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"Keeping the busy professional informed" Welcome to the December edition of The Quintessential Brief. The end of another year is almost upon us and the much deserved holiday season is just around the corner! As a country we have managed to (just) survive the predicted dramatic fallout as a result of the “global financial crisis”. And whilst we are not out of the woods yet, the recent rise in interest rates indicates that we are heading in the right direction and will potentially hear the phrase “GFC” muttered less and less in 2010. With the country’s economy on the mend it is an ideal time to look closer to home and assess personal and business situations that present the opportunity for developing and sustaining growth and economic stability. We have packed this edition of The Quintessential Brief with a variety of topics that we hope you find informative. In Legal News we address the importance of protecting your intellectual property to ensure that your business and ideas are protected well into the future, as well as the common reasons why Wills are often contested. In Accounting News – the proposed introduction of the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 will introduce registration conditions on bookkeepers who prepare and lodge BAS. Find out how the new laws will affect bookkeepers and your business. Also, investment property owners are always looking for ways to maximise their return, however a small number are actually aware of the vast range of expenses that can be claimed as a tax deduction in order to legally minimise the tax payable, effectively increasing the total return. We also feature contributions from Clarity Marketing on the benefits of clear communication with your customers and scratch the surface of the world of Google AdWords. Logic & Form share some easy tips for both saving money and energy in the workplace and and energy in the workplace and Susan from Balance at Work takes an interesting approach to explaining the field of Human Resources by likening it to the favourite Australian pastime of football! Check out all the fun of the Melbourne Cup office party and we put the Client Spotlight on Randall Barge and Assured Security Group. We hope that you find the information contained in The Quintessential Brief beneficial. If there are any legal, tax or accounting issues that you would like us to address in future editions, please contact us on 1300 QUINNS or visit our website www.quinns.com.au and submit an online enquiry. You can also register online to receive the latest legal, accounting and financial news update each Monday morning via our Weekly Client Alert. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. We look forward to working with you again in 2010. Regards Michael |
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Maximise the return on your investment property - know what expenses you can claim Owning an investment property can be a rewarding experience, both financially and emotionally. Apart from the purchase cost of the property there are numerous other costs involved such as bank fees and interest, body corporate fees, conveyancing costs as well as stamp duty and other tax liabilities. |
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Will your bookkeeper be compliant under the new Tax Agent Services Act 2009? Legislation for the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 has been drafted and is intended to be enacted early in 2010. The new regulations will see that bookkeepers who are currently preparing and lodging Business Activity Statements (BAS) for a fee are now required to meet standard eligibility criteria and must be registered to perform those services. |
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Are you entitled to contest a Will? The passing of a loved one can be an extremely emotional experience. This can be made all the more difficult if there is any kind of dispute against the Will of the deceased. |
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Intellectual Property - Protect the legacy of your business Whilst insurance and succession planning play major roles in securing the future of your business, protecting your intellectual property can often be just as important, yet is something that is regularly overlooked. |
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Clarity Marketing So you have a company website – everyone thinks it looks great and surely now you’ll be able to attract a whole network for new customers. Unfortunately in reality, designing and developing your website is only one part of an effective online marketing strategy. The big question is how do potential customers find your website if they haven’t seen or heard your website name? |
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Clear, concise, consistent communication: A key tool of an effective business
Clarity Marketing Your company’s marketing communication extends across many touch points. From your support staff and professionals, through to your company’s marketing collateral, such as direct mail, invoices, signage, websites and all things in between. |
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Greg Godby Logic & Form Commercial buildings are responsible for the most significant proportion of energy consumption and green house gas emissions for the commercial building sector, with hospitals and offices being the largest emitters. |
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Could your team win a grand final?
Susan Rochester Balance at Work Pty Ltd How would you feel if your favourite club chose their teams on the basis of a hunch? What if the coach didn't spend time studying the form of the players and placing them in the optimal positions for their relative strengths? |
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Quinns Auditing Services Often, the mention of the word ‘audit’ strikes fear into the heart of all business owners. They view an audit as a stressful and often confusing time. However, it need not be this way. The team at The Quinn Group has extensive experience in conducting audits in many different areas. We work through the process with you, and take the time to explain the laws and regulations in simple, clear terms without the legal and accounting jargon. There are various types of audits that businesses of all shapes and sizes may find themselves involved with during the course of their business. For example, certain industries such as solicitors, real estate agents and not-for-profit organisations are required by regulation to be audited on a regular basis (usually yearly). Other companies may require audits as requested by regulatory bodies such as the ATO or Work Cover or perhaps you may request an internal audit of a business if you are looking to buy or sell it. We can assist with carrying out and advising clients in relation to, but not limited to, the following types of audits:
If you require assistance or advice with any type of audit please contact The Quinn Group on 1300 QUINNS or visit our website at www.quinns.com.au and submit an online enquiry. |
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Melbourne Cup Although we were not afforded the luxury of a public holiday like our friends south of the border we decided that was no reason to miss out on all the fun of Melbourne Cup Day! We took the afternoon to get out of the office and enjoy each others company whilst indulging in some fine food and beverages at the lovely Industrie Bar next door to our City office. Of course we then directed our attention to The Race that Stops the Nation. Congratulations to Amanda, Steven and Roy who took out the top prizes in the office sweep and also to Andrew who was awarded best dressed male at the venue! A fantastic day of fun! |
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Assured Security Group Pty Ltd
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Disclaimer: The contents of this document titled "The Quintessential Brief" (the "Material") are provided as general information only. It is not intended to be given as advice and should not be relied upon as such. If you are concerned about any issue raised by the Material then you should seek your own professional advice. No warranty is given in relation to the accuracy, currency or completeness of the Material. No reader should act on the basis of any matter contained in this publication without first obtaining specific professional advice. Where applicable, liability is limited by the NSW Solicitors Scheme under the Professional Standards Act 1994 (NSW), and other relevant state legislation. The Quinn Group respects your privacy. Should you not wish to receive this newsletter in the future please contact us on 1300 784 667.