Welcome back to The Account Rant.

In this episode, Raymond Semaan and Catarina Santini break down the tax deductions people get wrong, from wedding photographers disguised as website costs, casino withdrawals coded as materials, guard dogs that are really family pets, work clothes, laundry, working from home expenses and more.

Ray and Cat explain why just because someone at the pub says they claimed something, it does not mean you can claim it too. Different industries have different rules, and what makes sense for a farmer, tradie, nurse or dentist may make no sense for someone else.

They also cover the three golden rules of tax deductions, why your previous accountant’s approach does not automatically mean something was actually claimed, what clothing needs to meet before it becomes deductible, and why working from home deductions can get messy if you try to claim part of your home.

This is a practical episode for individuals, business owners and anyone who has ever asked, “Can I claim this on tax?”

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The Account Rant is a business and tax podcast by Latitude Accountants, giving real conversations for Australian business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs.

This content is general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Please speak with a qualified adviser about your own circumstances.

Welcome back to The Account Rant.

In this episode, John Saade and Toufic Haddad have a blunt conversation about work, purpose, entitlement and why so many people say they hate their jobs.

They unpack the growing online sentiment of people waking up every day dreading work, and challenge whether the job is always the problem, or whether mindset, victimhood, entitlement and lack of purpose are playing a bigger role.

John and Toufic discuss why work is not just about getting paid, why money follows value, why effort and attitude still matter, and why doing something useful can build confidence, discipline, self respect and purpose.

They also go hard on job hopping, resume red flags, employees who constantly move for titles instead of knowledge, and why long term trust inside a workplace can create better opportunities than constantly chasing the next role.

This is a raw conversation about work ethic, career growth, leadership, mental health, entitlement, Sunday night anxiety and why, sometimes, the harsh truth is that if you hate your job, you might need to look in the mirror first.

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The Account Rant is a business and tax podcast by Latitude Accountants, giving real conversations for Australian business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs.

This content is general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, career or tax advice.

Welcome back to The Account Rant.

In this episode, Jacob Fahmy sits down with Amanda Rose for a blunt conversation about women in business, money, leadership and why too many business owners undercharge, people please and treat their business like a hobby.

Amanda breaks down why women need to go for bigger contracts, follow the honest money, stop relying on friends and family to support their business, and start charging based on value, not time.

They also unpack one of the biggest traps in business, wanting everyone to like you. Amanda explains why approval seeking, emotion and fear of rejection can hold people back from earning more, leading properly and building something serious.

Jacob and Amanda also discuss intuition, relationship building, leadership, values, corruption, faith, strategy and why the best leaders know when to push, when to build alliances and when to walk away.

This is a sharp conversation for business owners, women in business, leaders, side hustlers and anyone who knows they are capable of more but keeps playing small.

Guest: Amanda Rose

CEO, Western Sydney Women

https://www.westernsydneywomen.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/amandarose1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missamandajrose/

Need an accountant?

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OUR SERVICES

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[email protected]

TikTok

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Website

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The Account Rant is a business and tax podcast by Latitude Accountants, giving real conversations for Australian business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs.

This content is general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Please speak with a qualified adviser about your own circumstances.

Chapters

00:00 Amanda Rose says women need to chase bigger contracts

00:34 What women do wrong in business

00:46 People pleasing and wanting everyone to like you

01:35 Stop treating your business like a hobby

01:50 Why women undercharge

02:21 Charging for value, not time

03:10 What women naturally do well

04:03 Intuition, numbers and better business partnerships

04:20 Why women are powerful relationship builders

05:35 Leadership, pushing back and picking your battles

06:15 Why you should build alliances privately

07:33 The hills Amanda is willing to die on

08:34 Is leadership lonely?

09:37 Why needing people around you can be dangerous

10:29 Power, strategy and one on one influence

11:07 Where Amanda’s wisdom comes from

12:22 Amanda on faith, the Bible and values

Welcome back to The CEO Breakdown with John Saade.

This week, the warning signs across business, tax and property are all pointing in the same direction.

Sydney house prices are falling, sellers are cutting asking prices, and for the first time in a long time, many Australians seem comfortable with property prices coming down.

At the same time, the ATO is owed close to $50 billion, largely by small business, and more than 14,000 companies entered external administration last financial year.

John breaks down what this means for property investors, small business owners and anyone trying to understand where the Australian economy is heading.

In this episode, John reacts to property affordability data, falling Sydney house prices, public sentiment around house price declines, the ATO small business debt problem, rising insolvency numbers, and why construction, hospitality and retail are being hit so hard.

He also looks at real business examples, including the Australian company behind Prime drinks entering administration and activewear brand STAX entering liquidation.

The lesson is simple.

Revenue is not the same as profit.

Brand awareness is not the same as a strong balance sheet.

And growth means nothing if you do not have the cash to survive it.

John also explains why business owners need to understand their margins, manage debt, collect cash, deal with ATO issues early, and stop blaming the economy for every problem inside the business.

This episode is for business owners, property investors, accountants, tradies, retailers, hospitality operators and anyone trying to navigate the current economic pressure in Australia.

Need an accountant?

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OUR SERVICES

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For business enquiries

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Follow Latitude Accountants

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Listen on Spotify

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Listen on Apple Podcasts

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Subscribe to The CEO Breakdown for weekly commentary on business, tax, property, the economy and what it all means for Australian business owners.

Disclaimer: This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute accounting, financial, legal, tax, lending, insolvency or property advice. The views expressed are personal opinions and should not be taken as professional advice. Always speak to your accountant, lawyer, financial adviser, broker or other relevant professional before making financial or business decisions.

Welcome back to The Account Rant.

In this episode, Catarina Santini and Michael Saade unpack one of the biggest issues they see with small business owners, pricing too cheap.

A lot of businesses start by looking at the market and trying to be the cheapest option just to win clients. The problem is, if your pricing does not cover your overheads, wages, contractors, materials and profit, you are not building a business, you are funding one.

Cat and Michael break down how business owners should think about pricing, why you need to work backwards from your costs, and why being busy does not mean you are making money.

They also discuss why prices should be reviewed consistently, why inflation and rising costs matter, why some businesses should charge call out fees or quoting fees, and why tradies in particular need to protect their cash flow with deposits and stage payments.

This episode is for business owners, tradies, service providers and anyone who is winning work but wondering why there is still no money left at the end.

Need an accountant?

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For business enquiries

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Follow Latitude Accountants

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Website

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Listen on Spotify

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Listen on Apple Podcasts

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Subscribe to The Account Rant for honest conversations on business, tax and money.

Disclaimer: This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute formal accounting, financial, legal, tax or business advice. Views expressed are personal opinions and should not be taken as professional advice.

Welcome back to The Lat Chat.

In this episode, John Saade sits down with Julian Fayad, founder of LoanOptions.ai, to unpack the real story behind building one of Australia’s most interesting finance technology businesses.

Julian grew up in the Guilford and Granville area, the son of Lebanese immigrants, and started out as a tech minded kid who loved emerging technology.

After falling into finance broking, he quickly saw how outdated parts of the industry were, including brokers still using fax machines. That moment helped spark the idea that finance could be faster, smarter and easier for customers.

Julian explains how LoanOptions.ai was built to let people apply for a loan in minutes, compare lender options with no impact to their credit score, and use AI to match customers with lenders based on their specific circumstances.

But this is not just a tech success story.

Julian opens up about the hard parts of building the business, including unit economics, growth costs, marketing, hiring, profitability pressure, R&D grants, scaling partnerships, and the shift from generalists to specialists as the business matured.

John and Julian also discuss personal branding, leadership, self improvement, jiu jitsu, staying in a beginner mindset, and why founders need to keep learning if they expect their teams to keep growing.

Julian also gives honest advice to young founders and aspiring business owners, including why business is usually ten times harder than you think, why passion matters, why you need conviction, and why you should try to de risk your situation before taking the leap.

This is a must watch for anyone interested in startups, finance, AI, lending, business growth, leadership or building something from scratch in Australia.

Need an accountant?

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OUR SERVICES

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For business enquiries

[email protected]

Follow Latitude Accountants

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Website

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Connect with LoanOptions.ai

https://loanoptions.ai/

Follow Julian

https://www.instagram.com/julianfayad/

Listen on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/5xQDzVcvQ1NiUP82VaMst2

Listen on Apple Podcasts

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Subscribe to The Lat Chat for honest conversations with business owners, founders and operators building real businesses in Australia.

Chapters

00:00 Julian Fayad’s Western Sydney story

00:34 Falling into finance and tech

01:04 The fax machine moment

02:00 From broker to founder

02:44 What LoanOptions.ai actually does

03:17 Building the AI loan platform

04:05 Why fast loans can attract the wrong clients

04:20 Building B2C and referral channels

05:02 White labelling and major partnerships

05:46 When the business nearly broke

06:14 Unit economics and scaling problems

06:52 Fixing growth through better partnerships

07:29 Hiring specialists instead of generalists

08:28 What Julian does as founder now

09:26 Why leaders need self improvement

09:50 Always be a white belt at something

10:36 Jiu jitsu, golf and learning again

11:08 Personal branding as a revenue driver

12:13 Advice for young founders

13:32 Doing your apprenticeship before the leap

13:50 Why founders need a fallback position

Disclaimer: This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute accounting, financial, legal, tax, lending or business advice. The views expressed are personal opinions and should not be taken as professional advice.

