A business credit expert is urging businesses to get ahead of any tax debt – and know their options – to ensure they don’t fall foul of the Australian Taxation Office.

With last week (February 28) marking the deadline for FY23-24 company tax returns to be lodged, Grow Capital CEO Gus Gilkeson says businesses who believe they will have a tax debt need to be proactive.

“Simply delaying lodging your return is not a strategy. You risk being fined, accruing interest and the ATO definitely won’t ignore it.”

“Unfortunately, there are likely some businesses that know they will owe the ATO money this financial year and will put off lodging their return to avoid dealing with a difficult situation.”

“But sticking your head in the sand is not the answer.”

Mr Gilkeson says while not ideal, a business owing the ATO isn’t always a sign of something untoward going on behind the scenes.

“Perhaps your company has recently purchased or acquired another business and taken on its previous debts. It might be that you’re having cash flow issues as a result of unpaid invoices, or the business experiences a period of rapid growth that surpasses previous forecasts and projections.”

“Regardless of the reason, if you’re aware you’re going to have a tax debt, it’s always best to be proactive and get on the front foot. Speak with your accountant and other financial services providers immediately, or if you don’t have these in place, consider seeking professional advice.”

Mr Gilkeson says it’s important for businesses to understand there are options available;

Tax Debt Options

• Payment Plan: Can you enter into a payment plan with the ATO? Depending on the size of the debt, and the reasons why you can’t pay by the due date, you may be able to present a plan to repay over time. However, Mr Gilkeson says the ATO will require further details, including expenses and any assets the business might have.
• Financing Debt: Depending on your circumstances, Mr Gilkeson says securing finance to pay the tax debt in full might be a better option for some businesses, and could potentially avoid paying higher interest and/or penalties.
• Deductions: Know what deductions you’re able to claim, including prepaying interest, restructuring loans and writing down bad debts. However, Mr Gilkeson notes the Federal Government is looking to remove income tax deductions for ATO interest charges for overdue debts and says seeking professional advice is always best to ensure information is current and accurate.
• Proactive Communication: Simply ignoring ATO deadlines and hoping to deal with the matter at a later date is not an option, says Mr Gilkeson. “Proactive communication is always key. Keep the ATO and your financial services professionals well informed and let them know what to expect. Again, depending on your circumstances you may be able to come to an agreement, if you’re open and transparent about what’s happening within the business and what your intentions are going forward.”

Mr Gilkeson says it’s important for businesses to consider their individual circumstances, as there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

However, he emphasises that whatever the final decision, it’s best to take action to avoid the potential of fines, garnishee notices, directors’ penalties and being reported to credit agencies, all of which can impact future business and finance prospects.

“We know the ATO is actively looking to recoup owed monies, and if your business is one of them, it’s a matter of when, not if. Don’t put off those difficult conversations, it’s simply not worth the stress or the risk.”

Contributed by Gus Gilkeson is the CEO of Grow Capital.

Microsoft has announced two new sales AI agents that support a core function of all businesses and further break down silos across legacy systems of record.   

Sales Agent can work autonomously to turn contacts into qualified leads, set up meetings, reach out to customers and more, freeing reps to focus on closing high-margin deals. It draws on the organisation’s CRM, company data like price sheets, emails and meetings to personalise responses.  

Sales Chat helps accelerate the sales cycle, giving sales reps actionable takeaways from CRM data, pitch decks, meetings, emails, and the web so they can spend less time digging and more time selling. All it takes is a simple natural language prompt like “give me a list of deals that are at risk of falling through.”  

Microsoft also announced the Microsoft AI Accelerator for Sales, which gives participating organisations access to AI experts at Microsoft to help them migrate from legacy CRM systems and aid with seller adoption, plus fine tuning to personalise agents that meet unique business needs.  

   For product details and a look at recent customer success stories with Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio agents, visit the Dynamics 365 blog, Microsoft WorkLab, and Microsoft Source.   

