Accru Harris Orchard

21/10/2026

At 28, Jitendra Ragunath walked away from a career as a commercial lawyer to take a chance on a business he’d originally bought into as an investment.

That business was Vergola - the South Australian manufacturer behind the opening and closing louvred roof system, still manufactured here more than 40 years later.

In our latest Owner Insights podcast, Jit talks to James Orchard about changing direction - from unwinding a business model that wasn’t working to an expensive attempt at diversification, and ultimately learning the value of staying focused.

It’s a great conversation about the decisions that work, the ones that don’t, and knowing when it’s time to change course.

Watch on YouTube: https://shorturl.at/KYaX5
Listen on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/HemFq

Vergola Worldwide

19/10/2026

Housing shortages are making it harder for regional South Australian businesses to recruit staff, with some turning down contracts because they don’t have enough people.

It’s a useful reminder that growth plans need to account for staffing capacity and recruitment costs, alongside projected revenue.

Read more:

More than half of regional businesses surveyed said housing was among their five biggest challenges.

12/10/2026

Changes to card payment surcharges are a good reminder that the cost of accepting payments doesn’t disappear when the rules change.

Merchant fees are a cost of doing business, and even small transaction costs can add up. It’s worth reviewing your merchant fees, payment methods and pricing to understand the impact on your margins and whether your current approach still makes financial sense.

Read more about the changes:

From 1 October 2026, new card payment surcharge rules will apply across Australia.

07/10/2026

Please join us in supporting Director Sam Facy in raising funds for mitochondrial disease as part of this year’s The Bloody Long Walk in Adelaide on 18 October.

I'm walking 35km to help Australians with mitochondrial disease. Click to view my fundraising page!

06/10/2026

What would happen to your enquiries if your Google rating suddenly dropped?

SmartCompany reports that Australian businesses, including a South Australian kitchen renovation company, are being targeted by scammers who post fake one-star reviews and demand payment to remove them. One business owner reported a roughly 25% fall in lead conversions around the time of the attack.

It’s a useful reminder to consider where your revenue comes from and how exposed it is to disruption. If one platform brings in a substantial share of your new customers, that dependency deserves a place in your business planning.

Read the article:

Australian small businesses are being extorted by scammers who flood their Google profiles with fake one-star reviews before demanding payment to remove them.

28/09/2026

Being busy doesn't necessarily mean a business is performing well.

New research has found nearly four in ten Australian small business owners paid themselves less than $40,000, or nothing at all, in the 2025 financial year.

For business owners, that's a figure worth thinking about. Revenue may be coming in and the bills may be getting paid, but is the business providing an adequate return for the person who owns it?

Nearly four in 10 Australian small business owners paid themselves less than $40,000, or no wage at all, in FY2025, as rising costs and shrinking margins squeeze businesses

24/09/2026

Director Sam Facy recently swapped the office for the beautiful waters of Coffin Bay when he visited long-standing client Lester Marshall from Coffin Bay Oyster Farm, along with Lester’s son Price Marshall from Blueline Oysters.

They gave Sam a hands-on look at the oyster farming process, from heading out on the boat to bring in the baskets, through to sorting, shucking and packing. And they certainly put him to work along the way!

As Lester says in the video, there are no lengths our advisers won’t go to for their clients. Safe to say, Sam had one of his best days at work for a while!

22/09/2026

A milestone birthday calls for cake! Happy Birthday to our Bookkeeper, Susan Gooley, who recently celebrated her 50th!

21/09/2026

How do you guide a family w**e business through change while keeping the next generation in mind?

Robert Hill-Smith brings more than four decades of experience to that question in our latest episode of Owner Insights. As the fifth generation of his family to lead the business, Robert speaks to James Orchard about Hill-Smith Family Estates, home to Yalumba, Australia’s oldest family-owned w**ery.

He shares a candid perspective on adapting to falling global w**e consumption and oversupply, making difficult decisions, and staying clear about what your brand stands for.

The episode also explores family dynamics, succession and what it means to prepare a business for the next generation. Plenty to reflect on for anyone balancing today’s pressures with the future of a family business.

Watch on YouTube: https://shorturl.at/Qeo76
Listen on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/P2Dl4

21/09/2026

From 1 October 2026, Australian businesses will no longer be able to add surcharges to payments made by Visa, Mastercard, eftpos or American Express.

However, the cost of accepting card payments isn’t disappearing. Businesses will still pay processing fees, which means those costs may need to be managed elsewhere.

If your business currently applies card surcharges, now is the time to:

• Understand what card payments actually cost your business
• Review your pricing strategy
• Speak with your payment provider
• Update any systems that apply surcharges automatically
• Check that your customer-facing payment information is accurate

If you have questions, we’re here to support you.

From 1 October 2026, new card payment surcharge rules will apply across Australia.