Starting a business in Australia sounds exciting until the real costs start showing up.In this episode of #TheAccountRant, Jacob Fahmy sits down with Tanner Blessington from Blessington Watches to unpack the brutal reality of building a business in Australia today.From GST, BAS, tax, cash flow and advertising costs to ecommerce chargebacks, payment provider risks, merchant fees and the pressure of trying to build a real brand, this is a raw conversation about what small business actually looks like behind the scenes.Jacob and Tanner break down why revenue means nothing without profit, why knowing your numbers can be the difference between surviving and getting wiped out, and why so many young business owners underestimate how hard it is to build something from scratch.They also discuss tall poppy syndrome in Australia, why friends and family do not always support your business, why asking a small business owner for a discount can hurt more than people realise, and why branding, marketing and visibility are not optional if you want to survive.Tanner also shares the dark side of ecommerce, including chargebacks, online fraud, customer disputes, lost stock, penalty fees and how quickly one bad transaction can wipe out your profit.This is a must watch for anyone running a business, starting a side hustle, building an ecommerce brand or thinking sales alone mean success.Need an accountant?GET A FREE CONSULTATION FOR ALL ABN HOLDERShttps://forms.zohopublic.com/john205/form/GENERALENQUIRYFORM/formperma/VYEBrsCV_ompEVvnkA0eygWlJxXO5OajFsjjngf_jzwFor business enquiries[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])Follow Latitude AccountantsTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@latitudeaccountantsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/latitudeaccountantsWebsite https://latitudeaccountants.com.au/Connect with Blessington WatchesInstagram https://www.instagram.com/blessington.watches/Website https://blessington.co/Subscribe to The Account Rant for honest conversations on business, tax and money.Chapters00:00 Starting a business young00:55 Tall poppy syndrome in Australia01:22 Friends, discounts and real support02:06 Why small business is not sunshine and rainbows04:17 The advice business owners need early05:58 Tax, GST, BAS and knowing your numbers06:28 Why branding matters08:34 Visibility, attention and marketing09:30 Spending serious money on ads10:25 Sales, advertising and business systems11:33 Chargebacks and ecommerce fraud13:21 Losing thousands to chargebacks14:36 Can chargebacks be prevented?15:33 Merchant fees and surcharge changes16:49 Final thoughtsThe Account Rant is a show where accountants vent on different business, tax and money topics. It is an honest and informal conversation intended for discussion and entertainment only. Views expressed are personal opinions and should not be taken as professional advice.Disclaimer: This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute formal accounting, financial, legal or tax advice.

Welcome back to The CEO Breakdown with John Saade.

Is property investing still worth it in Australia, or have the rules changed too much?

In this episode, John breaks down how he personally looks at investment properties as an accountant, business owner and property investor.

John explains why he still believes property can be one of Australia’s strongest long term investment classes, but only when the numbers make sense.

He walks through the difference between an investor and a speculator, why cash flow matters, why land matters, and why he keeps coming back to the granny flat strategy.

John also shows how he researches potential investment properties, including land size, zoning, rental yield, council rules, social housing data, construction risk, borrowing costs, cash flow shortfalls, planning certificates and how AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude can help narrow down the research before speaking to professionals.

The episode also covers Australia’s property market, tax changes, CGT, falling living standards, productivity, sick leave reform, construction costs, housing supply, wages and why property still needs to be looked at with clear thinking, not fear or hype.

This is not a hype video about buying any property at any price.

It is a practical breakdown of how an accountant thinks through risk, yield, debt, land and the numbers before even making an offer.

Need an accountant or just want to chat about your business?

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OUR SERVICES

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For any business enquiries, reach out to:

[[email protected]

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Original audio and video content belongs to the respective creators. This episode includes commentary and discussion for educational and informational purposes.

Disclaimer: This video is for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute formal accounting, tax, legal, business, financial or property advice. The property examples discussed are not recommendations. Please speak to your accountant, lawyer, broker, financial adviser, builder, certifier, conveyancer or other relevant professional before making financial or property decisions.

Joseph Daoud has become one of the loudest voices against the proposed tax changes affecting small business owners, investors, side hustlers and everyday Australians trying to get ahead.