VistaPrint’s 2024 Hobby to Hustle Report reveals a significant skills gap that currently exists in small business owners, with over half (55%) describing themselves as “not skilled at all” or only “slightly skilled” in branding, marketing, and design. To compound the issue, over a fifth (22%) of business owners and side hustlers don’t know where to look if they need design and marketing support. This is creating a significant barrier to starting and growing a business.  

Technologies and tools which democratise key marketing skills like design, creativity and critical thinking can help close that gap, as can learning and development programs. Vital to that is opening those tools and techniques to SMBs which make up 98% of businesses in Australia. By doing so,  they can tap into the skills and tools and generate growth for their business and reach more customers in an impactful way. 

Here are four ways we can address the SMB marketing skills gap in 2025:

Invest in upskilling 

According to Deloitte Access Economics’ latest Ready, Set, Upskill report for RMIT Online, Australian businesses were expected to spend approximately $8 billion on learning and development in 2024. Four of the top five skills surveyed employers said they lacked were digital, with one-in-eight Aussie businesses planning on spending less on learning and development. This would mean missing out on skills valued at approximately $2 billion over the course of a year or $5.6 million per day. Furthermore, think tank CEDA has revealed Australia’s falling ranking in its digital competitiveness, ranking a lowly 40th out of 63 nations in digital and technological skills. 

Marketing, like most sectors, is becoming increasingly digitised, which will only accentuate as generative AI proliferates. As such, investing in upskilling and ensuring that your skillset is on the pulse of emerging technologies, particularly for SMBs where this can be a battleground for winning and losing, will be critical. This could be via short courses, certificates, and micro-credentials that leading universities and organisations now offer online; personal development through reading books and materials, or networking and collaborating with other small businesses owners or peers who are adept in the area and seek their advice.    

Utilise democratisation tools 

According to Gartner, Australian businesses are set to increase their IT expenditure to A$146.85 billion in 2025, marking an 8.7 per cent increase from 2024.  For small businesses, immediate value is key, with a recent Tech Research Asia report showing they favour quick time-to-value from IT more than traditional ROI. 

Small business owners wear enough hats without needing to get their head around complex, expensive technology, and do not have the resources to wait for it to impact their bottom line. This is where platforms that democratise key areas of your business such as marketing and branding come into play. Now, small businesses can get true value from tools that do everything from create logos, provide expert design advice, craft leading edge packaging, and create websites and domain hosting with inbuilt ecommerce capability.

Democratisation, both with regards to cost and usability, help bridge the skills gap – ensuring SMBs don’t need complex coding skills or knowhow, or particularly deep pockets, to access tools that can help their business grow. 

Don’t forget the power of traditional formats

While the digital world provides immense opportunity to small businesses, there’s beauty in the simplicity of stripping things back to more familiar physical, material forms which still pack a punch when building a brand and influencing consumers. 

So, while upskilling your digital skills and adopting IT are important, businesses must not lose the essence of branding and marketing in its physical form, whether that’s via creative and dynamic business cards that bring you and your business’s personality to life; ensuring your packaging is branded, sustainable and practical; utilising signage to proper effect; or focusing on providing quality merchandise. 

For some businesses, this is front and centre. Take Aussie hair scrunchy brand, Made by Taylah Rose. From her business’s inception in 2014, Taylah used design and marketing partner Vista to build a brand through physical market stalls, which complimented her social media and website efforts. Taylah created a full suite of branded materials including bow cards, business cards and banners. She still regularly participates in markets and says her branded materials are key to increasing her visibility and showcasing her products.

Making it stick in 2025

 SMBs live in a world of more opportunity than ever. 

There are more ways to reach customers than ever before, more ways to reach mass audiences, and more tools at our disposal than we could possibly wish for.  

