“How much should I spend on marketing?” Most small business people ask me this question at some stage. Many small business people find working out how much to spend on marketing a tricky exercise to calculate.

Generally there are five ways to work out a marketing budget for the year. Remember that these are marketing budgets, not advertising budgets. Marketing covers everything you do in your business that creates awareness, including such activities as advertising, brochures, competitions, free tastings, demonstrations, trade shows, travel, personal selling, direct mail, sponsorships, etc.

Many small business people wonder whether it’s better for them to buy or lease capital equipment for their businesses. Your options regarding leasing or buying depend upon the nature of your particular business, but there are nevertheless a few guidelines you can follow to help you decide what you should do.

Monitoring financials and keeping track of rent payments coming in are aspects of rental property ownership which landlords often struggle with. With all the changes to rental property taxation like depreciation and the LAQC changes and new LTC's it will be more important than ever to keep on top of the financials and budgets to make sure you have sufficient cash flow and plan for taxes before the end of the financial year. The reason landlords and property investors often struggle with this area is that they do not have an adequate system in place. Xero is an ideal solution for property investors whether they are small scale investors with only one or two properties or have large investment portfolios.

This year's Federal Budget includes some good news for small business enterprises (SBEs), including the continuation of the Enterprise Tax Plan and the digitisation of licensing and registration services.

Whether you are thinking of launching a small, local business or a global enterprise, finding a city that is friendly toward entrepreneurs is important. You want a city that is culturally supportive of business owners, in a region or country that makes things easy for you from a financial perspective. You also want to be in a place where it is easy to attract and retain good talent, and where you can network with a lot of other business owners and share resources. Here are ten worldwide cities where starting a business is less difficult than in other parts of the world, for a variety of reasons.

Boost Revenue with Mobile Solutions

Could you improve your closing rate with a mobile app?

If you own a tablet or mobile phone but aren’t taking advantage of mobile sales tools, you’re missing out on the opportunity to shorten your sales cycle and boost your bottom line.

From CRM apps to invoicing and payment technology, there’s a mobile solution for your small business that can make it easier to convert prospects to customers – and entice customers to buy.

Look into these key mobile sales solutions that can streamline your sales process and increase your revenue.

10 Money-Saving Tips for Freelancers

While working at home as a freelancer sounds like the ultimate dream for anyone who tires of the rat race, freelancers still have more than their fair share of financial matters to worry about. In fact, perhaps the most important trait that any freelancer should have is the ability to be fully responsible and accountable to themselves, and saving money is something that you will be wholly responsible for.

Preparing an exit strategy

Research indicates that if a business is prepared for the owner's exit they are more likely to endure than businesses that are unprepared. The following are guidelines for an exit strategy that will help your business live on while giving you a satisfactory result.

Many groups exist that are solely dedicated to networking. While some are highly structures with requirements regarding performance, payment and exclusive membership, others are free and allow you to come and go s you please with no charge required.

Not every group will be a good fit for every business. It may be found that certain groups just don't have the connections that you are wishing to attract. Some other groups may have particular rules that just don't fit with how your business works.

However, one factor often overlooked when considering a networking group; does this group offer more long-term or short-term value?

One of the most devastating things someone can go through is the loss of a job. Results can be long lasting and often the associated implications go far past just financial. It will definitely put your finances at risk, but the emotional consequences can be just as damaging.