Category Finance

Since 1 October 2026, Australian businesses can no longer add a separate surcharge to eligible Visa, Mastercard, American Express and eftpos card payments. The idea was to make prices clearer for customers. For cafes and other small businesses that used surcharges to cover the cost of taking card payments, it has created a new problem.

Early data suggests some cafes have responded by raising their coffee prices. A survey of more than 10,000 cafes found about one in five lifted prices in October, often by 50 cents. Other transaction data tells a different story, with most businesses leaving prices alone.

Wages, rent and supplier costs are already squeezing small businesses, so owners now have to decide what to do with payment processing fees. They can absorb them, build them into advertised prices, or look at other payment arrangements.

This article looks at how the surcharge ban is playing out for cafes and small businesses, what’s driving price changes, and how to manage merchant fees without hurting your profit.

Australian motorists and businesses are facing continued pressure from elevated oil prices, with global energy market uncertainty pushing petrol and diesel costs well above pre-conflict levels. Although fuel prices have eased slightly from recent peaks, the outlook remains uncertain, and forecasts suggest oil prices may not return to earlier levels until 2030.

The impact extends beyond the petrol station. Higher fuel prices can increase freight, delivery, production and operating costs, potentially flowing through to the prices of groceries and other everyday goods. They can also place additional pressure on inflation and influence expectations for future interest rate decisions.

For Australian households, this means budgeting carefully and preparing for potentially higher living expenses. For small business owners, it highlights the importance of monitoring cash flow, reviewing operating costs, and planning for different economic scenarios.

This article examines the reasons behind the oil price surge, its potential effects on Australia's economy and the practical steps households and businesses can take to manage ongoing cost pressures.

The end of the financial year is an important time for Australian businesses to review their finances, complete tax and reporting obligations and prepare for the year ahead.

EOFY is more than simply lodging a tax return. It is an opportunity to make sure business records are accurate, outstanding invoices and bills are accounted for, assets are properly recorded, tax deductions are supported, and the business has a clear understanding of its financial position.

The Australian Government recommends businesses use EOFY to organise financial records, prepare profit and loss information, review debtors and creditors, check assets, consider eligible deductions and concessions, complete relevant tax and reporting obligations and review business performance for the coming year.

For business owners, good EOFY preparation can also provide valuable insight into profitability, cash flow and the decisions that may need to be made in the new financial year.

Receiving an ATO tax debt can be stressful, particularly for small business owners who may not have enough cash available to pay the full amount by the due date.

An ATO of debt can arise for several reasons, including an income tax liability, GST, PAYG withholding, PAYG instalments or other business tax obligations. Having a tax debt does not necessarily mean you need to pay the entire amount immediately if you are experiencing genuine financial difficulty. The Australian Taxation Office provides payment arrangements for eligible individuals and businesses who cannot pay their debt in full by the due date.

However, an ATO payment plan is not a way to make the debt disappear. General interest charge (GIC) continues to accrue on unpaid amounts, including while a payment plan is in place. Paying the debt as quickly as your cash flow allows can therefore reduce the amount of interest that accumulates.
The key is to address the debt early, understand your cash flow, and communicate with the ATO rather than allowing the debt to remain unmanaged.

For many Australians, tax is something dealt with once a year, a stressful scramble before the 30 June deadline. But this reactive approach often means paying more tax than necessary and struggling with cash flow throughout the year.

True tax planning is not just about compliance; it is the legal practice of organising your finances to directly protect your liquidity. When done consistently and correctly, it stands as one of the most powerful tools available to improve your cash flow, without requiring you to cut operational costs or generate new sales revenue.

This article walks through straightforward, ATO-compliant strategies that individuals, sole traders, and small business owners across Australia can start using today to keep cash moving smoothly

Australia’s economy has slowed sharply at the start of 2026, with new GDP data showing growth of just 0.3% in the March quarter down from 0.9% the quarter prior and below market expectations. The weaker-than-expected result reflects a convergence of pressures: subdued household consumption squeezed by elevated interest rates and cost-of-living stress, declining export volumes, and a negative contribution from net trade. Business investment particularly in equipment, infrastructure, and technology remains a genuine bright spot, but economists caution it is insufficient to offset the drag from the consumer sector. This article breaks down the key components driving the slowdown, examines the role of RBA monetary policy, and assesses what the data signals about Australia’s economic trajectory through the remainder of 2026.