Accountant's Minute's Podcast

Peter Towers – Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, and Darren Gleeson – Founder of Tax Fitness, presented a live podcast on moving beyond once-a-year compliance to true strategic partnership. The podcast covers the following: ✅ Why so few SMEs see their accountant as a key strategic partner—and how to change that. ✅ A simple advisory rhythm: quarterly/monthly reviews, onsite conversations, and deep client discovery. ✅ Turning plans into numbers: collaborative business plans that feed predictive accounting (budgets, cash flow, projected balance sheet) and weekly performance. ✅ Benchmarking that drives profit: focus on a handful of KPIs vs the top 20% in your client’s industry. ✅ Faster cash: tighten debtors days with practical steps. ✅ Packaging & capacity: tiered offers, client selection, and standing up an advisory division. This podcast episode provides a crisp blueprint to shift firms from compliance-only to ongoing advisory – powered by metrics, quarterly reviews, and benchmarks that matter. You

Andrew Geddes – FMRC co-founder, long-time Chair of Greencross Ltd, and renowned industry mentor – joins Peter Towers to cut through the noise on where the profession really stands three years after Chris Jordan’s Xerocon warning. We unpack why many firms remain “compliance factories,” and lay out a practical four-step pathway to advisory: ✅ Set clear revenue, profit, and weekly activity targets ✅ Lift margins with pricing, client mix (A/B/C/D), and sales focus ✅ Strengthen cash and controls (stock/WIP, billing, debtor management) ✅ De-risk and build value (leadership, succession, scalability) Real firm examples, candid insights on outsourcing/offshoring, and how to create fewer, deeper, higher-yield client relationships. If you’re serious about moving to external CFO/Board of Advice work, this is your blueprint. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube    

Profitability isn’t a matter of luck—it’s the result of smart, deliberate strategies. In this episode of the Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, Managing Director and Founder of ESS BIZTOOLS, unpacks why pricing is one of the most critical levers for small business success. Peter challenges the traditional “historian’s role” of accountants, urging professionals to step forward as trusted advisors who help SMEs set charge-out rates, create budgets, and monitor performance in real time. Drawing on years of experience and insights from industry leaders, he highlights why so many SMEs are struggling – and why accountants must do more than prepare tax returns after the fact. You’ll discover: ✅ How to guide clients in calculating charge-out rates that truly reflect costs and profit goals. ✅ The importance of ongoing KPIs, cash flow forecasts, and performance reviews. ✅ Why SMEs need proactive advisory – not retrospective compliance. ✅ Practical ways to use tools and calculators that take the guesswork out

In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, Founder and Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, explores one of the most overlooked drivers of SME success: getting the price right. Far too often, small businesses rely on industry hearsay, competitor benchmarks, or guesswork when setting their charge-out rates. The result? Underpricing that eats away at margins or overpricing that drives customers away. As accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors, you hold the key to guiding your clients toward accurate, sustainable pricing strategies. Peter breaks down the fundamentals of calculating true charge-out rates – from labour on-costs and overheads to productivity percentages and profit margins – showing how these elements directly shape business performance. You’ll also hear practical examples across trades, professional services, and retail, and learn how the ESS BIZTOOLS’ Charge-Out Rate Calculators can help advisors remove the guesswork from pricing. More than compliance, this is about helping

In this episode of the Accountant’s Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, Founder and Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, takes a deep dive into the proven advisory essentials that can help accounting firms, bookkeepers, and business advisors scale up their SME clients into stronger, more resilient businesses. Through real-world client stories, Peter illustrates the stark difference between businesses that embrace continuous improvement and those that simply “mark time.” You’ll discover why business health checks, pricing reviews, KPI monitoring, and forward-looking cash flow forecasting are not optional extras – but critical tools for protecting and growing any business, whether they aim to expand or simply remain stable and efficient. Peter also explores practical systems, automation opportunities, and funding strategies – from charge-out rate calculators to Crowd-Sourced Funding equity raising – that you can implement to add measurable value to your clients. With clear, actionable insights, this episode challenges

Peter Towers, Founder and Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, challenges accounting professionals to think beyond compliance and step up as true business advisors. Are you helping your SME clients build the strong foundations they need for sustainable growth? Or are they operating without the critical systems that drive business success? Peter unpacks the essential structures every small and medium-sized business needs—cash flow forecasting, KPIs, business plans, debtor systems, and the rhythm of meetings. Drawing on real-world advisory experience, he shares practical strategies to: ✅ Improve financial discipline and performance visibility ✅ Prevent costly decision-making mistakes ✅ Implement advisory systems your clients will value ✅ Transition your firm towards high-impact advisory services This episode is a call to action for accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors who want to become indispensable to their clients and build stronger, more resilient businesses. You can also access our podcast on:

