Scale Up SMEs With Proven Advisory Essentials
Accountants Minute 419
The groundwork has been laid. You’ve helped your SME clients put cash flow forecasts in place, monitor meaningful KPIs, implement better debtor systems, craft business plans, and establish a rhythm of structured meetings.
Too many SMEs stall after establishing the basics. They get stuck in survival mode, missing the chance to evolve into high-performing, investor-attractive businesses. Why? Because they lack strategic follow-through.
As a proactive advisor, this is where you can truly elevate your value.
By shifting the conversation from stability to scalability, you position yourself not just as a financial technician – but as a growth strategist. And your clients? They gain a partner who helps them think bigger, act smarter, and grow faster.
Here’s how you can take your advisory impact to the next level:
Business Health Checks: Diagnose Before You Prescribe
Just like a medical check-up, a business health check gives you – and your client – a clear view of what’s working and what’s not.
Use structured reviews to assess profitability, productivity, pricing, systems, and team performance. The insights you uncover can spark powerful conversations and strategic shifts.
TIP: Offer this as a recurring service – quarterly or bi-annually – to keep your clients on track and responsive to market changes.
Pricing Reviews: Unlock Hidden Profit
Far too many SMEs undercharge, discount too often, or fail to regularly review their pricing models.
Help your clients understand their true cost structures, competitor benchmarks, and customer value. Adjusting pricing – even modestly – can often deliver significant gains to the bottom line.
This isn’t just number crunching. It’s business model optimisation.
Systems & Automation: Buy Back Time
Growth demands time – and most business owners don’t have enough of it. That’s why streamlining operations is crucial.
Encourage clients to review their processes. What can be automated? What can be delegated? What tech tools can reduce human error and increase efficiency?
You don’t need to be a software expert – you just need to guide the conversation.
Funding Readiness: Prepare for the Next Leap
Many SMEs hit a growth ceiling because they’re not prepared to access funding when the opportunity arises.
Ensure your clients have up-to-date financials, forecasts, business plans, and KPIs in place. Whether it’s a bank loan, investor pitch, or government grant, being “funding ready” gives them a competitive edge – and positions you as a key enabler.
Advisory Packages: Systemise Your Services
To deliver ongoing value without stretching your capacity, systemise your advisory offering.
This allows you to scale up your firm while providing measurable outcomes to SME clients.
Webinar: Solid Foundations – Essentials For SME Success
Want to deepen your impact and help clients build resilient businesses from the ground up?
Join us in our live webinar:
📅 Thursday 14 August at 11am AEST
You’ll learn practical strategies to help SME clients master the essentials – including:
✅ Cash flow forecasting
✅ High-impact KPIs
✅ Debtor systems
✅ Practical business planning
✅ And the rhythm of structured meetings
This session is perfect for accountants, bookkeepers and business advisors who want to go beyond short-term fixes and deliver long-term results. Secure your spot and start building better businesses – one solid step at a time.
The Future of Accounting Is Advisory – Are You Ready?
SMEs don’t need more compliance processors. They need partners who help them navigate complexity, seize opportunities, and build lasting success.
When you shift your role from reactive to proactive, from technical to strategic, you unlock a new level of influence – and income.
At ESS BIZTOOLS, we’ve developed a full suite of ready-to-use tools, templates, and training to help you deliver high-impact advisory services from day one.
Let’s Help You Lead the Shift
Explore our product packages – designed specifically for accounting and bookkeeping firms ready to grow their impact (and revenue) by guiding SMEs from foundation to expansion.
✅ Done-for-you templates
✅ Client conversation scripts
✅ Advisory service packages
✅ Strategic planning frameworks
✅ Training and support for your team
EXPORE ESS BIZTOOLS AND SUBSCRIBE HERE
The opportunity is clear. SMEs are hungry for guidance. The only question is – will it be you they turn to?
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 .
Free Webinar by ESS BIZTOOLS
Solid Foundations: Essentials for SME Success
📅 Thursday 14 August 2025 | 11am AEST
Know Your SME’s Worth: Charge-Out Rates That Work
📅 Thursday 28 August 2025 | 11am AEST
ESS BIZTOOLS Podcast
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.
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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