Quadricon Building, a commercial refurbishment company based on the northern NSW coast, has shown remarkable growth since its inception in 2014.   Initially starting with just two people, the company has expanded to a team of 30 with three offices along the eastern seaboard. Quadricon specialises in aged care building refurbishments, local council and state government building work.  Key to Entrepreneurial Success  David Freedman, cofounder of Quadricon, emphasises three essential skills for entrepreneurial success: a keen eye for detail, a strong work ethic and a good moral compass.   "The ability to push the envelope and never accept mediocrity is probably the main successful attribute that we have as a business," he states.  Building momentum has been a significant challenge for David.   "Instead of pushing the snowball, we're now running in front of it," he explains. The team’s alignment with core values and the constant drive to exceed client expectations are key motivators for David. He adds, "We have a very like-minded workforce. The team is strong — we all have aligned core values, and I find that they push me as we strive to do more for our clients."  As for many small businesses, COVID-19 was a testing time for Quadricon. Although the construction sector remained relatively buoyant, Quadricon’s aged care projects faced significant disruptions.   "Our biggest lesson learned was to not put people on leave and run down entitlements. Keeping them employed, motivated and trained so that when we came out of the other end of the pandemic, we had an engaged workforce which actually picked up some skills along the way," David reflects.  ISO certification has been a cornerstone of Quadricon’s success, particularly during the pandemic.   "ISO certification involves a lot of looking forward and looking backwards and seeing where we can do business improvement," David notes. Additionally, Quadricon’s focus on web-based mobile solutions has positioned them as an IT-driven business.  Quadricon has had a longstanding relationship with Peter Fowler from Collins Hume.   Peter has been instrumental in forward planning, budgeting, business improvement, business benchmarking, and RAVDA analysis.   "Peter has been with us since the beginning, so he has seen our business grow and knows so much about it," David shares. This partnership dovetailed into their ISO certification, helping Quadricon navigate complex business landscapes.  David highlights the rapid growth Quadricon has experienced, surpassing their five-year plan within three years.   "If you had told me at the beginning that we would grow this big, I would have said no; I was quite content being a boutique operation in the region. It was Peter who continually pushed us towards greater reliability and growth," he admits.  Jennie Freedman, who is an integral part of Quadricon, has now selectively stepped back to focus on key roles three days a week. Her efforts in the initial years were crucial in establishing the company’s administrative processes.   "We've gone from that to having a dedicated person in Melbourne who just does nothing but process electronically," David explains. This delegation has allowed Jennie to balance work with personal commitments, especially with their large family.  Quadricon’s journey from a small team to a thriving company invoicing million-dollar months, even during COVID-19, is a testament to their strong work ethic, aligned core values and strategic partnerships.   David concludes with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: "You need to have a nose for numbers, be able to weigh up, measure, and calculate a risk, and not be afraid to take that risk and back your ability." Read more at https://www.quadracon.com.au/ Elevate your business to new heights. Contact Nathan McGrath  on 02 6686 3000 for an obligation-free discussion on how Collins Hume can help you achieve a better performing business and lifestyle.

Collins Hume is proud to announce being named a regional business awards winner at the 2024 Northern Rivers Business Awards, held at the Ballina RSL over the weekend. As finalists in three categories, Collins Hume proudly took home the Excellence in Business & Professional Services award. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire 28-strong Collins Hume team. Christopher Atkinson, CEO at Collins Hume, expressed immense gratitude while accepting the award on behalf of the firm. “I’m honoured to represent our fantastic team who truly deserve this accolade. This award reflects their hard work and commitment.” “A big thanks to Business NSW and especially Jane Laverty for her unabashed support of Northern Rivers businesses. Business owners are the backbone of every community, and tonight’s celebration is a reminder of the strength and resilience in our region.” Collins Hume’s clients also shone on the night A special mention goes to Five Sixty Farms, Newton Denny Chapelle, Marcon Consultancy, Better by Bike, Resonator Music and Paul “Bluey” McDermott who won Outstanding Employee! Category sponsors Clarence Property said, "Congratulations to Collins Hume for taking out the Excellence in Business & Professional Services category at the Northern Rivers Regional Business Awards this week. A business only receives recognition of this nature if they are achieving outstanding stakeholder results and leading a high-performance team." Jane Laverty, Regional Director, Business NSW Northern Rivers added, “The Northern Rivers Business Awards are all about celebrating and showcasing the diverse talent we have in the Northern Rivers business community, and this year’s finalists and winners should feel incredibly proud to be named as the region’s leading businesses and leaders for 2024”. “It’s been a tough few years, so these awards are a wonderful opportunity to shine a spotlight on the ingenuity, strength and resilience of all the businesses who now represent over 30,000 businesses in the Northern Rivers.” See more award highlights at https://www.facebook.com/BNSWNorthernRivers