In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, challenges accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors to step beyond compliance and embrace their true role as strategic advisors. With SME insolvency rates rising and funding pathways often overlooked, now is the time to help your clients access capital through government grants, R&D tax incentives, and equity-raising options like Early-Stage Innovation Companies and Crowd-Sourced Funding. Peter explores: ✅ Why many SME owners miss out on funding – and how you can change that ✅ The practical steps to help clients get funding ready with business plans, forecasts, KPIs, and capital strategies ✅ How capital advisory services can position your firm as indispensable – and reinvigorate your team ✅ Real-life examples of missed opportunities and how proactive advisors can step in Whether your firm is just starting its advisory journey or ready to expand into capital strategy, this episode offers both a roadma

In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers unpacks the critical role accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors play in helping SMEs secure funding for survival and growth. From government grants like the Export Market Development Grant and R&D Tax Incentive to equity capital options including Early-Stage Innovation Companies, Section 708 of Corporations Act, and Crowd-Sourced Funding – this episode is a practical roadmap for advisors ready to step up. Peter challenges the notion that funding advice is only for engineers or scientists, showing how trusted advisors can guide clients through strategic planning, financial forecasting, and capital-raising compliance. You’ll discover: ✅ Why SME clients need more than tax returns ✅ How to help clients access up to $780,000 in grants ✅ The untapped power of R&D advisory for firms ✅ The role of business advisors in capital raising strategies ✅ How offering these services can attract and retain talented team members Whether you're lo

In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, Founder and Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, delivers a clear challenge to accountants and bookkeepers: It’s time to stop planning and start doing. As client demands shift and compliance work becomes increasingly automated, the future of your firm lies in delivering high-value advisory services. But where do you start? Peter walks you through a practical, step-by-step approach to launching and scaling your advisory offering – starting with just one SME client. You’ll discover how to: ✅ Turn weekly performance insights into strategic business decisions ✅ Use the 52-Week Business Enhancement System to drive accountability and results ✅ Package, price, and deliver advisory services with clarity and confidence ✅ Position your firm as your clients’ virtual CFO ✅ Support SME clients in scaling up, funding, and investment readiness This isn’t theory – it’s your blueprint for building long-term, high-impact client relationships that elevate your firm

Most accountants and bookkeepers still deliver what SMEs have come to expect: an annual set of accounts and a tax return. But what if that’s no longer enough? In this powerful episode, Peter Towers, founder of ESS BIZTOOLS, challenges the profession to step up and become the trusted strategic advisor every SME desperately needs. From real-time financial insights to weekly performance reviews, Peter reveals how you can help clients make better decisions – faster – using tools like KPI dashboards, business health checks, cash flow forecasting, and the 52-Week Business Enhancement System. Discover how to: ✅ Build retainer-based, Virtual CFO services ✅ Set up weekly and monthly reporting rhythms that drive accountability ✅ Use business evaluations, checklists, and survival strategies to lift SME performance ✅ Add real value beyond compliance – before AI and automation redefine your role If you're ready to stop reporting history and start shaping the future for your clients, this episode is your roadmap. You

In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, Founder and Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, explores how accountants, bookkeepers and business advisors can offer powerful value to SME clients through capital raising advisory services. Peter explains the immense opportunity in helping SMEs raise funds through Crowd-Sourced Funding (CSF) Equity Raising and Early-Stage Innovation Company (ESIC) status. These services not only help clients grow without debt but also open new revenue channels for your firm – such as virtual CFO roles and strategic advisory board positions. You’ll gain insight into: ✅ How to guide clients through the CSF and ESIC processes ✅ Eligibility rules, documentation requirements, and ATO/ASIC compliance ✅ Why most CSF applications are rejected – and how to help your clients avoid that fate ✅ How your firm can differentiate and grow with these services You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube    

In this compelling episode, Peter Towers, Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, explores how offering Research & Development (R&D) advisory services can transform your firm into a strategic partner for innovative SMEs. Discover why R&D is not just a tax incentive – it’s a powerful differentiation tool for accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors. Peter outlines: ·         Why R&D services are critical in a post-compliance world ·         How to guide clients from idea to incentive and beyond ·         Key requirements: company structure, $20K minimum spend, documentation ·         The ripple effect: mentoring, commercialisation, and capital raising ·         How ESS BIZTOOLS supports your journey with 46 R&D tools and templates With looming changes in compliance workflows and increasing SME demand for innovation support, now is the time to diversify your service offerings. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube    

