In this latest episde Emma and Denise break down how they use AI in their daily pracitce, how they see it fitting into their workflows and why we both agree that no-one should be using AI for finalising figures that are then sent to the ATO for tax and BAS lodgements.

In this episode, Denise and Emma break down the different reasons and often "Bad" habits business owners create when doing their own bookkeeping.

We aren't here to bash those DIYers but to educate them so next time they are entering a transaction they have a deeper understanding of where that transaction should live in their reports.

Whether you are a small business owner, a bookkeeper, BAS Agent, Tax, Agent, Accountant or just a general podcast listener, if you take anything away from this one, it should be the BINGO card.

Enjoy this topic, it was loads of fun recording this one.

From 1 October 2026, the way Australian businesses handle card payment surcharges is changing.

Following the RBA’s review of merchant card payment costs, surcharging is being removed across major card networks — including eftpos, Mastercard and Visa.

Sounds like great news for consumers…but what does it mean for the business paying the merchant fees?

In this episode of Beyond the Balance, Denise and Emma unpack what the changes actually mean for small businesses and their customers.

We talk about whether businesses will need to absorb the cost, build it into their pricing, negotiate better merchant fees or rethink the way they accept payments. We also ask whether cash could make a comeback, and what business owners should be doing now to prepare.

The RBA is also reducing interchange fee caps and introducing greater fee transparency, changes intended to put downward pressure on the cost of accepting card payments.

💳 No surcharge doesn't necessarily mean no cost. So where does the cost go?

Join us as we go Beyond the Balance and look at the issue from both the business and consumer perspective.

🎧 Real business. Real conversations. Two perspectives.

Beyond the Balance — Collaborating & Celebrating.

Two women. Two sides of the numbers. Plenty of opinions.

What really happens behind the numbers when you're running a business?

Welcome to Beyond the Balance, where Bookkeeper & BAS Agent Denise Twigger and Accountant Emma Fabbro get together to talk about the stuff business owners actually need to know — without drowning you in accounting jargon.

Denise is based in Perth, Western Australia, and brings more than 30 years of experience working with businesses, bookkeeping, payroll and compliance. As the owner of BAS and Balances, she has a particular passion for helping small businesses and tradies simplify their systems, embrace technology and paperless solutions, understand their numbers and, most importantly, get some of their time back.

Denise believes business owners shouldn't need an accounting degree to understand what's happening in their own business — but they do need the right people around them to explain it.

Then there's Emma Fabbro — the Accountant bringing another perspective to the conversation. Emma looks beyond the day-to-day transactions to the bigger financial picture, helping businesses understand what their numbers are telling them and how the decisions they make today can affect where their business goes tomorrow.

And that's exactly why Beyond the Balance works.

A bookkeeper and an accountant don't always look at things through the same lens — and that's where the interesting conversations begin!

Together, Denise and Emma unpack topics including bookkeeping, tax, cash flow, payroll, superannuation, compliance, technology, business systems and the constant stream of changes that Australian business owners are expected to keep up with.

But this isn't a podcast about spreadsheets and balance sheets.

We'll also talk about the real side of running a business — the mistakes, the lessons, the late nights, the wins, the frustrations and those moments when you wonder why you ever thought going into business was a good idea!

Expect practical tips, straight-talking conversations, different perspectives, plenty of laughs and the occasional "Hang on, I don't agree with you there!"

We'll also invite guests to share their expertise, experiences and stories because we believe some of the best business knowledge comes from having conversations and learning from each other.

Whether you're running a business, thinking about starting one, or simply want to better understand what's happening behind your numbers, pull up a chair and join the conversation.

Because your business is about far more than what's sitting on the balance sheet.

🎧 Real business. Real conversations. Two perspectives.

Beyond the Balance
Collaborating & Celebrating

Come for the numbers. Stay for the conversation.