Investment

  When reviewing the financial performance of a business, the primary measure I look at is Return on Capital Employed (ROCE). ROCE not only measures the profitability of a business but also the efficiency with which its capital is employed. In Laymen’s terms, ROCE works out how much bang for your buck you’re getting out […]

A desk chair is just a chair, right? Wrong! When choosing furniture for your workplace it can be easy to let cost overrule quality, especially if you are undertaking a refurbishment, moving office, or if cash is tight. To cut costs, often the investment in new furniture is the first thing to get sacrificed. A lot […]

Despite globalisation removing barriers to overseas expansion, it appears that SME owners are not yet convinced of the benefits. Recent data from Bentleys, a mid-tier accounting and business advisory firm, found that only 19% of Australian and New Zealand businesses operated in overseas markets. The latest The Voice of Australian Business survey, a bi-annual national survey of SMEs, revealed that a majority […]

I don’t like to fail, but I know it’s all part of the process. In order to succeed, you must first learn to fail. This mantra has enabled my company to experience rapid growth.  Makinex wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for a culture of innovation. We invest up to 10% of our turnover in research and development […]

We live in exciting time. It seems like every day a new device or application is launched that has the potential to change our lives and the way we do business. Unfortunately, most small businesses do not have the means to buy every single new innovation so they need to be pragmatic on where and […]

Employee Share Schemes (ESS) have long been a utilised as a valuable tool to drive and motivate key personnel to invest themselves in the future of the company.  ESS are also particularly appealing to boot strapped start ups who may not have the capital or cash flow to attract and retain employees. From an employee […]

Entrepreneurs, along with their start-ups and innovative ideas have certainly been discovered as the new ‘best friend’ of the Australian economy – or at least, they have only recently been recognised as such at a governmental level. Welcome to the ideas boom. In December 2015, the National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA) announced a suite […]

It doesn’t matter how great your idea is if your pitch can’t back it up. As a small business, you’re relying on the continued support of your investors to help you grow. Presenting them with an organised list of information and pleading for help probably isn’t enough to get the job done. By creating a […]

One of the most important aspects of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s newly announced innovation initiative is the focus it brings on the opportunity to invest in the small business sector. The tax incentives will undoubtedly attract more investment, and the loosening of capital insolvency regulations will compliment this by providing less downside to entrepreneurs from […]