WOW, where did January go?

Did the first month of 2026 feel like a blur?

Sure, some of us might have started January a week or two earlier (or not at all), but it still passed by so quickly!

And that’s why you need to have your plans locked and loaded, as this year, like all the previous ones of late, unless you plan to achieve your goals and dreams, another year will go by without much to show for it.

Checked out last month’s edition of Taking Care of Your Business to see how we do it to get some ideas.

Yearly Theme

Building on the foundations set in our January 2026 Newsletter, where we will be focusing on the 4 Ways to Grow a Business:

so that’s:

1. Increase the number of customers (of the type you want);

2. Increase the number of times they deal with you.

3. Increase your average sale or ‘transaction value,’ and

4. Improve the effectiveness and processes within your business

to ensure the achievement of the first 3!

We will be focusing this quarter on the 1st way:

Increase the number of customers (of the type you want)

Why "More" Customers Might Be Killing Your Business

If you’re starting a business, you’ve probably heard the growth mantra: Get more customers. 

It sounds like a no-brainer, right? 

More people = more money = success. 

But here’s the truth that most "hustle culture" gurus won't tell you: 

Chasing everyone is the fastest way to end up with no one.

To actually scale, you need to follow the "Big 4" of growth. You want more sales, you want people coming back, and you want your systems to be smooth. But the most important part of that formula is tucked away in the fine print: Increasing the number of customers of the type you actually want.

Here is why picking a niche and hunting for your "ideal" customer is a total cheat code for growth.

1. Stop Paying for "Window Shoppers"

Imagine you’re running TikTok ads. If you target "everyone," your budget will vanish in seconds. You’ll get clicks from people who have no money, people who don't care about your vibe, and people who will just waste your time in the DMs asking for discounts.

When you know exactly who you want (e.g., “18-24-year-old gym rats who care about sustainable supplements”), every dollar you spend on marketing hits a bullseye. You stop paying for "clout" and start paying for conversions.

2. The "Nightmare Client" Tax

We’ve all been there. You land a customer, but they are a total headache. They ask 100 questions, complain about the price, and leave a 3-star review because they didn't read the description.

• Bad Customers: Drain your energy, kill your team’s vibe, and cost more to manage than they actually pay you.

• Ideal Customers: Get your vision, pay what you’re worth, and are actually stoked to work with you.

Growth isn't just about revenue; it's about sanity. If you fill your business with the wrong people, you’ve just built yourself a high-stress job, not a growing company.

3. Your Brand Becomes "The One"

If you try to sell everything to everyone, you’re just a generic corner store. You’re replaceable.

But when you focus on a specific type of person, you can speak their language. You can use their slang, solve their specific problems, and show up where they hang out. Suddenly, you aren't just another brand—you’re their brand. That’s how you build a community, not just a customer list.

4. Work Smarter, Not Harder

When you serve the same type of person over and over, you get really, really fast at it. Your processes (the 4th pillar of growth!) become streamlined. You don't have to reinvent the wheel for every new order because you already know exactly what your "ideal" customer needs before they even ask.

The Bottom Line

Don't just look at the total number of followers or sales. Look at the quality. Ten "ride-or-die" customers who love what you do and keep coming back are worth 1,000 random people who will forget you by tomorrow.

Check out our calculator to see for yourself what the impact could be if you focus on these 4 areas:

Be sure to check out our daily blogs and weekly podcasts for tips, strategies and ideas to help you achieve success more quickly.

Super Tax Shake-Up: What the New Changes Mean for Your Wallet

Superannuation rules are getting a makeover. While "tax talk" can often feel like a snooze-fest, these changes are actually designed to balance the scales—offering a bit more help to lower-income earners while asking those with very large balances to contribute a bit more.

The best part? After listening to feedback, the government has scrapped some of the more controversial ideas (like taxing money you haven't even "made" yet).

Here is the breakdown of what’s changing, who it affects, and when it kicks in.

1. High Balancers: The New Three-Tier System

If you’ve been a super-saver and your Total Super Balance (TSB) is north of $3 million, you’ll see a shift in how your earnings are taxed starting 1 July 2026.

Instead of the flat 15% tax rate most people pay, the new system introduces tiered rates for higher balances:

Don't Panic: These rates only apply to the proportion of earnings within those specific brackets. Even at 40%, it is still lower than the top personal income tax rate. Plus, this affects less than 0.5% of Australians.

2. A Win for Common Sense: No Tax on "Paper Gains"

In the original plan, there was talk of taxing unrealised gains—essentially taxing you if your property or shares went up in value, even if you hadn't sold them yet.

That idea is officially gone. The new tax will only apply to realised gains (actual cash coming in, like dividends, interest, or the profit made after you sell an asset).

3. Boosting Super for Low-Income Earners

There is great news for those earning up to $45,000. The government is expanding the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset (LISTO) to ensure the system is fairer for everyone.

• Higher Threshold: From 1 July 2027, the income limit to qualify for LISTO jumps from $37,000 to $45,000.

• Bigger Payments: The maximum government top-up is increasing from $500 to $810.

This change is expected to help around 3.1 million Australians grow their retirement savings faster.

4. Future-Proofing with Indexation

To make sure these rules don't get "stuck" as the cost of living rises, the government has introduced indexation.

• The $3 million threshold will increase in steps of $150,000.

• The $10 million threshold will increase by $500,000 at a time.

