Hills Accounting

🌱 How Can I Finance My Business or Raise Additional Funds for Future Projects?

Growing a business often requires investment before you see the return.

You might be planning new premises, additional staff, upgraded equipment, a new product or service, or simply need extra working capital to support the next stage of your business.

The question is: where should that money come from?

Depending on your business and what you're planning, your options might include:

✅ Using existing business funds
✅ Bank or business finance
✅ Equipment or asset finance
✅ Bringing additional investment into the business
✅ Government grants or assistance programs
✅ A combination of different funding options

But raising the money is only part of the decision.

Before committing to additional finance, it's important to understand how much the business can comfortably afford, what repayments will do to your cash flow and whether the project is likely to generate enough return to justify the investment.

Your accountant can help you assess the numbers, prepare forecasts and financial information, and work out which options make the most sense for your particular business.

Growth can be exciting — but it should also be financially sustainable.

If you're planning your business's next move and need help working through the numbers, talk to the team at Hills Accounting Hobart.

📞 03 6273 7800
📧 [email protected]

💰 How Can I Minimise My Tax Liability?

It's probably one of the most popular questions accountants hear from small business owners — and understandably so.

The important word, though, is planning.

Effective tax planning isn't about looking for clever tricks after the financial year has finished.

It's about understanding your business position early enough to make legitimate, informed decisions while you still have options available.

Depending on your circumstances, that could involve looking at:

✅ Business expenses and available deductions
✅ The timing of income and expenditure
✅ Depreciation and business asset purchases
✅ Superannuation contributions
✅ Your business structure and whether it remains appropriate
✅ Planning ahead for upcoming tax obligations

The key is making decisions because they're right for your business — not simply spending money to obtain a tax deduction.

And leaving everything until tax return time can mean some planning opportunities have already passed.

Regularly reviewing your position with your accountant can help you understand what you're likely to owe, plan for it and make sure you're not paying more tax than you're legally required to.

If you'd like to discuss tax planning for your business, talk to the team at Hills Accounting Hobart.

📞 03 6273 7800
📧 [email protected]

Can’t pay your tax bill in full? You may have options. 💰

An unexpected tax bill can put real pressure on your household or business budget.

But if you can’t pay the full amount by the due date, ignoring it is rarely the best approach.

The ATO may allow eligible taxpayers to arrange a payment plan, spreading the amount owing across manageable instalments.

There are a few things worth understanding first.

Interest may continue to apply, future tax obligations still need to be kept up to date, and it’s important to agree to repayments that genuinely fit within your budget or business cash flow.

Our latest article looks at ATO payment plans, what to consider before setting one up, and why dealing with a tax debt sooner rather than later can make it easier to manage.

👉 Read the full article:
https://hillsaccounting.com.au/cant-pay-your-tax-bill/

If you’re concerned about an existing or upcoming tax bill, talk to the team at Hills Accounting on 03 6273 7800.

🤝 Why Should You Always Know the Value of Your Business? Reason #6 – Merger or Acquisition

A merger or acquisition can represent a major opportunity for a business — but before you can decide whether the numbers stack up, you need a clear understanding of what your own business is worth.

If another business approaches you about joining forces, knowing your current value gives you a much stronger starting point for negotiations.

Likewise, if you're considering acquiring another business, understanding the value and financial position of your existing operation can help determine what you can realistically afford and whether the proposed deal makes financial sense.

A business valuation can help you consider:

✅ The value you're bringing to the deal
✅ Whether an offer fairly reflects your business
✅ How a merger could affect ownership and equity
✅ Your ability to fund an acquisition
✅ The potential financial impact on the combined business

These aren't decisions you want to make based on a rough estimate of what you think your business might be worth.

Even if a merger or acquisition isn't currently on your radar, regularly understanding the value of your business means you're better prepared if an unexpected opportunity comes along.

If you'd like help establishing a clearer picture of what your business is worth, talk to the team at Hills Accounting Hobart.

📞 03 6273 7800
📧 [email protected]

💰 Things Your Accountant Can Help You With #3 – Getting a Business Loan

Whether you're looking to buy new equipment, expand your premises, take on additional staff or simply give your business some extra financial breathing room, there may come a time when you consider applying for a business loan.

And it's worth talking to your accountant before you approach a lender.

Your accountant can help you understand how much your business can realistically afford to borrow and help prepare the financial information a lender is likely to want to see.

That might include:

✅ Up-to-date financial statements
✅ Cash flow forecasts
✅ Profit and loss information
✅ Existing debts and financial commitments
✅ A realistic assessment of your ability to meet repayments

It's also important to consider what taking on additional debt will mean for the business after the money arrives.

Will the repayments still be manageable if sales slow down? Will the investment you're making generate enough additional income to justify the borrowing? And how will the loan affect your cash flow?

A business loan can provide valuable opportunities for growth — but it needs to make financial sense for your business.

If you're thinking about borrowing to fund your next move, talk to the team at Hills Accounting Hobart before you sign on the dotted line.

📞 03 6273 7800
📧 [email protected]

📅 Is your tax return due by 31 October?

If you lodge your own personal tax return, 31 October is normally the date you need to keep in mind. This year there's a small twist — because 31 October falls on a Saturday, the deadline moves to the next business day, Monday 2 November 2026.

If you use a registered tax agent, you may have a later lodgment date under the ATO's tax agent program. But if you're using a tax agent for the first time, or changing agents, it's important to get organised before the end of October.

And what happens if you miss the deadline? A penalty isn't necessarily automatic, but ignoring an overdue return isn't a good idea either.

We've taken a closer look at the important dates, what happens if you're late, and what you need to know if you use a tax agent in our latest article.

👉 Read the full article:
https://hillsaccounting.com.au/when-is-your-personal-tax-return-due/

And next week, we'll tackle the question that often comes next: What happens if you lodge your return but can't afford to pay the tax bill?

💵 How Can I Improve My Business Cash Flow?

It's one of the most common questions small business owners ask their accountants — and for good reason.

A business can be profitable on paper and still find itself struggling to pay the bills if money isn't coming in at the right time.

Improving cash flow often starts with understanding exactly where your money is coming from, where it's going and, importantly, when it's moving in and out of the business.

Some areas worth looking at include:

✅ Invoicing customers promptly
✅ Following up overdue accounts sooner
✅ Reviewing regular business expenses
✅ Planning ahead for tax and other major payments
✅ Managing stock and purchasing carefully
✅ Preparing cash flow forecasts for the months ahead

Sometimes relatively small changes can make a noticeable difference.

Your accountant can also help you identify patterns in your figures that may not be immediately obvious and work with you to plan ahead for periods when cash flow could become tighter.

The earlier you can see a potential cash flow problem coming, the more options you usually have to deal with it.

If you'd like some help improving or planning your business cash flow, talk to the team at Hills Accounting Hobart.

📞 03 6273 7800
📧 [email protected]

🤔 Should I Buy or Lease My Business Equipment?

It's a question many small business owners face, and unfortunately there's no simple answer that works for everyone.

Buying equipment means you own the asset and may benefit from its value over the longer term. But it can also mean a significant upfront cost or committing your business to finance repayments.

Leasing can reduce that initial outlay and may make it easier to upgrade equipment as your needs change, but you'll need to consider the ongoing payments and the total cost over the life of the lease.

Before deciding, it's worth looking at:

✅ The effect on your business cash flow
✅ How long you're likely to need the equipment
✅ The total cost of buying compared with leasing
✅ Available finance and repayment commitments
✅ The potential tax implications of each option

The cheapest-looking option today isn't necessarily the best financial decision for your business over the next few years.

That's where talking to your accountant before you sign anything can make a real difference.

If you're considering new equipment for your business and aren't sure whether buying or leasing makes better financial sense, talk to the team at Hills Accounting Hobart.

📞 03 6273 7800
📧 [email protected]

🦆 Thinking about starting a small business?

A great idea is a good place to start — but there are a few things worth getting in a row before you turn that idea into a business.

Who will your customers be? How will the business operate? Which business structure is appropriate? What registrations will you need? And are the financial foundations in place before you start spending money?

In our latest Hills Insights article, we look at 6 things worth getting right before you begin.

Getting some of these decisions right at the beginning can be considerably easier than trying to change them later.

👉 Read the full article on the Hills Accounting website.
https://hillsaccounting.com.au/starting-a-small-business/

And if you're considering starting a business and would like some help getting your ducks in a row, talk to the team at Hills Accounting Hobart.

📞 03 6273 7800
📧 [email protected]

💰 Why Should You Always Know the Value of Your Business? Reason #5 – Tax Purposes

Knowing what your business is worth isn't only important when you're thinking about selling it. There are also situations where having a realistic understanding of its value can be important for tax purposes.

Changes in business ownership, restructuring, bringing in or buying out a partner, transferring assets or preparing for succession can all potentially have tax implications.

Having an up-to-date business valuation can give you and your accountant a much clearer starting point when considering those decisions — and help avoid unpleasant surprises further down the track.

It can also make planning easier. Rather than trying to establish the value of the business after an important event has already occurred, you have information available to help assess the possible financial and tax consequences beforehand.

Your business may be one of your most valuable assets. Knowing what it's worth can help you make better-informed decisions about what happens next.

If you'd like help understanding the financial position and value of your business, talk to the team at Hills Accounting Hobart.

📞 03 6273 7800
📧 [email protected]