now is talk to someone. Not in June. Now.
📩 That's what we're here for. DM us or visit the link in bio.

🚪 Since August 2025, the Right to Disconnect has applied to ALL Australian businesses — including small business. Are yo...
29/04/2026

🚪 Since August 2025, the Right to Disconnect has applied to ALL Australian businesses — including small business. Are your workplace policies up to date?
The Right to Disconnect means employees now have a legal right to refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact from their employer outside of their working hours — unless that refusal is unreasonable.
This isn't just a big-business issue. Every small business with employees is affected.
What "unreasonable refusal" looks like depends on factors like:
🔸 The reason for the contact
🔸 The employee's role and level of responsibility
🔸 Whether the employee is compensated for being available outside hours
🔸 The personal circumstances of the employee
What small business owners need to have in place:
✅ A clear after-hours contact policy — when it's appropriate and when it's not
✅ Understanding of which roles may legitimately require after-hours availability
✅ Ensure any employees compensated for after-hours availability have this documented in their contracts
✅ Train managers so they're not inadvertently breaching the new rules
Breaches can be taken to the Fair Work Commission. And with Fair Work enforcement ramping up across multiple fronts in 2026, now is not the time to have gaps in your workplace policies.
💬 Not sure if your business is compliant? DM us — we can point you in the right direction.

📈 The March quarter CPI data drops today — and it's one of the most important economic releases of 2026.Why does it matt...
28/04/2026

📈 The March quarter CPI data drops today — and it's one of the most important economic releases of 2026.
Why does it matter so much? Because this is the exact data the RBA will use to decide whether to hike interest rates again at its May meeting. After two hikes already this year — pushing the cash rate to 4.10% — another increase would put serious additional pressure on business loan repayments, consumer spending, and cash flow across the board.
Economists were already forecasting a significant jump. With fuel prices surging since the Middle East conflict escalated, and electricity costs up 37% annually, the expectation is that headline inflation could print well above the RBA's 2-3% target for the quarter.
What this means for your business right now — regardless of the number:
💡 If inflation is high — expect further rate pressure, continued cost increases, and tighter consumer spending. Review your pricing strategy and margins now.
💡 If inflation is lower than feared — the RBA may pause in May, giving businesses some breathing room on borrowing costs.
💡 Either way — your PAYG instalments can be varied if your taxable income has fallen due to cost pressures. This is an option businesses often don't know about.
Understanding the macro environment isn't just for economists. When rates move, your cash flow moves with them.
📋 Need help reviewing your tax instalments or cash flow position? That's exactly what we do. Link in bio.

⚠️ This is one of the biggest pre-budget stories of 2026 — and it could directly affect you if you own investment proper...
27/04/2026

⚠️ This is one of the biggest pre-budget stories of 2026 — and it could directly affect you if you own investment property or shares.
Multiple media outlets are reporting that the Albanese Government is considering changes to the 50% Capital Gains Tax (CGT) discount — the rule that allows individuals who hold an asset for more than 12 months to pay tax on only half the capital gain when they sell.
Reports suggest the government may cut the discount to 33% or even 25%, potentially grandfathering existing assets so current investors aren't immediately affected.
If you own:
🏘️ An investment property with significant unrealised gains
📈 A share portfolio held for several years
🏢 Business premises or commercial property
🏡 A holiday home or rental property..then this is worth understanding before 12 May.
The key question isn't just what happens if the discount changes — it's whether acting before the budget makes sense for your situation. Selling to lock in the current 50% discount could trigger a large tax bill this year. Waiting might mean a smaller discount later. It requires careful, personalised modelling.
What you should NOT do: make rushed decisions based on speculation. What you SHOULD do: book a conversation with your adviser in the next two weeks.
📩 Not sure how potential CGT changes affect your position? DM us — we can help you think it through.