In this powerful episode Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, Founder and Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, urges accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors to reflect on a vital question: Are you really helping your clients grow, or just lodging their tax returns? Peter shares compelling insights from his journey—ranging from CFO of a public company to advisor on innovation and capital raising—highlighting how traditional compliance work is rapidly losing value in today’s tech-driven world. With AI, value-based pricing, and government-backed funding options reshaping the landscape, firms that fail to diversify will be left behind. Tune in to learn: ✅ Why most SMEs don’t see their accountants as advisors ✅ How to break free from the “compliance-only” trap ✅ The real-world benefits of offering services like R&D support, cash flow forecasting, and capital raising ✅ What you can learn from corporate finance that applies to SME clients ✅ How ESS BIZTOOLS packages are built to help you stand ou

In this episode, Peter Towers, Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, shares a compelling roadmap for accountants, bookkeepers and business advisors ready to transition from tax-focused work to delivering high-impact advisory services for SME clients. Discover how to implement a structured business planning process, identify key client concerns with the SME Needs Analysis, and coordinate meaningful leadership team discussions. Peter outlines the critical steps in developing business plans that don’t just sit in drawers – but actively drive performance. From predictive financial reports and budgeting per business unit to real-time performance tracking and KPI management, this episode is a practical guide to becoming your client's trusted advisor. If you're ready to help clients survive and thrive with a systemised advisory approach, this episode is your blueprint. Don’t miss Peter’s insights into the ESS BIZTOOLS Financial Forecasting Package, including the training and tools that can elevate your firm’s services

In this edition of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, founder and Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, dives deep into the essential – but often overlooked – topic of corporate governance for SMEs. This episode is a must-listen for accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors who want to provide stronger leadership and risk management guidance to their clients. From understanding directors' duties under the Corporations Act to improving board meeting practices, internal controls, and financial literacy, Peter outlines practical steps professionals can take to help SME clients strengthen their governance frameworks. Whether your clients are companies, not-for-profits, sporting clubs, or churches, this episode shows how Corporate Governance can boost confidence, prevent costly mistakes, and build stakeholder trust. Learn how to position yourself as the trusted advisor your clients need to navigate their legal and fiduciary responsibilities. Plus, discover how ESS BIZTOOLS' Corporate Governance and Advis

In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers challenges accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors to step into the role of true strategic partners for SMEs. Discover how financial forecasting, real-time reporting, and predictive accounting can transform your client relationships and your practice. From cash flow management to capital raising through crowdsource funding, Peter outlines the practical tools and advisory opportunities waiting for firms ready to move beyond compliance. If you're looking to deliver deeper value, build recurring advisory revenue, and help clients scale with confidence You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube

In this episode of the Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers explores why family businesses are the cornerstone of the Australian SME sector—and what that means for accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors. With 70% of SMEs being family-run, understanding the unique dynamics, challenges, and opportunities of these businesses is essential. Peter dives into real-world advisory questions—from employing family members and paying fair wages to succession planning and funding options like crowd-sourced equity and early-stage innovation. Discover how ESS BIZTOOLS can equip you with ready-to-use tools, resources, and communication strategies to confidently advise your family business clients and grow your own firm in the process. Whether you're already working with family businesses or just getting started in advisory, this episode will inspire you to think bigger, ask better questions, and deliver real value. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube

In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, founder of ESS BIZTOOLS, challenges accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors to rethink their role with SME clients. It's time to move beyond tax returns and embrace the full potential of business advisory services. Peter explores how tools like the SME Needs Analysis, Business Plus+ newsletters, and Predictive Accounting Reports can empower accountants to deliver real impact – helping clients manage cash flow, reduce debtors days outstanding, plan for succession and raise capital. He also reflects on why many SMEs are missing out on critical advice and how accountants can step into the gap as trusted business advisors. If you’re ready to broaden your services, deepen client relationships, and future-proof your firm, this episode is essential listening.

In this episode of the Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers dives into why so many Australian businesses struggle to scale—and how accountants and advisors play a pivotal role in building the right foundations. From strengthening internal systems and cash flow forecasting to debtors management, supplier negotiations, and business planning, Peter unpacks practical ways professionals can guide SME clients toward sustainable growth. Tune in to discover how you can help your clients avoid costly pitfalls and position your firm as a trusted advisor on their scaling journey. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube    

In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers explores how accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors can respond to the mounting pressures faced by SME clients—and their own firms. With compliance services rapidly evolving and advisory opportunities expanding, Peter outlines how the ESS BIZTOOLS Starter Package equips you to become a virtual CFO, deliver ongoing commercial insights, and support clients through financial forecasting, R&D, charge-out rates, and more. If you're ready to move beyond tax returns and help businesses truly thrive, this episode is your roadmap to getting started. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube