The Holistic Accountant

Ep 172: Capital allocation policy: owner wage, buffers, reinvestment, investing, lifestyle

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us Fan MailRandom distributions create random wealth outcomes.In this episode, Stuart and Mena introduce the concept most business owners don’t...

Ep 171: The gross margin lie: your mark-up math is wrong

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textYou think you’re making 40%. In reality, you might be making 15%.In this episode, Stuart and Mena expose the “mark-up illusion”, the ...

Ep 170: Data room first: exit readiness starts 24 months early

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textYou cannot scramble your way to a premium exit in 90 days.In this episode, Stuart and Mena explain why serious exit preparation begins at l...

Ep 169: Shadow Equity: Incentives without giving away shares

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textAt some point, every growing business owner faces the same dilemma: how do you get owner-level thinking from key staff without handing over...

Ep 168: The key person discount & the sabbatical stress test: why your business is devaluing you

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textHere’s a confronting question: If you disappeared for 30 days, what actually breaks?In this episode, Stuart and Mena unpack the Key Perso...

Ep 167: The Finance Function Evolution: bookkeeper → controller → virtual CFO

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textMany business owners feel stuck in the uncomfortable middle: too big for basic bookkeeping, but not ready or willing to pay for a full-time...

Ep 166: Philanthropy at Scale: Private Ancillary Funds & Giving With Governance

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textPhilanthropy changes when wealth reaches a certain scale. It stops being about one-off generosity and starts becoming a question of structu...

Ep 165: When choosing an accountant on price may quietly cost you more

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMost business owners believe accounting is a commodity. The tax return gets lodged, the ATO is paid, and everything looks fine, so why p...

Ep 164: Financial Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make in Their First Three Years

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn the early years of running a business, most financial mistakes aren’t dramatic; they’re subtle, common, and quietly destructive. ...

Ep 163 : Best of 2025 - How to read financial statements like a CFO 

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMost business owners glance at their financial statements and move on. CFOs do the opposite; they use them as a decision-making tool to ...

Ep 162: Best of 2025- How to tax effectively get money out of a company

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena explore one of the most common and misunderstood questions business owners face: how to tax-effectively...

Ep 161: Best of 2025- Navigating the main residence 6-year rule CGT exemption

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart unpack the ins and outs of Australia’s often misunderstood 6-year CGT exemption rule for main residen...

Ep 160: Best of 2025- Strategies to minimise CGT

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena take a deep dive into one of the biggest and often most misunderstood taxes investors face, Capital Gai...

Ep 159: Best of 2025- Tax changes for 2025-26 financial year

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart unpack the latest tax updates for the 2025–26 financial year, helping listeners navigate changes that...

Ep 158 : 500+ of interviews, top 5 lessons: what every successful business owner must know

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena unpack the five lessons that kept surfacing across 500+ founder interviews from The School of Hard Knoc...

Ep 157: The strategic shortcut- 5 questions that transform business growth

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena unveil a strategic shortcut for time-poor founders: five questions that cut through noise and pinpoint ...

10 important business tips from Verne Harnish

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena unpack ten punchy lessons from Verne Harnish’s Scaling Up, plus a sharp LinkedIn distillation by Jenn...

When to Rethink Your Advisors- Red Flags With Your Accountant or Advisor

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this candid episode, Stuart and Mena unpack the red flags that signal it’s time to rethink your accountant or business advisor, and...

Redefining success: What does it really mean in business?

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this thought-provoking episode of The Holistic Accountant, Stuart and Mena challenge the traditional metrics of success in business. ...

When Partnerships Fall Apart: Why Some Business Collaborations Just Don’t Work

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode of The Holistic Accountant, Stuart and Mena dive into the complexities of business partnerships, why they’re formed, w...

The Synergy Effect – How Smart Integration drives business growth

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena explore the powerful concept of synergy and how strategic integration can fuel sustainable business gro...

Don’t trust your accountant

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena unpack the provocative, but crucial message behind the title “Don’t Trust Your Accountant.” It’...

Conducting a health check of your business

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena explore why every business owner should conduct regular health checks, not just when things go wrong, b...

1%ers in business that can benefit your personal lifestyle

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena explore the lesser-known “1%ers” in business—small, smart strategies that can make a big differen...

Young entrepreneurs and building wealth outside their core business

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena shift the focus to young entrepreneurs, those building businesses but wondering how to build wealth bey...

Maximising your EV FBT Benefits as a business owner

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena break down one of the most generous tax perks currently available to employees and employers alike: the...

Common accounting errors to avoid

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena uncover the most common accounting errors that can quietly cost business owners thousands in tax, compl...

Making money with small-scale property development: Risks and opportunities

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena take a deep dive into the world of small-scale property development, highlighting both the potential re...

Sale Succession Strategy – Selling to an External Buyer

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this follow-up episode on succession planning, Stuart and Mena explore the second path: selling your business to an external buyer. U...

Transition Succession Strategy – Selling to Key Staff  

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena kick off their new series on succession planning by exploring the transition pathway, where ownership a...

3 Pillars of Business: Profit margin, Distribution, and Demand

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena unpack the three essential pillars of building a successful, scalable, and sustainable business: profit...

Business Activity Statements 101

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this practical and info-packed episode, Stuart and Mena demystify Business Activity Statements (BAS) for business owners, sole trader...

How to tax effectively get money out of a company

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena explore one of the most common and misunderstood questions business owners face: how to tax-effectively...

Strategies to minimise CGT

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena take a deep dive into one of the biggest and often most misunderstood taxes investors face, Capital Gai...

All you need to know about purchasing a franchise

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart take a close look at the pros and cons of purchasing a franchise and whether it’s truly the right pat...

Navigating the main residence 6-year rule CGT exemption.

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart unpack the ins and outs of Australia’s often misunderstood 6-year CGT exemption rule for main residen...

Treasurer, Jim Chalmers calls for tax reform.

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart dive into Australia’s complex tax system, using insights from a thought-provoking discussion paper by...

Digitising, streamlining and automating your tax affairs

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart share practical strategies to streamline tax administration and reduce headaches for individuals and in...

Tax changes for 2025-26 financial year

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart unpack the latest tax updates for the 2025–26 financial year, helping listeners navigate changes that...

Should you be considering a super contribution strategy as a tax planning measure in your 30s and 40s?

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart explore whether making additional super contributions in your 30s and 40s is a smart tax planning move ...

Considerations for your business when creating your Will

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart delve into the critical considerations for Australian business owners when creating a will. They unpack...

What to consider when establishing a corporate beneficiary?

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textUsing a corporate beneficiary, commonly called a bucket company, is a smart move for many trust structures, particularly when tax effici...

Lessons from a quarter of a century in business

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week, the mic flips! Mena takes the lead and interviews Stuart about the biggest lessons he’s learned in nearly 25 years of runni...

Non-Financial Considerations When Purchasing or Partnering With a Business

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBuying or partnering with a business isn’t just a numbers game. In this comprehensive episode, Stuart and Mena unpack the often-overlo...

Profit Distribution Strategy to Minimise Income Tax

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textGetting profit out of your trading entity isn’t as simple as it seems—and doing it wrong could cost you. In this strategy-focused ep...

What Does a Holistic Accountant Financial Health Check Include?

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAn accountant’s job is more than ticking boxes—it’s about taking a 360° view of your finances. In this episode, Stuart and Mena o...

What Does a Labor Party Victory Mean for Small Business?

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textA Labor Party win brings a wave of policy changes—some offering opportunities, others increasing complexity for small businesses. In t...

What is the Biggest Profit Multiplier?

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWant to dramatically grow your business profits? Stuart and Mena reveal that instead of focusing on dozens of small changes, most busine...

Navigating Decision Paralysis

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSudden wealth sounds like a dream—until it isn’t. In this deeply insightful episode, Stuart and Mena unpack financial decision paral...

Small Business Tax Planning

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textEffective tax planning isn’t just for big corporations — it’s an essential lever for small business success. In this power-packed ...

PAYG/Individual Tax Planning

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAs 30 June approaches, Stuart and Mena shift focus to PAYG employees and individual taxpayers, sharing key tax planning strategies that ...

Beware! The ATO is on the Audit Warpath

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAudit activity is ramping up fast. In this crucial episode, Stuart and Mena reveal the sharp rise in ATO audits they've seen in the...

Tax strategies to optimise your borrowing capacity

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWant to boost your borrowing power without compromising your long-term tax strategy? In this episode, Stuart and Mena unpack the critica...

Considerations When Making a Living Inheritance

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textTraditional estate planning can be complicated, with legal disputes and tax burdens creating hurdles for beneficiaries. In this episode,...

What Value Can Accountants Add?

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat makes a great accountant invaluable to your business and finances? In this episode, Stuart and Mena go beyond compliance work to ex...

How to make your business cash work for you

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textManaging business profits effectively is crucial to minimising tax risks and optimising cash flow. In this episode, Stuart and Mena brea...

Becoming a self-employed medical specialist - here’s what you need to know.

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThinking of making the transition from an employed medical practitioner to running your own private practice? In this insightful episode...

The art of business structuring

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textPodcast Episode: S05 – E03 – The Art of Business StructuringGetting your business structure right from day one can make or break you...

What will accountants be doing in 2040?

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this thought-provoking episode, Stuart and Mena dive into the future of accounting and how it’s set to transform by 2040. Gone are ...

What are things that business owners should be thinking about and working on at the beginning of the year?

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena kick off Season 5 of the HA podcast by highlighting the importance of business goal-setting at the star...

When You Should Consider Outsourcing Your Finance Function

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textOutsourcing your finance function might sound risky, but as Stuart and Mena explain, it can be a strategic game-changer for businesses a...

Understanding Employee Share Schemes for Your Small Business

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into the ins and outs of Employee Share Schemes (ESS) for small and medium businesses. They discu...

