Author: Martine Hoosen

After 22+ years in business I still find recruiting new team members to be one of the most challenging tasks. So much rides on having a productive, skilled and harmonious workforce, and I feel the pressure every time I step into recruitment mode. However, over the years I have fine-tuned my recruitment process and turned something that I used to find incredibly stressful into something that I can now approach with more clarity and confidence. I admit, this…  Read more

Have you carved out some down-time over the break? I make a point of taking a step back over the festive period to allow myself time to re-calibrate. When I head back into the office, I whip out the business plan with fresh eyes, and run through a high level health-check of key areas of my business, including: ➡ objectives and strategic direction ➡ my team ➡ my systems and…  Read more

I wanted to share some insight into one of the reasons that I started Bookwiz Academy. Over the 22 years I have spent in the industry – working, training, mentoring and advocating, I keep seeing the same thing…  Strong, intelligent, and capable business owners struggling to keep their head above water, wondering if they’ve bitten off more than they could chew, floundering to find balance between work and in life,…  Read more

When I made the move to a Fixed Fee Pricing Model, it was a game changer for my business, in more ways than one. I found it so liberating to ditch the hourly billing mindset and say goodbye to the mental load of being ‘timesheet dependent’. Though I saw a lot of other instant benefits. BENEFITS OF FIXED FEE PRICING MODELS An increase in revenue, better cash flow, higher profit. No more…  Read more

Break-even point is such an under-rated and under monitored number.  But with the costs of doing business climbing at an incredible rate at the moment, it’s a number all business owners should know…and monitor! If you don’t know what your Break-Even Point is right now, I urge you to review your numbers and work it out, it’s a powerful number to know! What is Break-Even Point? Break-even point is where…  Read more

If you are a business owner here in Australia, there are a number of changes that you need to be aware of from 1 July 2022. Minimum Wage Increase The Fair Work Ombudsman is reminding employers that the national minimum wage has increased today to $21.38 per hour (up from $20.33) or $812.60 per week (up $40 from $772.60) based on a 38-hour week for a full-time employee. This increase…  Read more

This month within Bookwiz Academy we have been discussing the topics, Managing Scope Creep, Client Reviews and how to implement Fee Increases (the right way). We have also been talking about D-Class Clients and the damage they can do to your business. When it comes to client reviews, you need to consider more than just scope and fees. You also need to determine whether a client is the right fit for…  Read more

It goes without saying that EOFY can be a highly stressful time for Bookkeepers. It’s a drawn out process consisting of multiple deadlines and a lot of responsibility to ensure that client and ATO obligations are met. And to make matters worse, you are often reliant on other parties, out side of your control, supplying you will correct and timely information. For many, it also represents long hours, weekend work, and…  Read more

Pricing is the one of the most important strategic decisions that a business owner can make, and it’s one of the topics that I get asked about most frequently. With the right pricing strategy, jobs are profitable, staff provide a healthy revenue stream and ROI, we have financial freedom and a healthy work life balance, and we feel content, valued and excited by the opportunities we face. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it?! On the flipside, the wrong pricing…  Read more

Long-standing clients form the backbone of a strong, well-established business. And for anyone wanting to build real value in their practice, client retention is crucial. I have been fortunate in my own business when it comes to client retention and service many clients who have been with Bookwiz for over 15 years.  In this article I am going to provide my top tips on how to build lasting relationships with…  Read more

After 20+ years in business I still find recruiting new team members to be one of the most challenging tasks. So much rides on having a productive, skilled and harmonious workforce, and I feel the pressure every time I step into R-mode. However, over the years I have fine tuned my recruitment process and turned something that I used to find incredibly stressful into something that I can now approach with more clarity and confidence. I admit, this…  Read more

I am very excited to announce that Bookwiz Academy has launched! I’ve been working in the background on this for some time now, and I’m so proud to have launched our Membership Program.  I have created this platform to help Bookkeepers & Accountants organise, systematise and scale their businesses.  By joining our membership, you’ll be receiving weekly content that includes: Monthly Insights – Personal insights from me on the lessons…  Read more

I would like to share with you another one of our wonderful clients, Tony’s House of Tender Meats  .  I can personally vouch for the quality of meat and I have to say, Grant makes THE BEST sausages I have ever had!  (not to mention he is THE NICEST guy!) Tony’s House of Tender Meats are an Artisan Butchery specialising in superior grade meat, personalised service, and expert advice. They butcher…  Read more

Many entrepreneurs start their business with the goal of earning an income for themselves, but they often think of the business only in terms of them running it. In truth, there is a huge benefit to starting a business either with the goal of selling it or at least setting it up so it can be sold at some point in the future. You don’t have to plan on making…  Read more

If you’re looking to grow your business, you might consider expanding your service offerings. Adding additional services is a good way to increase your profitability, diversify your income and expand your market. But there are important things to consider before adding to your income streams. Here are 4 important things to keep in mind when you consider adding to your services. 1. Does the expansion complement your business? The best…  Read more

You’ve probably heard the maxim that it’s better to work smarter than harder. Working smarter means allocating your time, energy and money so vital tasks get done more efficiently, freeing up your personal time. Too many business owners think they must keep working harder—taking on more responsibilities and working longer hours—to be successful. It makes sense, because you’re responsible for your business, but that route leads to work overload and…  Read more

I recently increased the revenue for my bookkeeping practice by $100k…….without taking on any new clients. In fact, I actually reduced the number of clients I was working with.  I did this by doing 4 things: 1. I increased my monthly minimum fee I decided that I was not going to keep any clients that were worth less than $500 per month in revenue.  If they were good clients, but…  Read more

EOFY is traditionally a highly stressful time for Bookkeepers.  Many are working nights, weekends and giving up valuable family time to ensure their clients obligations are met. Based on the countless posts on forums I’m seeing at the moment, many bookkeepers are being pushed to their limits.  And, with the additional stress of lockdowns and extra work due to Covid19, it is going to be a tough few weeks ahead!…  Read more

Online reviews are an important marketing tool for many small businesses. They give potential customers and clients a chance to see how effective your goods or services are, how responsive you are to your clients, and what other people’s experiences of your business have been. The vast majority of people check online reviews before making a purchasing decision. When reviews are great, that’s a fantastic thing. It’s when you get…  Read more

When it comes to the overall success of your business, one of the most important decisions you’ll face is how to price for the work you do. Charge too much and you could scare away potential customers. Charge too little and you could run yourself out of business. Figuring out how much to charge is stressful, but it’s worth it. If your business doesn’t bring in enough money to pay…  Read more