Evan Barker

Australia is on the brink of a small business succession crisis - and the numbers are staggering. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), almost half of Australia’s 2.6 million small and medium-sized businesses are owned by principals over the age of 50. Even more alarming: 22% - more than 500,000 businesses - are owned by people aged 60 or older. Over the next decade, as these Baby Boomer owners retire, hundreds of thousands of profitable, well-run businesses will come up for sale. These businesses employ millions, underpin our local economies, and represent decades of hard work and community contribution. But there’s a problem: the buyers who want to keep these businesses alive can’t access affordable funding. Banks are comfortable lending against bricks-and-mortar - but they’re far less supportive when the asset is a business built on cash flow, relationships, and reputation. In the US, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has been tackling this exact issue for decades. In 2024 alone, SBA-backed loans provided $56 billion in funding to more than 103,000 small businesses. These loans typically: - Cover up to 90% of the purchase price - Have low default rates - Create 3 to 3.5 jobs per $1 million lent within three years It’s a proven model. It works. Australia? We don’t have anything like it. We guarantee home loans for first-home buyers through the Home Guarantee Scheme, but we don’t back the next generation of business owners. If we don’t act, many of these businesses will be sold to offshore buyers, shut down entirely, or consolidated by private equity groups that don’t share the same long-term, local focus. It’s time for the Australian government to step up. We need a business loan guarantee scheme modelled on the SBA.

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📈💡Start-ups and small- and medium- sized practices (SMPs) are natural partners with enormous potential for mutual growth. Our newest Knowledge Gateway article, by Jeremy Rowe, explores some of the ways they can complement each other, as seen in an exciting partnership between Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and leading innovation hubs. 👉🔗Read the article here: http://bit.ly/4kGqd2X

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💻🧮💰ATO Tax Stats for FY23 A fortnight ago the ATO released its aggregated data set of FY23 tax data. 🏢 What does it show for large corporates? 🇦🇺 AU collects $577b of tax, mostly from individuals $298b, companies $140b and GST $82b. ⛏️ Mining companies paid $54b of the corporate tax. 🧐 The stats include lots of breakdowns, particularly from the International Dealings Schedule. 🌏 Anti-hybrids are a growing area of disclosure and of focus for the ATO. They are getting airtime in ATO CAR questionnaires, with taxpayers needing to dig into their financing / value chains - particularly if they haven’t done so in any detail for lodgment. #taxlaw #transferpricing #internationaltax #taxlitigation

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M-Files and Microsoft deliver the first AI-native document management system that lives inside Microsoft 365. 📦 No more silos. No more fragmented governance. 🔐 Security and compliance? Built in. 🤖 AI-powered workflows? Seamless. 💬 As Adrian Logan from PKF-Francis Clark Chartered accountants & business advisers puts it: “We chose M-Files because of their impressive technology and strong foundation for AI innovation and integrations with Microsoft 365.” Whether you're managing contracts, technical specs, or client deliverables—this is the future of work. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eyFzchgZ #MFiles #Microsoft365 #Copilot #AI #DocumentManagement #DigitalTransformation #ContentWithoutCompromise #MetadataMatters #EnterpriseAI

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PODCAST: The latest episode of Trusted Insights is available to listen to now.  In this episode, we launch our Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa series with Partner Aimee Mitchell is joined by Tax Partner Andrew Ryan, to discuss the complexities of New Zealand’s tax system for new migrants, particularly those entering under the AIP visa. Together they explore key thresholds for tax residency, transitional reliefs, offshore investment rules, and practical steps migrants can take to manage their tax obligations. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gS6yQgy3 #trustedinsights #aip #activeinvestorplus #helpingshapenewzealandsfuture 

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From 1 July 2025, major payroll changes are now in effect: • National minimum wage increased to $24.95/hour • Superannuation guarantee raised to 12% • Payroll tax thresholds updated in NSW and QLD These changes have direct implications for employment costs and compliance obligations. Now is the time to review your payroll processes and contracts. Read our full update to stay ahead: https://lnkd.in/eZ2zs_us #Payroll2025 #BusinessAdvisory #Superannuation #MooreAustralia

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Accountants and tax agents often face challenges in distinguishing whether expenditure on an income-producing property should be classified as repairs or capital. The tendency is to treat these costs as capital without properly analysing the nature of the work undertaken. This issue frequently arises with major renovations to rented apartments, where obtaining a detailed breakdown of the work and associated costs can be difficult. I agree with Manu Gupta that specialist advice should be sought in complex cases, especially where large sums are involved, as the potential tax savings can be substantial and may more than offset the additional professional fees. https://lnkd.in/gYGGG48t

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We have recently authored the New Zealand chapter in Lexology Panoramic: Merger Control. The guide provides insights into New Zealand’s merger control legislation and an overview of its thresholds and filing requirements. You'll find information on the key considerations for both local and foreign investment. 👉 Check out this useful resource: https://lnkd.in/g5ycRT33 Troy Pilkington | Bradley Aburn | Petra Carey #CompetitionLaw #Antitrust #MergersandAcquisitions #MergerControl 

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If you’re an Australian resident for tax purposes, overseas income needs to be included in your Australian tax return. This includes income from: 💲 carrying on a business 💸 interest earned on an international bank account 📱 content creation.

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