How Payroll Tax Works and What You Need to Know

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textStuart and Mena break down payroll tax, a significant revenue source for state governments, explaining how it’s calculated and why it’...

MYOB versus Xero: which software is better for business?

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena compare MYOB and Xero, two leading accounting software options in Australia. While both offer core feat...

Understanding the Instant Asset Write-Off

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textStuart and Mena explore the intricacies of the instant asset write-off, a tax incentive allowing small businesses to claim immediate ded...

Case study: $66,000 annual tax saving

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into a real client case, showcasing how strategic financial planning can yield impressive savings...

The Future of Work: How AI and Automation Are Reshaping the Modern Business Landscape

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into how AI and automation are rapidly reshaping the business world, highlighting the future of w...

Identifying what business failure looks like

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this insightful episode, Mena and Stuart tackle the crucial signs of business failure that every owner should watch for. They reveal ...

The key to business success is fanatical discipline

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena discuss the importance of fanatic discipline in achieving long-term business success. Drawing a paralle...

Using the flywheel concept to grow your business

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena explore the powerful Flywheel concept, originally developed by Jim Collins, and how it can drive sustai...

How to improve your business’ productivity

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart Wemyss and Mena explore strategies to enhance business productivity amidst Australia’s declining productivity ...

Firing bullets and then firing cannonballs

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena introduce Jim Collins' book 'Great by Choice', focusing on how companies thrive in uncer...

Interest rates have a wide-reaching impact on business

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart dive into the various ways rising interest rates can impact businesses. They explain how higher interes...

The importance of running your own race

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this podcast, Mena and Stuart emphasise the importance of staying focused on your own business strategy and pace. They caution agains...

Why self-employed people favour investing in property

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena explore why self-employed individuals often gravitate toward property investment and the key considerat...

How to prepare your business for an economic slowdown/recession

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart discuss practical strategies for businesses to navigate an economic slowdown or recession in Australia,...

How to maximise your borrowing capacity from your business

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena explore strategies to maximise borrowing capacity from your business profits. They stress the importanc...

How to structure your property development

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into the complexities of property development, offering valuable insights on how to structure you...

How to best protect your interests in the event of a relationship breakdown

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into the crucial topic of protecting your interests in the event of a relationship breakdown, esp...

Protecting your business from cybersecurity threats

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena tackle the crucial topic of protecting your business from cybersecurity threats. With 59% of losses rep...

What insurance should you have for your business?

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDo you have a question? Email [email protected] and Stuart and Mena may answer it in the podcast.In this episode, Stuart and ...

Asset protection for business owners

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena dive into the crucial topic of asset protection for business owners. They explore the various risks tha...

Create a financial crystal ball for your business

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart explore the power of financial modelling and why it's essential for your business. They discuss th...

Business planning for a new year

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart explore key strategies for planning your business for a successful new year. They start by emphasising ...

How to fire a bad customer

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart tackle the challenging but crucial topic of how to fire a customer that doesn’t suit your business. T...

Top 5 reasons why businesses fail

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into the top five reasons why businesses fail and offer practical advice on how to avoid these pi...

Our top 10 hiring mistakes and learnings

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into the top 10 hiring mistakes and the invaluable lessons they've learned along the way. Th...

Customer feedback surveys: everything business owners must know

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena dive into the world of customer feedback surveys, uncovering essential insights for business owners. Th...

Tax planning for End of Financial Year

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena provide a comprehensive guide to end-of-financial-year tax planning strategies that can help maximise y...

Should I merge my business?

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena dive into the critical considerations surrounding business mergers, offering valuable insights for entr...

What should my profit margin be? 5 strategies to improve it

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Mena and Stuart delve into acceptable profit margins and strategies to improve them. They emphasise regularly reviewing...

What to do if you are reliant on one customer?

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena discuss the challenges and potential strategies for businesses that are heavily reliant on a single maj...

Why you should outsource your bookkeeping function

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena dive into the invaluable benefits of outsourcing your bookkeeping function, highlighting how it can be ...

Considering financing an asset in your business? Here’s a few considerations

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena dive into the different finance solutions available for asset finance and discuss the pros and cons of ...

Debunking common tax minimisation myths

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena debunk common tax minimisation myths perpetuated by some accountants to attract clients. They delve int...

Who’s going to look after your business when you die?

09 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into a critical topic: "Who’s going to look after your business when you die?" Tune i...

Under what circumstances can businesses borrow?

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into the intricate world of business borrowings, offering invaluable insights and strategies to n...

Powerful business insights – introduction to cost accounting

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena dive into the powerful world of cost accounting, unveiling strategies to gain deep insights into your b...

Making the most of the 1 July tax cuts

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this insightful episode, Stuart and Mena delve into strategic approaches for maximising the benefits of the 1 July Stage 3 tax cuts. ...

How to minimise land tax

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Stuart and Mena unravel the intricacies of minimising land tax, a looming concern expected to rise in the foreseeable f...