This means that as inflation pushes account balances up over the decades, the tax brackets move with them, ensuring fewer people are caught by the higher rates unnecessarily.

Important Dates to Remember

• 1 July 2026: The new rules officially begin.

• 30 June 2027: Your balance on this date determines if you hit the $3M or $10M thresholds for that financial year.

• 1 July 2027: The new, higher LISTO benefits for low-income earners kick in

How does this affect your strategy?

Whether you're just starting your career or you're managing a significant nest egg, these changes might shift your long-term financial plan.

Would you like help calculating how the new LISTO thresholds might boost your balance, or look closer at how the $3 million cap is calculated?

Reach out to the Team on 03-55612643 today.

Do you need some accountability, extra motivation and guidance in 2026?

If so, reach out, and we can make you part of our new monthly Accountability Group of like-minded business owners who want to succeed and excel. We can also show you how our business coaching program - Chasers Getting Results^TM - works if you really want to take your business to the next level!.

Looking to start a business?
Get a copy of our latest book before you do to fast-track your success.

Or looking to grow your business in these tougher economic times?

Both books are for any aspiring entrepreneur who wants to grow their business and to understand what to look out for and avoid when they start their business, too!

The first Chasers Mastermind for 2026 commences on Friday 23rd of January for those business owners who want to build a better business and be held accountable for the critical tasks that they want to implement to move forward and closer to achieving greater success.

Learn all of the essential components that make a successful business to to really takeoff!

Congratulations to Juan Pablo Sixto from Southwest Imports on successfully completing the second Mastermind of this year. Juan was a very enthusiastic participant wanting to master the key components for operating a successful business at the most recent Chasers Mastermind.

Your investment in this program will be $100 plus GST per week. You will be able to focus on specific areas for your business that need attention, collaborate on ideas and strategies in a group learning environment and share what’s working.

If you have not yet left a review for us on our Google Reviews, then now is the chance to do this and get 12 chances of winning a luxury 3-night holiday in Tropical Mackay in North Queensland. That’s right! By simply scanning this QR Code and following the instructions we will enter you in the monthly draw to win.

The winners so far in 2025/26 were:

• Jul - Brent Moir

• Aug - Michael Welch

• Sep - Maria Scott

• Oct - Renee Lane

• Nov - Gemma Wylie

• Dec - Sara & Dale McDonnell

January's winner was: Jeffrey McLean, who is now enjoying retirement - congratulations, Jeff!

If you are not successful in previous months, you will be automatically re-entered for the following month giving you up to 12 possible chances of winning this awesome holiday. As soon as you leave a review our Team will be notified and will enter your name in the draw. - Good luck!

The latest edition of our National Award-Winning Magazine – No. 22 - is now published and available for you to read. It features heaps of educational tips and ideas on how to create highly productive teams by delegating, an inspiring story about our featured Chaser’s are young entrepreneurs - Brianna Kilpatrick & Arley Fleming from Sweet Freeze Acai & Froyo and an article on the importance of focusing on using three essential tools for managing your commercial lease by Phil Chapman, a renowned expert with extensive experience in helping business owners negotiate better lease terms and conditions for their commercial lease contracts.

Don’t forget to check out our latest podcast episodes on The Chasers Channel. The most recent episode 105 features a discussion about the ATO’s heavy focus on Trusts, so if you operate a Trust as part of your business or wealth creation strategies make sure you check it out

We release a new episode every Sunday, so make sure you follow our podcast to get the latest news, tips and strategies for bringing you closer to achieving the dreams you are chasing.

Key Dates in February 2026

Make sure you don’t forget your special person

Lodge and pay December 2025 monthly business activity statement for business clients with up to $10 million turnover who report GST monthly and lodge electronically.

Lodge and pay January 2026 monthly business activity statement.

Lodge tax return for non-taxable large and medium entities as per the latest year lodged (except individuals).

Payment (if required) for companies and super funds is also due on this date. Payment for trusts in this category is due as per their notice of assessment.

Lodge tax returns for new registrant (taxable and non-taxable) large or medium entities (except individuals).

Payment (if required) for companies and super funds is also due on this date. Payment for trusts in this category is due as per their notice of assessment.

Lodge tax return for non-taxable head company of a consolidated group, including a new registrant, that has a member who has been deemed a large or medium entity in the latest year lodged.

Lodge tax return for any member of a consolidated group who exits the consolidated group for any period during the year of income.

Lodge tax return for large or medium new registrant (non-taxable) head company of a consolidated group.

Lodge and pay Self-managed superannuation fund annual return for new registrant (taxable and non-taxable) SMSF, unless they have been advised of a 31 October 2025 due date at finalisation of a review of the SMSF at registration.

Note: There are special arrangements for newly registered SMSFs that do not have to lodge a return – 

Lodge and pay quarter 2, 2025–26 activity statement for all lodgment methods.

Pay quarter 2, 2025–26 instalment notice. Lodge the notice only if you vary the instalment amount.

Annual GST return – lodge (and pay if applicable) if the taxpayer does not have a tax return lodgment obligation.

Note: If the taxpayer does have a tax return obligation, this return must be lodged by the due date of the tax return.

Lodge and pay quarter 2, 2025–26 Superannuation guarantee charge statement if the employer did not pay enough contributions on time.

Note: Employers lodging a Superannuation guarantee charge statement can choose to offset contributions they paid late to a fund against their super guarantee charge for the quarter. They still have to pay the remaining super guarantee charge.