Benchmarking

Have you ever wondered how your business performs compared to your competitors? What is their average bottom line? Are you spending enough on advertising? Are you paying too much rent? Are your staff costs too high? Surviving in today's business climate requires you to spend more time working on your business than in it. We can provide you with accurate, timely, informative benchmarking reports that enable you to:

• See how your business compares to your competitors

• Understand more about how the rest of your industry works

• Analyse the key performance indicators in your industry

Equipped with this information, we'll work with you to develop action strategies that improve your bottom line.

accounting & bookkeeping

Modern business requires up-to-date, accurate financial information. We can relieve you and your staff of the enormous burden of all your bookkeeping and accounting needs, including preparation of your annual accounts and periodic management accounts for tax, business appraisal, and planning purposes.

We will discuss your requirements with you and provide information relevant to your particular situation, as well as constructive advice, on a regular basis.

business start-up

If you have a good idea for a new business venture but don't have expertise in the legal or financial aspects of creating a new business, we can help you:

• Decide on the most suitable structure for your business - Sole trader, partnership, or limited company

• Prepare a business plan, cash flow projections, budgets, and trading forecasts

• Assess your finance requirements, advise on the best sources of finance, and draw up the necessary proposals

• Register for an Australian Business Number with the ATO

• Complete registration procedures with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission

• Deal with company secretarial issues

• Set up a recording system for your internal use and for complying with statutory requirements

Financing

A wide range of financing options exist each with their pros and cons. At Cowgill & Associates we know the financial market and have the experience to assist you in securing the best financing option for your personal and business goals. Our experience in the market means we can also structure debt upon acquisition to maximise tax advantages.

Let our experienced team explore the best financing options with you to get your business closer to its goals!

management consulting

Our aim is to ensure your business achieves the potential it is capable of. We have the know-how and experience to offer advice that helps you run your business more effectively.

We are practised in acting as a sounding board for management, bringing years of experience in business growth to the relationship. We can identify key performance indicators in your business, through which you will see positive changes occurring with the help of our professional consultants.

We check that your business is as competitive, focused, and profitable as it can be, then offer flexible strategies, designed to address the issues affecting your business.

Let us give your business a health check! Take the practical advice we can provide to ensure the ongoing success of your venture.

Payroll Services

Administering your payroll can be time-consuming and divert you from your core business activities. Added to this, payroll and employment legislation are growing increasingly complex.

We can relieve you of this burden by providing a comprehensive, confidential payroll service that includes:

• Customised payslips

• Administration of PAYG, statutory sick pay, and annual leave

• ATO filing

• Summaries and analyses of staff costs

• Administration of incentive schemes, bonuses, and termination payments

Even if you only have a few employees, you will save by engaging us to administer your payroll.

software solutions

Let us help you make the right choice of accounting software. A decent accounting system will help you keep track of your cash flow and let you complete GST returns easily.

Choosing the right system for your business can be difficult. After all, there are over sixty accounting packages available in Australia. Here at Cowgill & Associateswe invest considerable resources into ongoing staff training to ensure we can recommend the best accounting solution for your business.

We are also Xero Silver Partners, BankLink Professional Advisors, MYOB Certified Consultants and CCH iBizz Certified Partners.

Strategic Planning

The pressures of daily business can often mean strategic planning takes a back seat, but to have a successful business it is vital to plan ahead. We'll help you develop a strategic plan that examines where you want your business to be in the next 3-5 years and exactly how you and your team can achieve these aims and objectives.

Your strategic plan will:

• Define the characteristics of your company in three to five years

• Identify your competitors

• Define your objectives and financial goals

• Include an effective implementation strategy to achieve your goals

acquisitions & Mergers

The services we provide cover every stage of the acquisition/merging process - From identifying potential acquisitions and negotiating the commercial elements of the transaction to forecasting the future of the business. Our services include:

• A review of your goals and objectives

• Due diligence services

• Preparation of financial forecasts

• Advice on the potential pitfalls and rewards involved in a merger

• Assistance with purchase negotiations

• Advice on financing

• Assistance with preparing a business plan

Let Cowgill & Associates show you how our experience can save you stress and provide you with the great opportunity a business acquisition or merger can be!

Company Secretary

Company legislation requires businesses to perform several administration tasks that take up a lot of valuable company time. The last thing you need as a business owner is to be stressed out trying to ensure you comply with the Corporations Law.

At Cowgill & Associates we can relieve this burden for you. Our services include:

• Company formations

• Filing annual returns on your behalf

• Preparing all documentation related to minutes and resolutions

• Maintaining statutory records

• Assistance with changes of directors, shareholders, addresses, and office details

• Share transfers

Estate Planning

As unpleasant as the task is, estate planning is one of the necessities of life. Knowing your hard-earned assets will be dealt with in the manner you choose provides peace of mind.

For business owners, a plan for succession of ownership is essential. We can guide you through the process of providing for business continuity.

Information Technology

Here at Cowgill & Associates we have embraced information technology systems. Our experienced, trained professionals can:

• Discuss the best system to further your business

• Install and configure software to suit your purposes

• Recommend processes to make your computer system more secure

• Suggest accounting software applications suitable for your business

• Train clients to be self-sufficient users of a range of software applications

Whether you are thinking about obtaining new computer software or looking at completely changing your business systems, our team is willing and able to assist you.

Rental Property

At Cowgill & Associates we have the expertise required to assist you in a variety of areas relating to residential and commercial property.

The services we offer include:

• Guidance in tax minimisation

• Advice on ownership structure

• Periodic reviews to ensure returns are maximised

For financing of your new property we can put you in touch with a finance broker to assist you with your needs.

For maximising your tax deductible depreciation on your property we have experts available to help.

Self-managed Superannuation Funds

There are several trust laws and legislative requirements for setting up a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). Typically you need to:

• Obtain a trust deed

• Appoint trustees

• Sign a trustee declaration (NAT 71089)

• Elect to become a regulated fund

• Obtain a tax file number (TFN)

• Obtain an Australian business number (ABN)

At Cowgill & Associates we can assist you to set up your own fund and greatly simplify the process for you. For financial advice if a SMSF is right for you we have specialist financial planners available to assist your needs.

Succession Planning

To ensure the long-term success of your business, it is critical to establish a well-designed succession plan. Coordinating the transition of your business to your successors can be an arduous process. However, with our years of experience we can address the complex issues of business continuation, removing the stress from your shoulders.

Trusts

A trust provides a valuable way to protect the assets you have accumulated for the benefit of others. Our extensive experience with trusts enables us to offer specialist advice on trust formation and ensures all statutory requirements are met. Obligations for trustees can often be onerous, and our assistance in trust administration can prove invaluable. We can assist with:

• Preparing and executing the vital documentation required for trust formation

• Attending to the special requirements involved in reporting for trusts

• Completing the trust administration:

  • Minute-keeping service

  • Annual accounts

  • Taxation

  • Income distribution