📅 Mark your calendar: Tuesday 12 May. That's when Treasurer Jim Chalmers hands down the 2026-27 Federal Budget — and for...
26/04/2026

📅 Mark your calendar: Tuesday 12 May. That's when Treasurer Jim Chalmers hands down the 2026-27 Federal Budget — and for small business owners, there's a lot riding on it.
This is Labor's first full budget since winning the 2025 election with a strong majority, and it's being delivered into one of the most challenging economic environments in years — rising inflation, two RBA rate hikes already in 2026, fuel cost pressures, and a cost-of-living squeeze that's still very real for business owners and their customers.
Here's what the small business community is hoping to see on 12 May:
🔹 Instant Asset Write-Off — Will the $20,000 threshold be extended for 2026-27? It's been extended three years running. Industry groups including CPA Australia, CA ANZ and COSBOA are pushing hard for it to be made permanent at $30,000. No announcement yet.
🔹 Energy cost relief — The federal energy rebate ended December 2025. With fuel and electricity bills surging, there's growing pressure for targeted support to return.
🔹 Payday Super transition support — With Payday Super launching 1 July, many businesses need more guidance and potentially more time.
🔹 CGT discount changes — Property and share investors are watching closely, with speculation the 50% CGT discount may be cut or restructured.
We'll be across every announcement that matters for small business. Follow us for post-budget analysis the moment it drops.
💬 What's your number one budget wish? Drop it in the comments!

🏗️ If your business deals heavily in cash — hospitality, trades, cleaning, beauty, retail — this post is for you.The ATO...
23/04/2026

🏗️ If your business deals heavily in cash — hospitality, trades, cleaning, beauty, retail — this post is for you.
The ATO has explicitly flagged cash-heavy businesses as a priority audit target in 2026. And with AI-powered data matching now operating in real time, the days of income slipping through the cracks are well and truly over.
Here's what the ATO is now cross-referencing:
🔍 Your reported income vs your lifestyle and personal spending patterns
🔍 Your BAS turnover vs your bank deposits — any unexplained gap is a red flag
🔍 Your reported income vs industry benchmarks for businesses your size
🔍 Third-party data from platforms like Square, Tyro, Airbnb, Uber Eats, Airtasker, and online marketplaces
The ATO's Small Business Benchmarks program compares your financial ratios against thousands of similar businesses. If your gross profit margin, wage costs, or turnover-per-employee figures are significantly out of line — you may receive a compliance review without any warning.
The fix isn't complicated:
✅ Record all cash receipts — every single one
✅ Reconcile your till or cash register to your bank deposits daily
✅ Don't mix personal and business cash
✅ Make sure your BAS matches your actual income
Honest businesses have nothing to fear. But disorganised books look the same as dishonest ones to an ATO algorithm.
🙋‍♀️ We help cash businesses get — and stay — compliant. DM us today.

💳 If you're a sole trader and you've never heard of the Small Business Income Tax Offset — your accountant has some expl...
22/04/2026

💳 If you're a sole trader and you've never heard of the Small Business Income Tax Offset — your accountant has some explaining to do.
This is one of the most consistently under-claimed concessions available to Australian sole traders, and it's worth up to $1,000 per year off your tax bill.
Here's how it works:
The offset is available to sole traders (and individual partners in partnerships) who carry on a small business with aggregated annual turnover under $5 million. The offset is 16% of the tax payable on your business income — capped at $1,000.
For a sole trader earning $80,000 from their business, that's potentially $1,000 directly off their tax bill — every single year.
It doesn't come automatically. It needs to be applied when you lodge your return. And it's not the same as a deduction — it's a direct reduction in the tax you owe.
With EOFY approaching, now is the time to:
✅ Confirm you're eligible (turnover under $5M, sole trader or individual partner)
✅ Make sure your tax agent is applying it
✅ Review whether your business structure is still the most tax-efficient option
$1,000 isn't nothing. Especially in this cost environment.
📩 Not sure if you're claiming it? Ask us — we'll find out for you. DM or link in bio.

