Are you in the process of bringing more of your business sales or operations online?
This program could be useful – it is designed to help businesses build their digital capability.
The Victorian Government has partnered with suppliers of selected products. If eligible, businesses can purchase an approved product and apply to receive a rebate of $1200 to access the product for 12 months.
The program also offers free digital adaptation training and workshops to help registered businesses adopt and implement online tools in their business.
Spaces for the Small Business Digital Adaptation Program are limited.
Registrations will remain open until funds are exhausted or until 11.59pm on 28 February 2021, whichever is earlier.
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has launched a new interactive tool to help employers get their businesses back up and running during coronavirus.
The new tool guides employers to the information they need as they reopen, scale up and adapt their operations to be COVID Safe.
It is designed to help businesses understand the steps they need to take and key considerations about workplace rights and obligations when returning to the workplace, scaling up their operations and adapting their business as coronavirus restrictions change.
The tool is designed to be intuitive and easy for employers to use.
Employers will:
■ select the stage that their workplace is at (e.g., reopening, scaling up or adapting)
■ select the topic they want to know more about (e.g., lifting a stand down, using flexible working arrangements, reopening safely, checking paperwork, or staying up to date).
The tool then provides tailored information based on the employer’s selections and links to detailed information available on the FWO’s coronavirus website.
There is also relevant referral information to other government websites on topics outside FWO’s jurisdiction, such as health and safety in the workplace and developing and implementing a COVID Safe business plan.
Between the Leaves – Poetry podcasts for gender equality
Join Hermina Burns and Ellen van Neerven for themed readings presented by The Victorian Women’s Trust.
Hermina and Ellen have collaborated to bring poetry to a wider audience via Zoom, providing a more intimate setting for the listener who may not necessarily pick up a poetry book to read.
Their work and readings speak to and brings women’s voices and presents work with subjects that are not normally in poetry.
Listeners may be empowered by hearing works that have grown from lived experiences.
Hermina and Ellen’s determination to bring this together is hilariously explained by Hermina adapting her walk-in wardrobe to be a recording studio. As means must.
https://www.vwt.org.au/
Don’t wait till the last minute and create unnecessary stress – October is a busy month for bookkeeping. Compliance should be high on your agenda. Cashflow could need some extra consideration.
Here are some key dates and deadlines to schedule into your calendar.
And the big one!
JobKeeper Extension – commenced 28th September.
The eligibility criteria is different for October to December. You will need to assess your eligibility for the next three months.
If you do meet the eligibility criteria, you then need to review your staff employment records to determine if they are Tier 1 or Tier 2 employees for the purposes of JobKeeper.
The rates are different and may impact what you pay your employees going forward, and how you record payroll.
For a brief overview of the JobKeeper Extension, try this link to last week’s post.
And remember, reach out for help if you need.
Make sure you do not miss these October deadlines.
31ST OCTOBER – DEADLINE FOR JOBKEEPER EXTENSION
Complete the following requirements between now and 31st October for a smooth transition to the next round of JobKeeper support
Ensure your JobKeeper Extension eligibility by determining and submitting your decline in turnover for the September 2020 quarter to the ATO.
Determine the rate of JobKeeper applicable for each eligible employee
Pay your eligible employees for JobKeeper fortnights 14 and 15 (starting 28 September 2020 and 12 October 2020). You need to pay each eligible employee at least the JobKeeper payment rate that applies to them.
28TH OCTOBER – DEADLINE FOR SUPER
Your monthly or quarterly Superannuation guarantee (SG) is due for payment by 28th October.
If you don’t pay the minimum amount of super guarantee (SG) for your employee into the correct fund by the due date you may have to pay the super guarantee charge (SGC) to the ATO.
The charge includes the super payable, interest and an administration fee. Notably, it is not tax-deductible.
Don’t wait till the last minute and create unnecessary stress – October is a busy month for bookkeeping.
Compliance and cashflow should be high on your agenda.
Some deadlines to schedule into your calendar.
· 14th October
Lodge September JobKeeper
· 21st October
Lodge and pay monthly BAS
· 28th October
Lodge and pay quarterly or monthly super
Lodge and pay quarterly BAS if you are lodging personally
· 25th November.
