New to Advisory Services? We've Got You Covered.
Accountants Minute 404
The small business sector is struggling – and it’s calling out for help. High interest rates, inflationary pressures, sluggish economic growth, and supply chain issues are just the tip of the iceberg. According to the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), 46% of small businesses reported no profit in their most recent financial year, and nearly 75% of full-time self-employed operators are earning less than the national average wage.
Meanwhile, the accounting profession is facing a crossroads of its own. Automation, AI, and ATO digital systems are fast reducing the demand for traditional compliance work. As Chris Jordan (former Tax Commissioner) bluntly stated at Xerocon 2022:
The question is: what are you doing about it?
It’s Time to Embrace the Shift to Advisory
This changing landscape isn’t just a warning – it’s an invitation. The need for proactive, commercial, and financially savvy advisory services has never been greater. SMEs want help. Your firm can be the one to guide them.
But where do you start if you’re new to advisory?
That’s exactly why ESS BIZTOOLS has developed a suite of ready-to-use, accountant-built advisory packages – practical resources designed to help your firm expand into business advisory services with confidence and professionalism.
These are not theoretical frameworks. These are structured systems – used and refined in real accounting firms – that equip your team to deliver high-impact services from day one.
Introducing the ESS BIZTOOLS Advisory Services Packages
Whether you’re advising a tradie on charge-out rates, helping a small retailer manage cash flow, or guiding a tech startup through R&D claims, our platform provides the tools and templates to:
✅ Conduct a deep-dive business analysis to understand internal controls, KPIs, and systems
✅ Prepare and review business plans, giving structure to your client’s strategy
✅ Build budgets and cash flow forecasts that turn plans into financial reality
✅ Implement a 52-Week Business Enhancement System that keeps performance on track year-round
✅ Deliver fiscal management support for inventory, debtors, suppliers, WIP, and capital expenditure
✅ Educate SMEs on the characteristics of a well-run business – and how to get there
✅ Help tradies set charge-out rates that reflect real profitability goals
✅ Introduce clients to the benefits of R&D tax incentives, with tools to support early-stage advice
✅ Provide guidance through crisis situations, including natural disasters or economic disruptions
From Compliance Workhorse to Trusted Advisor
Firms that have embraced advisory services report higher client satisfaction, stronger long-term relationships, and improved team retention. Why? Because the work is more meaningful. It’s more engaging. And it allows team members to contribute to real business outcomes, not just historical reporting.
Your clients want to build stronger, smarter, more sustainable businesses. You can help them—starting now.
Free Webinar – Advisory Accelerator: Practical Solutions that Work
📅 Wednesday 14 May 2025
🕚 11:00 AM AEST
💻 Live and Complimentary
This practical and inspiring session will walk you through the full range of ESS BIZTOOLS advisory packages, showing you how to:
✅ Add value to SME clients through proactive services
✅ Use structured systems to deliver consistent advisory outcomes
✅ Differentiate your firm in a crowded market
✅ Future-proof your business model as compliance work continues to decline
Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to build on existing capabilities, this webinar will help you see what’s possible – and how easy it can be with the right tools.
Start the Journey. Transform Your Firm. Help SMEs Thrive.
The writing is on the wall for compliance-only firms. But the opportunities are massive for firms that embrace the future. Don’t wait until your clients leave for a firm that offers more. Start delivering the services they need – today.
ESS BIZTOOLS has your back.
We’ve spent decades building the resources, checklists, tools, and strategies that accountants and bookkeepers need to succeed in advisory. And now we want to share them with you.
Visit our website – www.essbiztools.com.au – to discover the detailed overview of the services provided by ESS BIZTOOLS. You are also welcome to contact us on 0418 190 181 or email .
ESS BIZTOOLS Podcast
In this episode of the Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, explores how accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors can create meaningful conversations that go beyond compliance and drive real results for SME clients. Drawing from decades of experience, Peter highlights the importance of proactive client engagement, effective communication of advisory services, and the power of tools like the Business Plus+ newsletter to spark valuable dialogue and deliver measurable improvements in client outcomes. Discover how to shift your conversations from reactive to transformative – and why it’s time to start promoting your advisory offerings like your clients market their own businesses.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST
Listen to more Accountants Minute Podcast episodes here
Want to know more?
Visit www.essbiztools.com.au.
If you would like to have a discussion about how this concept of virtual CFO services can be supplied by Australian accounting firms please ring our Managing Director, Peter Towers, on 0418 190 181 and we will arrange a complimentary 45-minute Zoom meeting to discuss your firm’s position and to give you our advice.
We believe that this is the blueprint for the delivery of an enhanced range of services by Australian Accounting and Bookkeeping firms to assist SME businesses to add value to their businesses and to assist accountants and bookkeepers not only to attract but to retain outstanding talent who want to be involved in the delivery of “real accounting services”.
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