A skills gap does, however, exist, and SMBs must be creative to ensure that gap can be closed. This can be through learning and development initiatives; utilising tools and technologies which democratise marketing skills like design, creativity, and critical thinking; and staying true to traditional forms of marketing that we and our customers are accustomed to and thrive off. 

I am confident 2025 will be the year this happens.

Contributed by Linda McDonald, Senior Director of Marketing, Sales and CX at Vista Australia:

Influencers used to be the golden ticket for small brands. A decade ago, the right post could mean instant sellouts. But it’s 2025 – and relying solely on influencers is like setting your budget on fire, delivering little more than fleeting engagement.

Most of us are not Amazon. We don’t have endless budgets to throw at marketing experiments, and we certainly can’t afford to ignore the fundamentals of business. Success today isn’t about chasing viral moments – it’s about strategy, community, and understanding your market inside-out.

Here, Rebecca Klodinsky, the multi-million dollar Australian business builder, shares her tips on how to grow a brand in 2025 without burning through cash on influencer hype.

1. Own Your Niche
Trying to appeal to everyone is a waste of time and money. Instead, go all in on a single niche. Understand your audience inside-out – their habits, needs, and pain points. The deeper your knowledge, the more effective your marketing.

2. Build Trust and Community – Not Just Hype
Trust is what builds long-term success. Brands that cultivate strong online communities have the biggest advantage – because when customers feel connected, they keep coming back. This means talking with your audience, not at them. Respond to comments, answer DMs, and create spaces where your customers can engage with your brand beyond just a transaction.

3. Content is (Still) King – But Only if It’s Done Right
Content isn’t about mindlessly churning out videos because “the algorithm says so.” Great content solves problems, entertains, and resonates with your audience. If your content isn’t useful, engaging, or shareable, it’s just noise. Storytelling, behind-the-scenes insights, and real value-driven content will always outperform another soulless product reel.

4. Solve Real Problems – Continuously
Your brand’s success isn’t about what you sell, but about the problem you solve. The best brands constantly evolve based on real customer pain points. Talk to your customers, listen to feedback, and iterate. If you’re not actively solving problems, you’re making noise in an already crowded market.

5. Customer Service is Your Secret Weapon
People remember how you treat them. A great product will get someone through the door, but exceptional service will keep them coming back. In a world where customers are spoilt for choice, social proof from happy customers is more valuable than any influencer post. Reviews, word-of-mouth, and referrals – they all start with great customer experience.

The Bottom Line
Influencer marketing still has its place, but it’s no longer a silver bullet. Building a sustainable brand means getting the basics right – knowing your audience, creating killer content, delivering great service, and constantly evolving to meet customer needs. Those who rely purely on influencer hype without substance? They’ll be the first to fade away.

Xero, the global small business platform, today announced tickets are on sale for its flagship technology and innovation conference, Xerocon. Taking place 3-4 September 2025 in Brisbane, the event promises more tailored content than ever before to connect and inspire accountants and bookkeepers, as well as a chance to hear from the brains behind one of Australia’s greatest success stories.

Returning to Australia for the first time since 2023, Xerocon will feature a range of speakers and content addressing some of the accounting and bookkeeping industry’s most talked about challenges and opportunities – from building and retaining high-performing teams, to practical strategies to harness tech in the age of AI. It will also preview the latest Xero product updates, and provide an opportunity to connect with Xero’s thriving ecosystem of third-party apps under the one roof.

Attendees will hear from a stellar lineup, including the much-cherished Queensland icon Joe Brumm, the creator of Bluey – the most watched television series in the US in 2024. Joe will share his incredible leadership journey and principles of collaboration, innovation and inclusivity that fueled the creation of a global phenomenon. Social researcher and TEDx speaker Ashley Fell, and resilience researcher and best-selling author Dr Lucy Hone will also feature alongside some of Xero’s leaders including CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy.

For the first time, Xerocon will also feature two dedicated ‘partner stages’, giving accountants and bookkeepers a platform to share their expertise and insights with their peers. Xero partners can pitch to become part of the Xerocon program by submitting their proposal online.

