ESS BIZTOOLS Podcast (Accountant's Minute)

Only 15% of Aussie SMEs see their accountant as a Key Strategic Partner — the go-to advisor driving growth and success. In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, is joined by Darren Gleeson (Founder, Tax Fitness) to show how top 20% benchmarking turns "advisory" into a repeatable system – fast, evidence-based, and built for quarterly client conversations that improve profit and performance. SPECIAL OFFER: Use code ESS100 to get Tax Fitness for $1,000 + GST (save $200) plus 12 months FREE access to the ESS BIZTOOLS Starter Package. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube

In this final Accountants Minute Podcast episode for 2025, Peter Towers is joined by Darren Gleeson, Managing Director of TaxFitness, to explore how benchmarking and virtual CFO services can transform struggling SMEs into top-performing businesses. They discuss why benchmarking against the top 20% (not the average) is critical, how to turn profit gaps into advisory opportunities, and why accountants and bookkeepers must move beyond compliance if they want to stay relevant in an AI-driven world. Perfect for firms ready to lead clients—and their own team—into 2026 with stronger profitability and sharper advisory services. 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 how predictive accounting reports turn a business plan into a live early-warning radar for SMEs — with budgets by operation, key drivers, cashflow forecasts, projected balance sheets and KPIs all working together. You'll hear real stories of how weak communication, poor debtor and creditor management, and hidden inventory or capex blowouts can quietly destroy cash flow — and how accountants, acting as Virtual CFOs, can step in, monitor the numbers weekly, and protect profitability. Peter also highlights the role of benchmarking with the top 20% of performers and best-practice Trades Charge-Out Rate Calculators as powerful tools to help your clients scale with confidence. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube  

In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers introduces Stage One of the Innovation Journey — where every breakthrough begins with a simple idea. You'll discover how accountants and bookkeepers can guide SMEs from that first spark through R&D eligibility, record-keeping, prototype development and commercial planning. This is your roadmap to becoming the internal auditor, advisor and strategic navigator SMEs desperately need as they innovate, experiment and build new intellectual property. If your firm wants to lead clients through real innovation (and unlock new advisory revenue along the way), this episode is your starting point. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube

Transforming from "tax technician" to true key strategic partner is no longer optional. In this episode of the Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers unpacks the uncomfortable gap between what 75% of accountants think they deliver and what SMEs actually say in the Intuit QuickBooks SMB Navigator Report. You'll explore why so many firms are still seen as "transactional", how to test your own client perception with a simple three-option survey, and the practical steps to deepen Financial / Commercial / Management Accounting services so clients genuinely see you as their go-to advisor. Tune in and start shifting your firm's vote to "Key Strategic Partner". You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube

In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers unpacks why only 15% of SMEs currently see their accountant as a true Key Strategic Partner – and what you can do to change that. You'll discover how to reposition your firm from "tax return provider" to virtual CFO, delivering Financial / Commercial / Management Accounting advisory services that help SMEs survive, thrive, and scale up. Peter also shares practical insights on debtor management, cash flow, the innovation journey, and capital raising – and outlines how the ESS BIZTOOLS product packages (including a limited-time 75% Black Friday discount) can fast-track your road to advisory excellence. 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 so many SMEs are still failing – and how accountants, bookkeepers and advisors can change that story. Drawing on Michael Gerber's "Dreaming Room" concept, real client case studies and the ESS BIZTOOLS Starter Package, Peter shows you how to build systems, introduce virtual CFO-style support, and position your firm as the strategic partner SMEs desperately need to survive and grow. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube

Turn "it's a buyer's market" on its head. In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers shows how advisors can double an SME's sale value by planning early – embedding systems, documenting IP, driving weekly performance, building real business plans, and running annual valuations – so the multiple moves from "average" to outstanding. If you help clients prepare like a listed company, you don't just tidy up before sale – you create the premium. Listen now and learn how to lead, lift the multiple, and help your clients cash out stronger. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube

Crowd-Sourced Funding (CSF) Equity Raising: a real, underused pathway for SMEs – and a powerful advisory opportunity for your firm. In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers busts the myth that only unlisted public companies can raise via CSF, explains the ASIC-licensed intermediary model, and shows how accountants, bookkeepers and advisors can prepare SME clients to raise up to $5M without a prospectus. You'll learn where firms add the most value – investment-readiness (plans, budgets, cashflow forecasts, governance), crafting the CSF Offer Document, and converting post-raise support into ongoing Virtual CFO work. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube

When smart corporate leaders buy small businesses, they often discover hidden gaps—pricing by margin instead of markup, giving credit too freely, weak debtor follow-ups, and zero cash-flow rhythm. In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers unpacks a real case study and shows how accountants, bookkeepers, and advisors can step in as the strategic partner: install weekly performance reporting, set pricing correctly, tighten credit control, and guide buyers with ESS BIZTOOLS Buying a Business toolkit. Help clients survive the first 6–12 months—and build a business that lasts. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube    

In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers busts the myth that R&D is "only for engineers" and shows how accountants and bookkeepers can lead as the internal-audit partner—keeping evidence tight, forms right, and AusIndustry-ready. Learn how to spot eligible clients, ensuring at least $20,000 was spent on approved R&D work in the financial year being claimed, and turn refundable offsets for sub-$20m companies into real cash flow—opening pathways to ESIC, crowdfunding, and ongoing Virtual CFO work. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube  

Only 15% of SMEs see their accountant as a true strategic partner. In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers unpacks why – spotlighting MYOB's findings on poor debtor practices (no credit vetting, weak follow-up, rising DSO) – and outlines how firms can flip the script. Learn practical, billable ways to implement robust debtor systems, set clear terms, use pre-due reminders, and track Debtors Days Outstanding monthly. Equip your team to lift cash flow for clients – and your positioning as their essential advisor. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube    

Selling advisory isn't about luck – it's a system. In this Accountants Minute Podcast episode, Peter Towers reports on discussion with master sales trainer Trevor Marchant to unpack how firms can move from transactional compliance to true "key strategic partner" status. Learn the internal prep you need (team training, SME needs analysis, rhythm of reporting), how to frame value around dominant buying motives, and practical steps to confidently package, price, and sell advisory services that SMEs will say yes to – consistently. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube    

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 can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube

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 of pricing. If your clients are undercharging, guessing their margins, or missing key performance indicators, they're not just at risk – they're running blind. This episode shows how you can step into the role of "profit partner" and deliver the strategic advice SMEs are crying out for. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube    

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 SMEs thrive, scale up, and achieve the profitability they deserve. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube    

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 you to move beyond tax returns and become the trusted advisor SMEs truly need in today's challenging business climate. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube    

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: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube

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 roadmap and a rallying cry. It's not just about numbers – it's about impact. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube