Leader
Unclaimed money
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. 
How to write a mission statement
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.
Just how much are meetings costing you?
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! 
Any procrastinating writers here?
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. 
Need a financial health check?
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. 
Font of all knowledge
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! 
Feeling demotivated?
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.'
Office pod
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.
18 smokin' hot business cards
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.
Wordle on the street
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.
Hot or cold?
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.
Are you free?
If you struggle getting small groups of people together for a meeting, this little gizmo may help. It certainly saves on the email tennis.
Get help from the crowd
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.
Someone trying to empty your pockets?
SCAMwatch will help you recognise, report and protect yourself from scams that target you or your small business.
Want to get your articles out there?
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.
Keep it simple, silly
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.
Calling all Flying Solo fans!
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. 
Who's following you?
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
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.
Save (on) your energy
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.
Have you read our manifesto?
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.
Anatomy of Australia’s micro business owner
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.
Get projects over the line
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.
Text for dummies
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!
Impress your TED friends
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.
Please help us spread the word!
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!
What say you?
Become a member
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!
Profile | Heather Smith
Heather Smith
- Name:
- Heather Smith
- Forum profile:
- MYOB
- Directory listing:
- Heather Smith FCCA, B.Comm, MYOB CC
Heather Smith
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
Articles by Heather
Finding the right accountant
27 Aug 10Heather SmithWorking 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: 11Minimise expenditure and maximise cash flow
16 Jul 10Heather SmithMinimising 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: 6Should you register for GST?
04 Jun 10Heather SmithOne 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
27 Apr 10Heather SmithChoosing accounting software for your business can be difficult. Consider these important questions when you’re investigating your options. Read more
Comments: 14Energising your profit and loss statements
25 Feb 10Heather SmithThoughtfully 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: 7Ten questions to ask when hiring a bookkeeper
14 Jan 10Heather SmithIf 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: 17Business procedures manual: The style guide
29 Sep 09Heather SmithWe 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: 12Contra deals: Business deals without money
18 Aug 09Heather SmithSometimes 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: 12A family affair: Involving kids in your work
07 Jul 09Heather SmithMany 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: 13Nifty ideas to grow your business
26 May 09Heather SmithEvery 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: 27Ten ways to reduce your accounting fees
31 Mar 09Heather SmithProfessional 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: 24Using Yahoo or Google Groups to help business
24 Feb 09Heather SmithLong 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: 612 signs you should say NO to clients
20 Jan 09Heather SmithMaking 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: 15Government initiatives for micro businesses
09 Nov 08Heather SmithThe Small Business Summit in Brisbane provided an opportunity to hear what the Government is doing to help micro businesses. Read more
Comments: 7Free software or freeware for small business
17 Oct 08Heather SmithFollowing 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: 2920 money saving tips
11 Sep 08Heather SmithWelcome 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: 20Mistakes made by start up micro businesses
31 Jul 08Heather SmithIn 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: 15Making money offering work experience
26 Jun 08Heather SmithInterested 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: 8Cooperation versus competition
20 May 08Heather SmithUs 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: 14Practical tips for a paperless office
17 Apr 08Heather SmithIs 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: 14Business invoicing: How to create an invoice
20 Mar 08Heather SmithAfter 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: 17A beginners guide to Podcasts
15 Feb 08Heather SmithI 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: 4Business Management Software: Nine tips
10 Jan 08Heather SmithReconciliations wreaking havoc? Transactions disappearing? BAS adjustments giving you nightmares? Here are nine tips for using Business Management Software. Read more
Comments: 8Five tips for naming your business
30 Oct 07Heather SmithNaming 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: 23Small business record keeping: Dealing with the shoebox
25 Sep 07Heather SmithAs 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: 28Join the community! It’s free.
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