Insights
Plain-English guides for Australian small business
22 guides on grants, tax, structure, cashflow and growth — written to be useful, not to sell. General information only.
Grants & Funding
Federal and state grants, incentives and what it takes to win them.
EMDG Explained: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
A plain-English guide to the Export Market Development Grant (EMDG): what it funds, who qualifies, the tier structure, what is claimable and how the round works.
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Grants You May Be Eligible For in 2026
A plain-English guide to the major Australian grants, incentives and funding an SME owner could access in 2026, grouped by what you are trying to do.
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R&D Tax Incentive 2026: Eligibility and the 43.5% Offset
How the R&D Tax Incentive works in 2026. The 43.5% refundable offset for companies under $20M, the intensity-tiered offset for larger firms, eligible activities, the $20,000 minimum and registration deadlines.
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The Industry Growth Program: Is Your Business Eligible?
A plain-English guide to the federal Industry Growth Program (IGP): free advisory support plus matched grants for innovative SMEs in National Reconstruction Fund priority areas. What it funds, who qualifies and how to engage an adviser.
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Why Grant Applications Fail (and How to Fix Yours)
The real reasons Australian SME grant applications get knocked back, and a practitioner's guide to writing one that wins. From Foothold Advisory.
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Business Tax & EOFY Strategy
Practical tax moves, EOFY timing and the rules that change what you keep.
EOFY 2026 SME Tax-Saving Checklist
A plain-English end-of-financial-year checklist for Australian small business owners. The moves worth checking before 30 June 2026.
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Federal Budget 2026-27: What It Means for SMEs
A plain-English guide to the 2026-27 Federal Budget for Australian small and medium businesses, covering the instant asset write-off, the legislated tax cuts, payday super and Division 296.
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Payday Super Starts 1 July 2026: Is Your Payroll Ready?
From 1 July 2026, super must be paid every payday, not quarterly, and reach the fund within 7 business days. Here's what employers should be doing now.
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Small Business CGT Concessions You May Be Missing
A plain-English guide to the four small business CGT concessions, the basic conditions gate and why business owners miss them when they sell. General information only.
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The $20,000 Instant Asset Write-Off: Claim It Before 30 June 2026
The instant asset write-off is law for FY2025-26 only. Here's what eligible small businesses can deduct before 30 June, and why the window matters.
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Your ATO Debt Just Got More Expensive: Interest Is No Longer Deductible
From 1 July 2025, ATO interest charges (GIC and SIC) are no longer tax-deductible. Here's what changed and why carrying an ATO debt now costs more.
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Business Structure & Asset Protection
Sole trader, company or trust, and protecting what you build.
Asset Protection for Business Owners: Structuring to Shield Personal Assets
A general guide to how Australian business owners use structure to separate personal assets from business risk, and the limits of what protection can do.
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Family Trusts for SMEs: The Tax and Protection Trade-offs
A practical guide for Australian SME owners on discretionary family trusts. How they work, the genuine benefits and the real traps including section 100A, Part IVA and the 30 June deadline.
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Sole Trader, Company or Trust? Choosing the Right Structure
A plain-English guide to the three most common Australian business structures, what each does well, and the trade-offs that matter beyond tax.
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When to Move From Sole Trader to a Company
The signals that tell an Australian sole trader it's time to incorporate, the benefits and costs, and what the switch actually involves.
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Cashflow & Business Finance
Forecasting, funding choices and keeping the lights on while you grow.
Add-Backs Explained: Why Your Tax Return and Your Borrowing Power Disagree
A general guide to add-backs for self-employed borrowers in Australia. How lenders can adjust the income on your tax return, and why it matters.
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Cashflow Forecasting for Small Business
A practical guide to building a simple 13-week rolling cashflow forecast for your Australian small business, so you can spot a squeeze around BAS, super and tax deadlines well before it hits.
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Funding Growth: Grants vs Debt vs Equity
A plain-English framework for Australian SMEs weighing grants, debt and equity to fund growth. Understand the trade-offs and when each option fits.
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The Self-Employed Home Loan: Why It's Harder, and What Lenders Look At
A general guide to home loans for the self-employed in Australia. Why they're harder, what documents lenders want, and how to prepare.
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Growth & Scaling
Hiring, buying, exiting: the moves that take a business to the next stage.
Buying a Business: A Due-Diligence Checklist for SME Buyers
A practical due-diligence guide for Australian SME buyers, covering financial, legal, commercial and operational checks, deal structure, GST and stamp duty.
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Exit and Succession Planning for SME Owners
Why SME owners should plan their exit three to five years out, the main exit options, what makes a business sellable and how the small business CGT concessions can apply on sale.
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Hiring Your First Employee: The Real Cost
The true cost of a first hire for an Australian SME: 12% super, PAYG withholding, workers compensation, payroll tax, leave, Fair Work, STP and payday super.
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