Also new, delegates will have the opportunity to shape the most valuable Xerocon yet by sharing the topics, challenges, innovations, or trends they want to learn more about, and suggest speakers they want to hear from.

“This year, we’re making Xerocon bigger than ever, with more inspiring speakers, sessions for the community led by the community, and more chances to connect with each other. We’re designing the program in a way that attendees can tailor the experience for them. But some things will always stay the same – Xerocon wouldn’t be complete without our famous wrap party!”

The two-day event will be held at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. Delegates will connect with thousands of accountants and bookkeepers from across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the world, and discover the latest and greatest in cloud accounting to help supercharge their businesses.

Early bird tickets are on sale now for 40% off the standard price until 11:59 pm tonight, Tuesday, 4 March, and will be 30% off until 30 April. Tickets can be purchased on Xero’s website.

Running a solo business is full of challenges, and though sole traders and freelancers are uniquely adaptable and resilient, they frequently encounter the same common gripes and bugbears that come with sole trader life. According to recent data from platform Sole, cash flow, taxes, and admin caused the biggest headache for Australia’s 800,000+ sole traders in 2025.

Sole founder and CEO Johann Oberholzer says, “With more Aussies becoming their own boss in 2025, we are seeing an increase in people encountering the same problems time and time again. Some of these are easily solvable, but some require further training and support to make life easier for this significant portion of the small business sector.”

Data shows that income varies by industry but can range from an average of $25-48 per hour. According to Sole’s own figures, the average total of invoices sent per business is $14,845.82. 

Johann says, “Sole traders work incredibly hard, yet many struggle to find the right balance between competitive pricing and sustainable earnings. While the hourly rate and invoice values depend on industry, not understanding industry benchmarks and optimising pricing strategies can leave sole traders with an income that falls short of expectations.”

Sole traders are quoting an average of $4,396.50 per quote but may forget to include their business details, an itemised breakdown, and the customer’s details, and so on. This could lead to them not being paid in a timely manner or cause confusion for customers if they don’t differentiate a quote from an estimate, which could be subject to change. 

Handling too many clients can be another hidden trap for sole traders who find that they receive diminishing returns for the time spent servicing a larger number of customers. The secret to sole trader peace of mind it seems is retaining a core group of clients that make up the majority of the business’ income. Sole data indicates the average client count per business is 3.5.

Managing expenses is unsurprisingly another headache for solo traders. While the average expense total per business is $1926.70, sole traders are struggling to keep expenses down while retaining money in the business. 

On this front, tax is a huge issue for freelancers and sole traders particularly in the face of increased scrutiny from the ATO. Common tax pitfalls for sole traders include not managing their BAS correctly and forgetting to hold onto a portion of income for tax. The average tax per business in the first year may only be $1,547.70, but fines for non compliance and unpaid debts can go into the thousands.

Finally, as much as 64% of sole traders were found to be using excel spreadsheets before switching to the Sole app. Johann says, “Many sole traders are wasting hours of their limited time on outdated tools to manage their businesses. Come tax time, this can blow out to another huge time trap as sole traders attempt to disentangle expenses and income that they haphazardly recorded in a spreadsheet. Making the switch to a streamlined platform will save them the headache of working out their financials and there’s the added benefit of being able to view their business performance at any given moment, which is essential for sole traders who need to keep an eye on cash flow.”

He concludes, “With a 205% increase in Sole app sign ups between 2023/24, more people are choosing to take control of their careers and enjoy the flexibility and freedom of self-employment. The surge in the number of Aussies choosing to try their hand at sole trading in 2025 is exciting, but it also comes with challenges as sole traders quickly realise that managing finances, pricing their services correctly, and handling their tax obligations can be overwhelming. This is why we are seeing more sole traders turn to platforms like Sole for the support they need to navigate these common issues and build a business that is sustainable and satisfying.”