The politicians have weighed in on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s economic policy and their reticence to reduce interest rates in the face of community pressure. We look at what the numbers are really showing.   Treasurer Jim Chalmers has stated that global uncertainty and rate rises are “smashing the economy”.   Former Treasurer Wayne Swan weighed in and told Channel 9 that the RBA was, “putting economic dogma over rational economic decision making, hammering households, hammering Mums and Dads with higher interest rates, causing a collapse in spending and driving the economy backwards” and that the RBA was, “simply punching itself in the face.”   Australian mortgage holders and renters have had no relief from interest rates following 13 successive interest rate rises to the official cash rate since May 2022.   The Reserve Bank’s position and the flow through effects  The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Board opted to maintain the official cash rates at 4.35% at its September Board meeting. The rationale is that inflation remains persistently high and has been for the last 11 quarters. The consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.9% over the year to the June quarter and remains above the RBA’s target range of 2-3%.   But, it is not persistently high inflation that is causing the politicians to weigh in. RBA Governor Michele Bullock has warned that “it is premature to be thinking about rate cuts” and “the Board does not expect that it will be in a position to cut rates in the near term.”  The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) June Quarter National Accounts paint a bleak picture of the Australian economy. Per capita GDP fell for the sixth consecutive quarter by -0.4% to -1.5%. The longest consecutive period of extended weakness ever recorded.   Household spending weakest since COVID Delta  Household spending fell by -0.2% in the quarter, the weakest growth rate since the Delta-variant lockdown affected September quarter 2021.  Discretionary spending – travel and hospitality impacted most  The ABS says that we spent less on discretionary items (-1.1%), particularly for events and travel. It will come as no surprise that spending on hotels, cafes and restaurants was down 1.5%. Spending on food also fell -0.1% as households looked to reduce grocery bills.  Household savings lowest since 2006  The savings ratio remains low. Households saved only 0.9% of their income over the year. This was the lowest rate of annual saving since 2006-07. Net savings reduce when household income grows slower than household spending.  Economic growth from Government spending  The Australian economy did grow by 0.2%, the eleventh consecutive quarter of growth but the growth rate was unimpressive. The ABS says that, “the weak growth reflects subdued household demand, which detracted 0.1 percentage points from GDP growth while government consumption contributed 0.3 percentage points, the same contribution to growth as previous quarter.”  Government spending increased by 1.4% over the quarter. Commonwealth social assistance benefits to households led the rise, with continued strength in expenditure on national programs providing health services. State and local government expenditure also rose with increased employee expenses across most states and territories.  The RBA’s position on interest rates  The RBA is on a narrow path. It’s trying to bring inflation back to target within a reasonable timeframe while preserving the gains in the labour market over the last few years. The RBA expects to reach this target range by the end of 2025.  Through 2022 and 2023, most components of the CPI basket were growing faster than usual (the CPI is literally a basket of 87 types of expenditure across 11 groups such as household spending, education and transport.) Over the last 18 months, the price of goods has come down as supply disruptions like COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine have eased, and are now growing close to the historical average.  The key problem areas are housing costs and services. In housing, the growth is from increased construction costs and strong increases in rent. For services, while discretionary spending is down, as we can see from the June National Accounts, inflation in this category remains high at 5.3% to the June quarter. Wage increases and lower productivity, combined with the increased costs of doing business (electricity, insurance, logistics, rent etc) are all impacting.   The RBA is keen to point out that inflation causes hardship for the most vulnerable in our community. Lower income households tend to allocate more of their spending towards essentials, including food, utility bills and rent. Higher income households tend to spend more on owner-occupied housing as well as discretionary items such as consumer durables.  Younger households and lower income households have been particularly affected by cost-of-living pressures. Feeling the pressure? As interest rates rise, it’s essential to stay informed and prepared for the impacts. Let us help you navigate this challenging economic landscape with clarity and confidence. Contact Collins Hume in Ballina on 02 6686 3000 to secure your financial future and weather the economic storm!

CLIENT HUB. ​ Tools and resources for our clients. ​ TRANSFER Transfer QuickBooks, Reckon and MYOB backup files to and from Collins Hume, using your Nimbus portal account. PAYMENTS Make payments easily online. Enter your client details, invoice number, amount and your payment preference to pay a Collins Hume invoice. MYOB Sign into Collins Hume's secure client portal using your MYOB account.

YOU. ​ ​​​That’s all we focus on. ​ You, your family, your wealth, your business and the legacy you (and we) leave. ​ That’s it. ​ Join us on this amazing journey. ​ Let's Begin NEWS. Collins Hume 13 hours ago It wasn’t me: the tax fraud scam Uncover the most common tax scams and learn how to protect yourself from fraudulent refunds and personal data breaches. Don't fall victim. 2 Collins Hume 2 days ago Case Study: Quadricon Building's Journey to Success Discover the inspiring journey of Collins Hume client, Quadricon Building, including their strong work ethic and aligned values. 2 Collins Hume Sep 26 Is the RBA to blame? The economic state of play Feeling the pressure? As interest rates rise, it’s essential to stay informed and prepared for the impacts. 2 Collins Hume Sep 25 Collins Hume Wins at Northern Rivers Business Awards Collins Hume named Excellence in Business & Professional Services winners, an award dedicated to our team! 37 1 2 3 4 5 Our purpose is to inspire business owners to achieve success in powerful and meaningful ways. ​ Giving. Always give more than we receive. Inspiring. Today and every day, we will inspire others to achieve their best. Caring. We care for our team, clients and everyone we connect with. Lifestyle. We work to live, not live to work. Make it enjoyable and meaningful in every way.

​​WHY US?​ ​ Great Question. ​ ​ It's a simple answer. Our purpose is to inspire business owners to achieve success in powerful and meaningful ways. ​ Our clients say it's a journey that starts where the others stopped. ​ Of course, the challenge is that many business owners have a limited perception of what an accountant is or does. We broke the mould at Collins Hume and changed that perception many years ago. ​ Your journey with Collins Hume does start where the others stop. ​ Because we have one focus — YOU —with us, you'll look way beyond the traditional horizons most accountants restrict themselves to. We challenge the status quo and ask tough 'What if…' questions. ​ We employ holistic strategies that will benefit YOU well in the future. ​ All with the ultimate aim of giving you precisely what you're seeking. ​ Let's Begin