Steven Nicholson

For many business owners, the end of the financial year becomes a race to gather records, meet deadlines and lodge a tax return. Once it's submitted, there's often a sense of relief that another compliance obligation has been ticked off the list. But the End of the Fiscal Year, or EOFY, should be much more than a tax exercise. It's one of the few times each year when business owners have a complete financial picture of how the business has performed. It provides an opportunity to assess...

Many SME owners have financial reports showing what has already happened in the business. They can see sales, expenses, profit and tax information after the fact. But when it comes to making decisions about hiring, pricing, investment, cash flow or growth, historical reports only tell part of the story. The real challenge is looking forward. Can the business afford to hire? What happens if costs rise? Will a new product or service be profitable? How much cash will be needed over the next six...

Growth sounds like success on paper. More clients, more revenue, more activity. But for many Australian SMEs, growth quietly creates a different problem — shrinking margins, tighter cash flow, and more stress. It’s what’s often called “growing broke.” Without the right financial strategy, businesses can scale revenue while losing profitability at the same time. If you want sustainable business growth, profitability needs to lead the strategy — not follow it. Why Profitability Often Declines...