Sticky situation as super changes stretch small firms
· Michael West
Rising costs and cash flow pressures could force thousands of small business owners to dip into personal savings to comply with new superannuation rules.
Changes slated for July 1 require employers to pay employees superannuation at the same time as their salary.
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But there are warnings it could make or break small businesses, as the war in the Middle East and other costs affect the hip pockets of owners.
Most small firms say paying super more frequently will put pressure on their cash flow. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)A survey of 500 small firms found about a third (31 per cent) expect to dip into their personal savings to comply with the new rules.
Five in every six businesses said paying superannuation more frequently would put pressure on their cash flow.
More than half of the businesses surveyed by Xero cited delayed customer payments as their biggest challenge to managing ongoing cash flow, having cost them more than $15,000 on average last year.
Under the current system, employers generally pay contributions quarterly.
Sticky owner Rachel Turner backs the super changes but expect teething problems. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)Lolly shop owner Rachel Turner is among nine in 10 surveyed businesses that back the changes, saying it gives stability to her young employees.
But she expects teething problems as she and others enter another tricky, financially murky period after miraculously surviving the pandemic off the back of her daughter’s ingenuity.
The idea of streaming videos showing the candy-making process garnered Sticky millions of followers flocking to the shop’s social media including pop singer Billie Eilish.
“When COVID hit, foot traffic dried up and we almost went broke,” Ms Turner told AAP from tourist hotspot The Rocks in central Sydney.
Sticky now faces rising costs as the fuel crisis ripples through her supply chain.
“Sugar is more expensive, jars are more expensive, packaging is more expensive – everything’s going to be more expensive,” she said.
Not so sweet: rising fuel costs are pushing up prices for vital small business supplies. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)Small Business Association of Australia chief executive Anne Nalder said the super impact would be immediate on a diverse sector.
“We have one cap fits all and it doesn’t matter whether you’re a big BHP or a small operator, the same rules apply and that just doesn’t work. It never has and never will,” she told AAP on Monday.
“We should have learned a lesson from the pandemic, but we haven’t learned any lessons.”
The Transport Workers’ Union warns fuel costs are pushing many companies to the brink of collapse. (James Gourley/AAP PHOTOS)Several transport and freight unions have also jointly called on the government to allow emergency powers to deal with surging fuel prices.
“Businesses are at imminent risk of collapse … because there are huge retailers and other clients out there refusing to pay their fair share for skyrocketing fuel costs,” Transport Workers’ Union secretary Michael Kaine said.
The Australian Taxation Office estimates $6.25 billion worth of super went unpaid in the most recent financial year data.