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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers unpacks the critical role accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors play in helping SMEs secure funding for survival and growth. From government grants like the Export Market Development Grant and R&D Tax Incentive to equity capital options including Early-Stage Innovation Companies, Section 708 of Corporations Act, and Crowd-Sourced Funding – this episode is a practical roadmap for advisors ready to step up.

Peter challenges the notion that funding advice is only for engineers or scientists, showing how trusted advisors can guide clients through strategic planning, financial forecasting, and capital-raising compliance.

You’ll discover:

✅ Why SME clients need more than tax returns

✅ How to help clients access up to $780,000 in grants

✅ The untapped power of R&D advisory for firms

✅ The role of business advisors in capital raising strategies

✅ How offering these services can attract and retain talented team members

Whether you're looking to diversify your services, better serve your clients, or build a stronger firm culture, this episode delivers insight, clarity, and direction.

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In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, Founder and Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, delivers a clear challenge to accountants and bookkeepers: It’s time to stop planning and start doing.

As client demands shift and compliance work becomes increasingly automated, the future of your firm lies in delivering high-value advisory services. But where do you start? Peter walks you through a practical, step-by-step approach to launching and scaling your advisory offering – starting with just one SME client.

You’ll discover how to:

✅ Turn weekly performance insights into strategic business decisions

✅ Use the 52-Week Business Enhancement System to drive accountability and results

✅ Package, price, and deliver advisory services with clarity and confidence

✅ Position your firm as your clients’ virtual CFO

✅ Support SME clients in scaling up, funding, and investment readiness

This isn’t theory – it’s your blueprint for building long-term, high-impact client relationships that elevate your firm’s relevance, revenue, and reputation. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to scale up your advisory offering, this episode is your next strategic move.

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Most accountants and bookkeepers still deliver what SMEs have come to expect: an annual set of accounts and a tax return. But what if that’s no longer enough?

In this powerful episode, Peter Towers, founder of ESS BIZTOOLS, challenges the profession to step up and become the trusted strategic advisor every SME desperately needs. From real-time financial insights to weekly performance reviews, Peter reveals how you can help clients make better decisions – faster – using tools like KPI dashboards, business health checks, cash flow forecasting, and the 52-Week Business Enhancement System.

Discover how to:

✅ Build retainer-based, Virtual CFO services

✅ Set up weekly and monthly reporting rhythms that drive accountability

✅ Use business evaluations, checklists, and survival strategies to lift SME performance

✅ Add real value beyond compliance – before AI and automation redefine your role

If you're ready to stop reporting history and start shaping the future for your clients, this episode is your roadmap.

You can also access our podcast on:

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In this episode of Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, Founder and Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, explores how accountants, bookkeepers and business advisors can offer powerful value to SME clients through capital raising advisory services.

Peter explains the immense opportunity in helping SMEs raise funds through Crowd-Sourced Funding (CSF) Equity Raising and Early-Stage Innovation Company (ESIC) status. These services not only help clients grow without debt but also open new revenue channels for your firm – such as virtual CFO roles and strategic advisory board positions.

You’ll gain insight into:

✅ How to guide clients through the CSF and ESIC processes

✅ Eligibility rules, documentation requirements, and ATO/ASIC compliance

✅ Why most CSF applications are rejected – and how to help your clients avoid that fate

✅ How your firm can differentiate and grow with these services

You can also access our podcast on:

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In this compelling episode, Peter Towers, Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, explores how offering Research & Development (R&D) advisory services can transform your firm into a strategic partner for innovative SMEs. Discover why R&D is not just a tax incentive – it’s a powerful differentiation tool for accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors.

Peter outlines:

·         Why R&D services are critical in a post-compliance world

·         How to guide clients from idea to incentive and beyond

·         Key requirements: company structure, $20K minimum spend, documentation

·         The ripple effect: mentoring, commercialisation, and capital raising

·         How ESS BIZTOOLS supports your journey with 46 R&D tools and templates

With looming changes in compliance workflows and increasing SME demand for innovation support, now is the time to diversify your service offerings.

You can also access our podcast on:

Amazon Music

Apple Podcasts

Audible

Spotify

YouTube