Tax Office Warns on Door-Knock Scam

 

The Assistant Treasurer has warned taxpayers of a door-to-door scam operated by people claiming to be consultants from the Tax Office.

Senator Nick Sherry said the bogus consultants ask people to sign up to a supposed Government program promising financial incentives, including a reduction in taxes. The offer is a fraud and  under no circumstances, should anyone give personal information including credit card, banking or super fund details to these people.

“Anyone who has given personal information to an illegitimate source should immediately report it to their credit card provider, bank or super fund,” said Senator Sherry.

Anyone concerned about the legitimacy of the call or identity of a Tax Officer, should call the Tax Office on 13 28 61 and report any suspicious activities.

Work like women to help beat recession?

On 11 August MX magazine featured and article titled “Future in Female” which quited a UK article that suggested that business is moving away from masculine styles of leadership and doing business to a more ‘female’ version of doing business that is collaborative. The same UK story predicted that women were set to surpass men on US payrolls in the next 25 years (though not sure if that means salaries will be higher or men will retire we we battle on .

Anyhow.. I was asked to comment on women and business, and my quote (which mainly emphasised the need for women to become more educated on economics and finances in order to be part of the higher level business conversations). I wasn’t saying anything particularly controversial, just practical.

Government Acts to Introduce Simpler Reporting

In a long overdue move, the Federal Government has finally taken steps to simplify the onerous burden of small business reporting requirements. 

It has released new Standard Business Reporting (SBR) taxonomy and tools, so that software developers can begin building programs for their business and accounting systems.

In practical terms, this means that  when the system’s up and running, instead of having to  waste time sending the same or similar information in different formats to each government agency, the number of individual pieces of data businesses have to track , analyse and report will be reduced by 71 per cent.

With many businesses often having to report the same or similar information to 12 Australia, state and territory government agencies, this is a welcome initiative.

Now, if only the Federal Government could show as much attention to the needs of business in its industrial relations, superannuation, reserach and development, funding and childcare policies, it could be onto a winner!

To read the full story, please click here

Are you struggling through a maze, or heading direct to your business outcomes?

If you’re like most women you work hard, put in the hours and now and then need to take a step back to refocus on the big picture.

When you’re the head of a business, you can often suffer from ‘lonely at the top’ syndrome. Without a sounding board or someone who understands what you face as you make decisions to shape your business future, you can go off course.

Small Business Consultation Valued at $95. Yours free.

Is this you?

I have…
•    Started a business
•    Feel stuck about how to grow
•    Need more business skills
•    Need support and guidance

Here’s a maze short cut direct to your business goals…
•    A. Discover where you are
•    B. Determine where you want to be
•    Discover the gaps between A. and B.
•    Put in place a plan to get to your end point.
•    Put in place a system/support structure to help you get there.

… then one of the quickest ways I’ve seen for getting out of a fog and finding true clarity on your business goals is to actively work with someone who can be objective.

That’s why I want to introduce you to someone here at the Australian Businesswomen’s Network who has worked with over 200 members to help them get a big-picture view of their business and to refocus on what’s important.

Stella De Zotti has helped over 200 members:
•    Clarify business goals
•    Get a snapshot of where a business needs the most help
•    Get support and a clear direction for the business

And, she’s there to do the same for you too.

All you need to do is set up a time to have your complimentary consultation. Call now 
on 1300 720 120 or register online now.

How to Book Your Consultation
The Business Consultation is valued at $95. However, you receive the consultation at no charge when you register using the special coupon code: CONSULT. Limited places are available in Stella’s schedule so register now for your consultation. Once registered you will receive a call to arrange a time that suits you.

Note: To be eligible for the consultation you must have been operating full time in your own business for a minimum of six months.

You’ll be amazed how crystalising where you are and where you want to go will free up your energy to take on your business challenges with a winning attitude.

Register today for your free consultation.

Learn more about MentorNet here.

I have increased my confidence and become very inspired

When I first applied to do the MentorNet program, I was still working part time as an employee and after speaking to Stella (MentorNet’s Program Manager) about the program, I felt inspired enough to resign from my job and work on the business full-time.

That was a huge leap for me because working part time was my security blanket. It was holding me back, I guess. If I had not participated in the program, it makes me wonder where I’d be now… six months down the track. I live and breathe what I’ve been learning. I just haven’t written it down yet. What a challenge.

It’s wonderful being able to share my business the mentor and the other mentorees in my pod and it just helped keep me on track. I’ve certainly increased my confidence and become very inspired by everything I’ve learned. Like I said, I really wonder where I’d be now had I not participated in the program.

Tracee Shifferle
Pet Carers

New Member MeetUps start strong in Sydney

Congratulations to members Nancy Georges, Sheryl Cole, Frances Jones, Bianca de Reus, Julie Wise and Isobel Martin who held a Member MeetUp in Sydney’s Leichhardt last week.

Member MeetUps are Australian Businesswomen’s Network member get-togethers and a way for members to meet face to face to talk business, create business opportunities and collaborate around the monthly business focus subjects and other areas of interest.

