There's a frightening amount of money unclaimed and awaiting collection, about $458 million at last count. Are you one of the 500,000 Australians who’s owed something? Find out here. ![]()
This video by Dan Heath over at Fast Company shows you exactly how the mission statement of a small business goes from tasty to terrible in one brainstorming session.![]()
This basic, but very effective tool easily gives you the answer. Simply tell it how many people are in attendance, their daily rate and the clock starts ticking. Very, very scary! ![]()
Thought so. This little site is a corker. Select how many words you're trying to write, your deadline and punishment mode and you'll get some pretty sharp reminders if you start to slack off. ![]()
Superannuation advice, budget planners and tips for saving are all on offer at the Understanding Money website. This Government operated site provides real back to basics information on how to, err, understand money. ![]()
Not sure what your default font should be? This site is sure to help. Simply paste in some text, choose from hundreds of different fonts and take your pick! ![]()
The motivation industry has had its day in the sun. How's this for a contradictory view? Despair.com's demotivators claim to 'increase success by lowering expectations.'![]()
We want one. Well half a dozen, actually. These office pods have got to be the coolest little workspaces we’ve seen. They look so yummy in the garden.![]()
If you’re just starting up or looking to redesign your business cards, here is a wealth of inspiration from our friends at Freelance Switch.![]()
This cool free tool at www.Wordle.net generates funky looking word clouds based on your website or selected text. You can even try different colour schemes and layouts.![]()
Stay up to date with the climate debate on this site. Great for those pro action and sceptics, it lists calls to action and dissenting voices from around the world.![]()
If you struggle getting small groups of people together for a meeting, this little gizmo may help. It certainly saves on the email tennis.![]()
The Flying Solo forums are where you can talk and network freely. If you're looking for help, seeking a referral, or just itching to share some news or knowledge, there's a mob of supporters here.![]()
SCAMwatch will help you recognise, report and protect yourself from scams that target you or your small business.![]()
ArticlePR features a free list of article submission sites or article banks, to which you can submit your articles in order for them to be distributed far and wide.![]()
More often than not, a soloist’s life is about multi tasking and coping with complexity. If this sounds like you, our friends at Freelance Switch have some worthwhile tips: 10 Ways to Simplify Your Freelance Life.![]()
If you're an active networker or involved in any small business groups, we'd love you to get involved in our snappy little promotional program. Find out more. ![]()
Twitter fans may like Twittersheep, which tells you which kinds of folk are following you. Give it a go! ![]()
When it all gets too much. A big thanks to web developer, Simon for this little gem. Apparently it’s where he heads when clients drive him nuts.![]()
Make It Cheaper provides a free service that helps you ditch and switch energy providers. There’s a handy blog with money saving tips, too.![]()
If you've yet to read Flying Solo the book, have a read of the Soloist's Manifesto to get a feel for what it's about. Alternatively, browse some reader reviews.![]()
Flying Solo’s Understanding Micro Business, 2010-2011 – Australia’s largest micro business survey takes the pulse of this critical business sector. Download the results now.
![]()
If you admire 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' (and who wouldn't?) and recognise you need some assistance to get over the finish line, this online goal tracker may well appeal.
![]()
Ever wondered where to find that dummy text used by designers? The answer is here. Given it's a practice that's been around since the 1500s, this may not be the original source!
![]()
There's no doubt that TED is a wonderful resource and we love it, but FORA is pretty awesome too. Enjoy a short movie with your morning tea.
![]()
If you enjoy your time on Flying Solo, you may like to tell others. Here are a number of ways you can do just that. The larger we get, the greater the combined wisdom. Thanks!
Join Flying Solo and start promoting your business in our member directory; post comments on articles and dive into the lively forum discussions. It's quick, free and easy. Join the community now!
Heather Smith is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, a Commerce graduate, an MYOB Certified Consultant and Specialist Trainer. She is passionate about educating and empowering small business owners to implement practical and realistic financial systems, that will allow them to generate accurate Monthly Management Reports (MMR).
This is primarily centred around MYOB Business Management software. Typical work may include, training, setting up and implementing new systems, assisting with reconciliations, tidying up of accounting software files at the end of year, in preparation for the accountants reviews, dissection, discovery, consultation mentoring, and on-going support.
Recent community achievements include being a member of the Tuckshop Committee that won 2006 Queensland Tuckshop of the Year Award, overseeing two community parades and winning the family relay at the local swim club.
Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country - President John F. Kennedy
Working with a good tax accountant can be critical to the success of your business. So how do you find the one that’s right for you? Read more
Comments: 11Minimising expenditure is a critical component of business survival and cash flow. Follow these practical guidelines to help keep your business expenses under control. Read more
Comments: 6One of the first decisions to be made when starting a new business is whether you should register for GST. Here I’ll discuss the key issues you need to consider. Read more
Comments: 11Choosing accounting software for your business can be difficult. Consider these important questions when you’re investigating your options. Read more
Comments: 14Thoughtfully set-up profit and loss statements generate meaningful data that can inform your business decisions. Here’s how to de-clutter yours and make it more user-friendly. Read more
Comments: 7If you’re sick of dealing with the shoebox full of receipts it could be time you considered hiring a bookkeeper. Here are ten questions to ask before you do. Read more
Comments: 17We have read about the benefits of documenting the procedures we adhere to in our business. Michael Gerber has made a lot of money telling us we need them and Flying Solo extols the virtues of a business procedures manual, but where to start? Read more
Comments: 12Sometimes in business you help people out for free. Your five minutes may save them hours of grunt work. There’s no point raising an invoice, but can you be rewarded for contra deals in other ways? Read more
Comments: 12Many a solo business has started up after a parent has found the rigid 9-5 work life does not suit the role of parenting. I’ve found a symbiotic relationship can develop between a parent and a child within the framework of these businesses. Read more
Comments: 13Every minute counts! If you find yourself with some spare time in your diary here are some original ideas to grow your business in every direction. Read more
Comments: 27Professional Accountants can be critical to the ongoing success of your business. They can provide advice on company structure, financial management and legal tax avoidance. But their fees can be exorbitant! Read more
Comments: 24Long before the days of Twitter, Facebook and myspace there was a simpler Internet technology: groups. Yahoo! or Google Groups are formed when a community focused around a specialist topic uses email lists and forums to communicate. Read more
Comments: 6Making the decision to say no to clients is not made lightly. Do you know how to recognise when you should say no? No to an existing client, no to future income, no to potential new clients? Read more
Comments: 15The Small Business Summit in Brisbane provided an opportunity to hear what the Government is doing to help micro businesses. Read more
Comments: 7Following on from my article 20 Money Saving Tips, I wanted to share free software or 'freeware' I have tried and tested. Freeware is offered by software firms on a trial basis, in the hope that you will upgrade to their subscription based product. Read more
Comments: 29Welcome to money savers anonymous. Hi! I am Heather Smith and I love to save money. I like to find a bargain, but what excites me even more than money saving is when I get something for free. Read more
Comments: 20In my work life, I come in contact with a lot of start up micro businesses and have discovered some of the mistakes they have made. Fortunately, we have the opportunity to learn from them, and hopefully avoid the same mistakes ourselves. Read more
Comments: 15Interested in making more money and doing less work? Why not get someone to do your job for you, and pay you for that privilege. Does this sound too good to be true? Read on to find out more about making money offering work experience. Read more
Comments: 8Us soloists are busy and time poor. Unless you are outsourcing there will come a time whereby you have capped your capacity to serve your clients. When you reach that point, what are your options? This article looks at cooperation versus competition. Read more
Comments: 14Is a paperless office for a soloists a practical reality? In my article Small business record keeping: Dealing with the shoebox Marc Fraser from Melbourne raised the possibility of maintaining financial source documents electronically. Read more
Comments: 14After years of working in Management Accounts, the same invoicing errors keep cropping up. So I'd encourage you to print out a copy of your business invoice and discover whether you’re guilty of delaying your own cash flow! Read more
Comments: 17I love my iPod - it has opened my world in ways I could not imagine. The reason for this is simple: podcasts! Before I got my iPod, I didn’t even know they existed. Read more
Comments: 4Reconciliations wreaking havoc? Transactions disappearing? BAS adjustments giving you nightmares? Here are nine tips for using Business Management Software. Read more
Comments: 8Naming your business is one of the first steps in flying solo, although it is often not an easy task and there are many factors to consider. Here are some practical tips to help you with the process of naming your business. Read more
Comments: 23As an accountant, at this time of year people start arriving at my door with a shoe box stuffed full of receipts. Some of you may be chuckling in disbelief while others are blushing with recognition of their own small business record keeping! Read more
Comments: 28Flying Solo is Australia’s micro business community, where thousands of business owners connect, support and network. Become a member today and join in the fun!
You’ll get to:
Join us today for a Free Membership or find out more about Profile Membership.