Matilda's Cheers, Sydney Startups, and Xerocon Highlights

Welcome to our monthly newsletter of tips, tools and tech you should know about, curated for our clients and community of business owners.

This month, our two pennies’ worth includes how Barbie & the Matilda's have sparked equal pay discussions, small business grants in QLD, how Australia harnesses students' entrepreneurial spirits, marketing tech we're using, and our August highlights as we celebrate our 2nd birthday.

Things that should be on your radar this month ??

1. In the past 4 years, 35% of businesses have closed their doors for good, prompting calls for government assistance.
2. What do Barbie and the Matilda’s have in common? It’s sparked discussion on gender equality and equal pay.?
3. Running a small business in Queensland? The state government offers grants up to $20,000 to help businesses improve efficiency and productivity.?
4. The ATO tried to get federal police to investigate PwC’s operations but didn’t have the investigative power to cut through the Big Four red tape.?
5. Entrepreneurial-minded students now have access to startup loans through the HELP system.?

The highs?????and lows ?? of small business life

Without question, the highlight of the month was attending Xerocon in Sydney. From the captivating keynote speakers to reconnecting with the accounting community and enjoying a few beers - it was great discovering new apps and connecting with some of the existing vendors we are using.

On the flip side, losing four work days and stepping away from our immediate work can be challenging. We had a few late nights before and after the conference to get ahead, which impacted the work-life balance.

Tech that makes marketing a breeze?

??In August, we trialled Planable as our social media scheduling tool. While there are loads of schedulers, we liked the ‘real-feel’ look of LinkedIn posts and the ease of approving and scheduling content.?

??Drip has been our go-to for workflows, but we’ve found it to be a tad clunky with newsletter creation, so we’re trialling out Beehiiv….

??We’re kicking off with Beehiiv for our future newsletter sends.? Its seamless integration of data analytics, content management, and collaboration features means it’s easy to get a newsletter up and running with little fuss. (We’ll let you know what we think next month).

Productivity hack? ??

Keeping track of your time can be difficult if you juggle multiple projects, deadlines or clients.? Instead of calendar reminders, check out Toggl Track. With a simple setup and handy Chrome extension, you’ll have a comprehensive report of where you spend your time.??

We’re always happy to answer any questions, so hit reply and let us know what’s on your mind, what you’d like to hear from us in the future, and if there are any niggling accounting questions on your mind.?

That's just our two pennies' worth.?

–?Liam?and?Amy, co-founders of Project Alfred

(changing the way people think about accounting)

Many of the comments in this newsletter are general in nature and are for information purposes. The material, including any data from third party providers, has not been prepared by taking into account your business needs, your current situation or personal needs. Accordingly, before acting on it, you should consider its appropriateness to your circumstances.