In this episode of The Account Rant, John Saade sits down with Joseph Daoud to unpack the story behind the Stop The Ambition Tax campaign, the Canberra billboards, the charity tennis match with Anthony Albanese, and why Joseph believes the proposed CGT changes could hurt ambition in Australia.

Joseph explains why he spent his own money on political billboards, why he entered the auction to play tennis with the Prime Minister, and why he believes the Government’s message about first home buyers, small business and investors does not line up with what is happening on the ground.

John and Joseph discuss the proposed capital gains tax changes, negative gearing, small business CGT concessions, housing supply, first home buyers, property investors, collectibles, build to rent incentives, institutional capital and the broader direction of the Australian economy.

They also discuss whether the policy debate has become too political, whether small business owners are being unfairly framed, and why Joseph believes ambition, risk taking and business ownership should be encouraged, not punished.

This is a raw and honest conversation about tax, housing, small business, politics, property, ambition and what it means to build something in Australia.

Guest: Joseph Daoud

Joseph Daoud links

Stop The Ambition Tax:

https://www.stoptheambitiontax.com/

Joseph on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/joetchandon/

Joseph on LinkedIn:

https://au.linkedin.com/in/joseph-daoud

It’s Simple Finance:

https://itssimple.com.au/about-us/

Need an accountant or just want to chat about your business?

GET A FREE CONSULTATION FOR ALL ABN HOLDERS 👉 https://forms.zohopublic.com/john205/form/GENERALENQUIRYFORM/formperma/VYEBrsCV_ompEVvnkA0eygWlJxXO5OajFsjjngf_jzw

The Account Rant is a show where accountants vent on different business, tax, money and leadership topics. It is an honest and informal conversation intended for discussion and entertainment only.

For business enquiries

[email protected]

Follow Latitude Accountants

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@latitudeaccountants

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/latitudeaccountants

Website https://latitudeaccountants.com.au/

Disclaimer: This video is for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute accounting, tax, legal, financial or business advice. Please seek professional advice for your own circumstances.

Business structure is one of the biggest decisions a small business owner can make, but most people do not realise how much it affects risk, tax, family finances and long term growth.

In this episode, Jacob and Cat sit down on The Account Rant to unpack the difference between operating as a sole trader, company or family trust, and why the right structure depends on your goals, risk profile, assets and plans for the future.

They discuss why a sole trader structure can be simple and cheap to start, but may expose business owners to unlimited liability and higher personal tax rates as they grow.

Jacob and Cat also break down when a company structure starts to make more sense, especially for builders, tradies, businesses with employees, and anyone trying to scale beyond just working for themselves.

The conversation then moves into family trusts, why they are often misunderstood, and why trusts are not just for the wealthy. They explain how everyday business owners, tradies, restaurants and family businesses may use trust structures legally, and why proposed tax changes could place more pressure on small business owners.

They also discuss the Bendel case, bucket companies, CGT changes, small business CGT concessions, and the broader frustration many business owners are feeling about the direction of tax policy in Australia.

This is a practical and honest conversation about business structures, tax planning, family trusts, asset protection, small business growth and why getting the right advice early matters.

Hosts: Jacob and Catarina

Need an accountant or just want to chat about your business?

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CHAPTERS

0:00 Choosing the right business structure

0:30 What are your long term business goals?

1:02 Sole trader, company or trust?

1:42 Why sole traders are simple but risky

2:30 Unlimited liability and personal asset risk

3:20 Why some businesses should start as a company

4:10 What a company structure actually means

4:55 Limited liability and the corporate tax rate

5:45 Why you cannot always just leave profit in a company

6:35 Family trusts explained

7:25 Why trusts are not just for rich people

8:20 How family businesses use trusts

9:20 The frustration with proposed trust tax changes

10:20 Why small business owners feel targeted

11:30 Public sector jobs, private sector pressure and the economy

12:45 The Bendel case explained

14:30 Why the ATO position was challenged

16:10 Bucket companies and trust distributions

17:40 Why the federal government may have changed the rules

18:45 CGT changes and why business owners are worried

20:20 Why confidence matters in the economy

22:00 Small business CGT concessions explained

23:30 The $2 million turnover and $6 million asset tests

The Account Rant is a show where accountants vent on different business, tax, money and leadership topics. It is an honest and informal conversation intended for discussion and entertainment only.

For business enquiries

[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Follow Latitude Accountants

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@latitudeaccountants

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/latitudeaccountants

Website https://latitudeaccountants.com.au/

Disclaimer: This video is for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute accounting, tax, legal, financial or business advice. Please seek professional advice for your own circumstances.