Lodge and pay quarterly BAS if being lodged by a registered BAS Agent
And the big one!
JobKeeper Extension – commenced 28th September.
The eligibility criteria is different for October to December. You will need to assess your eligibility for the next three months.
If you do meet the eligibility criteria, you then need to review your staff employment records to determine if they are Tier 1 or Tier 2 employees for the purposes of JobKeeper.
The rates are different and may impact what you pay your employees going forward, and how you record payroll.
For a brief overview of the JobKeeper Extension, try this link to last week’s post.
Please reach out for help if you need.
The COVID19 Experience – Surprising, Amazing, True
I discovered I had 16 spare pillows.
I found myself in an online business meeting wearing the same dressing gown as another participant.
When I talk to my clients on the phone, I find myself leaning on my stand-up desk likes it a bar. I even have a stool now.
We have been adopted by a pigeon. He goes out flying during the day but every night he is back in the chook shed, perched on the top shelf. Mind you, the chook pen is now sporting a rather grand wrought iron gazebo complete with climbing roses, so obviously an aspirational pigeon. In typical fashion, Prince the Pigeon prefers chook food, and the chooks go wild for pigeon seed.
I rearranged the office and ended up with two power boards and an extension cord left over.
The cyclamens have been a constant companion on my kitchen shelf since April and still flowering.
I have been to an online Bollywood dance party.
I grew turnips. All recipes gratefully accepted.
What has been surprising, amazing, or true for you?
JobKeeper Extension 1 – commencing 28th September
There are two separate extension periods
28th September – 3 January 2021
4th January – 28 March 2021
Businesses will need to apply a new turnover test to determine their eligibility for each extension period.
The basic test for the first period is to compare the current Jul-Sep 2020 GST turnover against the GST turnover reported Jul-Sep 2019.
https://www.ato.gov.au/General/JobKeeper-Payment/In-detail/Actual-decline-in-turnover-test/?page=2#Basic_test
Alternative tests are also available.
https://www.ato.gov.au/General/JobKeeper-Payment/In-detail/Actual-decline-in-turnover-test/?page=3#Alternative_test
The JobKeeper payment rates and eligibility will also change.
There are now two tiers of payments available for eligible employees and business participants.
Tier 1 – Payment of $1200 per fortnight for
employees who worked for at least 80 hours in the four weeks of pay periods before either 1 March 2020 or 1 July 2020
eligible business participants who were actively engaged in the business at least 80 hours in February and provide a declaration to confirm this.
Tier 2 – Payment of $750 per fortnight for
any other eligible employee or business participant
If you are already receiving JobKeeper you do not need to re-enrol again.
The JobKeeper scheme is open to new participants if they meet the eligibility criteria for the relevant period.
Applications close today – time is running out
The government wants to
If you work well under pressure Business Victoria is providing support to businesses with the Business Support fund – Expansion program. The program provides $10,000 for employing businesses in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire and $5,000 for employing businesses in regional Victoria (except Mitchell Shire.)
Applications close today.
To be eligible, you must be: an employer receiving JobKeeper registered with WorkSafe as at 30th June 2020 have an annual payroll of less than $3 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis be a sole trader or registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission or the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission or Consumer Affairs Victoria .
You may or not be registered for GST. If you meet these criteria and are motivated by a deadline,
The application form can be completed quite quickly and is not overly complicated.
https://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance/business-support-package
Small business is often identified as the backbone of our country and for good reason.
Small business accounts for a third of Australia’s economic output and pays the wages for more than half of Australia’s workforce. Small businesses are run by locals and typically contribute more than just jobs to local communities.
This year, many small businesses have been hit by not only Covid but also devastating bushfires early in the year – they are doing it tough.
We can all help their recovery by embracing our local businesses, both in store and online, not just as individuals but also as business owners using other small businesses as suppliers.
The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) is asking us all to get behind the Go Local First campaign.
We’ll be helping our local communities. Money spent locally tends to stay within the community but the campaign is also providing resources to build awareness and to encourage support through social media. This is also a great way to contribute.
For more information golocalfirst.com.au