📊 The numbers the RBA is watching closely drop next week — and small businesses should be paying attention too.Australia...
21/04/2026

📊 The numbers the RBA is watching closely drop next week — and small businesses should be paying attention too.
Australia's annual inflation sat at 3.7% in February — well above the RBA's 2-3% target band. And with the fuel crisis driving prices higher across transport, logistics and energy, economists are warning the March quarter CPI (out 29 April) could push headline inflation significantly higher.
Westpac's economists are forecasting inflation could peak at 5.4% in the June quarter. That's the kind of number that keeps the RBA hiking rates — and keeps your business costs elevated.
What persistent inflation means for your business right now:
🔹 Supplier costs are rising — review pricing and margins before you're caught absorbing increases
🔹 Wage pressure is real — the Fair Work Commission minimum wage review is coming mid-year; plan for it
🔹 Your BAS instalments may need varying — if your taxable income has changed significantly due to cost pressures, you may be able to adjust your PAYG instalments downward
🔹 Loan repayments are up — the cash rate is now 4.10% after two hikes; check your business loan exposure
Businesses that know their numbers in real time are the ones that can react fastest when costs shift. That requires clean, current books — not a quarterly scramble.
💬 How are you managing the inflationary squeeze? Comment below or DM us.

🚨 This is your BAS reminder. The Q3 Business Activity Statement is due 28 April — that's one week away.The January to Ma...
20/04/2026

🚨 This is your BAS reminder. The Q3 Business Activity Statement is due 28 April — that's one week away.
The January to March 2026 quarter BAS must be lodged and paid by 28 April if you're self-lodging. If you use a registered BAS agent and lodge electronically, you may have until 26 May — but only if your agent has you registered.
What you need to have ready:
✅ GST collected — all sales income with GST applied, correctly coded
✅ GST paid — all business purchases where you've been charged GST and can claim a credit
✅ PAYG withholding — tax withheld from employee wages this quarter
✅ PAYG instalments — if applicable, your estimated income tax payment
✅ Bank reconciled — your accounting software needs to match your actual bank statements
Missing the deadline means automatic penalties — calculated at one penalty unit per 28 days overdue, up to five penalty units. It's an avoidable and frustrating cost.
And a reminder: even if you can't pay the full amount, lodge on time anyway. Late lodgement penalties apply separately to late payment.
📋 If your books aren't ready and you're panicking — DM us now. We can help.

⚡ If your electricity bill has jumped this quarter, you're not imagining it — and unfortunately, the help that cushioned...
19/04/2026

⚡ If your electricity bill has jumped this quarter, you're not imagining it — and unfortunately, the help that cushioned the blow last year is now gone.
The Federal Government's Energy Bill Relief Fund — which gave eligible small businesses up to $150 in electricity credits over the 2025-26 financial year — ended on 31 December 2025. Those quarterly $75 credits have stopped flowing, and bills are reflecting it.

At the same time, the ABS confirmed that electricity prices rose a staggering 37% in the 12 months to February 2026 — driven by the expiry of state rebates and ongoing grid cost pressures. That's before the fuel crisis pushed energy supply costs even higher.

For small businesses that run equipment, refrigeration, lighting, HVAC or manufacturing — electricity is a significant and growing cost. Here's what you can do right now:

🔹 Review your energy plan — the ACCC has noted many businesses have sat on the same plan for years and are overpaying
🔹 Claim energy costs in your BAS and tax return — business electricity is fully deductible
🔹 Check if your state still has any active rebate programs — some state-level support remains even though the federal fund has closed
🔹 Consider whether capital upgrades like solar qualify for the $20,000 write-off before 30 June

Rising energy costs are a real and ongoing cash flow issue for small businesses. Getting your numbers right — so you're claiming everything you're entitled to — is the least you should be doing.
📩 DM us or visit the link in bio.

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