We know that members value the opportunity to get face-to-face with other members. We also know that you’re not always able to attend pre-scheduled breakfasts, lunches and dinners and that often big networking events don’t serve to provide the intimate, real conversations you’re looking for.

That’s why we’ve introduced a NEW and intimate opportunity for members to meet other members to:

• Discuss business issues
• Talk about areas of interest
• Network and build relationships
• Introduce themselves and their businesses

Member MeetUps are held all over the country and are self-managed by our members in venues and times of their choice.

How to Attend a Member Meet Up

Watch the Australian Businesswomen’s Network website for details on how to attend a Member Meet Up near you! Members will be notified as soon as these events are available. Coming late 2009.

Not a member? Join today.

Brush up your Networking skills. Check out the 30 Days of Networking posts and get started with daily tips and resources to grow your network.

Tourism Australia – that’s no way to behave in public

Shadow Tourism Minister Steven Ciobo has advised herVoice of an issue of serious concern to Australia’stourism industry, which has already been hard hit by the economic downturn.  Tourism Australia’s CEO left in June –  and $40,000 of taxpayers’ money has already been paid over the past nine months to global consultancy Spencer Stuart to locate his replacement.

A  quick search of Hansard by herVoice shows that on 2 June this year, TA advised a hearing of the Economic Legislation Estimates Committee that the contract would continue – at additional expense to taxpayers - until the position was filled.

While herVoice is obviously concerned that TA remains without a permanent leader  to take control of its future direction – and that the recruitment process is continuing to impact on the public coffers; it was the behaviour of TA’s leaders in response to the Estimates questions that has prompted this post.

herVoice regrets to report that rather than recording an attempt to address the Committee’s questions with dignity and respect, Hansard in fact recorded proceedings that were reminiscent of a hybrid of Monty Python and Yes, Minister.

The absolute flurry of bluff and porcupine-passing that the TA chiefs drew upon in their responses made for an impressive performance by all accounts -  but as the leaders of the peak body of a $90 billion a year industry, these people aren’t paid to be comedians or sidesteppers.

herVoice is not unaware of the many political pressures upon agency representatives at Estimates hearings; and the additional  pressure of being held to public scrutiny.  But despite that, she maintains that answering questions in the public interest with integrity is far more important than hiding behind a veil of fluff and buck-passing.

In a  nutshell, strong, independent leadership is needed – and fast – to put our peak tourism body back on track.

Gold Coast Tourism chiefs Paul Donovan and Martin Winter seem equally unimpressed, letting  fly at a House of Representatives committee hearing on the Gold Coast last week, calling for a ‘total overhaul (of TA)  from the top to the bottom’, including a new TA managing director.

After her foray into Hansard this morning, herVoice supports their call.

I discovered my own self worth

I believe the biggest advantage for myself and in turn my business was the confidence that I obtained from participating in this course. That confidence has now overflowed into all aspects of our business including the fees we charge and the way we negotiate with our clients and partner organizations in various countries. It is reassuring when you have enough faith in your own abilities to say:  The service we provide is specialised. These are our fees and charges. Our product and our time is worth this amount of money. I think that was probably the biggest lesson for me, discovering my own self worth.

Being able to talk to people who have common goals and are like-minded is invaluable. Working in your own business isolates you from other business people in many ways. I’ve enjoyed meeting all the fabulous people in my pod and listening to the wealth of knowledge that’s been presented. We’re all in very diverse businesses, but we have very similar issues to deal with and having another’s perspective has been fantastic.

The new technology has been wonderful, too. I’m utilizing these marketing tools more and more and I think that’s really going to help my business grow substantially. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to be able to participate. Thank you very much.

Jeanelle Sutton Yeomans
Koo-ee Experience Australia

Is business strategy more than setting a vision, forecasting and planning?

Is business strategy more than setting a vision, forecasting and planning? What does your strategic plan include?

We asked our community this question for the current issue of our Women in Business eNewsletter. A compilation of these answers was published for our community of women across Australia to learn from. Click here to read our current newsletter, and click here to read the answers we received.

Please let us know your thoughts, and add a comment here.

Networking ‘across the pond’ provides more opportunities for Aussie women

Yesterday I met with the new President of the New York City chapter – National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). NAWBO is a national US organisation for (as the name implies) women business owners.

Having lived and worked in the US I know that doing business in Australia is very similar to doing business in the US. The challenges we face as businesswomen, are similar.

For those of us growing a business the main issues remain:

• How do I market my business and improve my sales?
• How do I become a better leader?
• How do I make a profit?
• Where can I go to be with like-minded women?
• What does it take to have work/life balance?
• How to do I navigate legislation that makes doing business hard?

NAWBO, like the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, provides training, networking and access to role models.

So, over a coffee at the well-known Dean and DeLuca cafe at the Rockefeller Centre, Pat Ahersy and I discussed how we can work together to improve services, education and networking opportunities for our members.

And, we talked about how powerful it would be for ABN members to connect with NAWBO members and to cross-network and do business across the Pacific Ocean.

As part of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s commitment initiative to be at the forefront of access to development opportunities for businesswomen we will continue to develop links and find ways to help our community connect with the right people, across the globe.

Stay tuned for developments.

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