Whether you are starting out a new business or have been in business for many years, you may decide it is time to hire an outside accountant. You may wish to offload mundane tasks or to focus your energy on growing your business or you would rather spend more time with your family. The reasons are many and varied. However, as with working with any trusted advisor, being able to effectively communicate with your new accountant is most important.
So now that you have made the decision to hire an outside accountant, how do you pick the right outside Madison, WI accountant? There are a number of factors that go into the decision as there are accounting firms of all sizes from a sole practitioner to multinational CPA firms, each serving different sizes of business and perhaps a specific business clientele. So what factors should go into your choice of the right accountant for your business?
- Size of firm – This depends on the size or ambitions of your company. If you are a small company and the firm you choose is too large, you may be overlooked because you are a small client. However, if you are a larger company, a smaller firm may not have the skills or personnel to meet your requirements.
- Services offered – Does the firm offer all of the services that you are looking for? Larger firms tend to offer a wider variety of services such as data entry/bookkeeping, payroll processing and compliance, sales tax reporting, financial statement preparation/compilation, financial statement audit/review, governmental compliance auditing and tax preparation just to name a few. ou will need to look at your current situation and where you expect to be long-term to determine whether the services offered will meet your needs now and in the future. Take note that larger firms generally offer more variety in services and tend to be more expensive than smaller firms who specialize in a smaller number of accounting options.
- Credentials – Do the principal members of the firm or local office have a certification such as a CPA, CMA or EA? Does the accountant have any complaints registered with the state board of accountancy? How is the firm rated by the Better Business Bureau? These are facts that can be referenced online.
- Specialized needs – If your company is in a specialized, or maybe highly regulated industry, you should find a firm that is a specialist in that field. If you have international operations, the accountant you select should have experience in that area.
- Reputation in the area – Contact business and social colleagues and ask if they have any recommendations regarding local Madison, WI accountants. If a colleague is a customer or knows of someone who is a customer of one of the accounting firms under consideration, ask if you can speak to that client to see if you can gain any insight.
Once you have selected at least two local accounting firms that might be a good fit for your business, you need to take the time to interview each firm that you are considering. Make sure you are speaking to a decision maker in the firm and the person who would be your main contact if you were to become a client. Ask questions and make notes so that you can compare the firms side by side. Remember when you are visiting the firm to put your best foot forward because they will be interviewing you simultaneously and even though you may wish them to be your accountant, they do not have to accept the engagement if they do not think it’s a good fit.
Ultimately, selecting an accountant for your business is a personal choice and it is most important that you are able to communicate effectively with your primary contact at the accounting firm. In addition, the firm must be able to provide services you require in an accurate and timely manner at a cost that you deem reasonable.
We would love to help you with any of your tax and accounting needs! Contact us today.


Juke just keeps getting better, with a bold design, advanced intuitive technology and extensive personalisation options to ensure you stand out from the crowd. Combined with agile performance and rebellious urban attitude, Juke gives you the most thrilling and invigorating driving experience.
With tail lights inspired by Nissan's high-performance 370Z, a fiercely sculpted bonnet and muscular lines, the Nissan Juke is a small SUV that's anything but ordinary. It has the look of a two-door sports car and the practicality of a five-door family SUV. The Nissan Juke really does provide the best of both worlds.
JUKE BOSE T&Cs:
Free Bose® SoundLink® Micro Bluetooth Speaker offer available to private retail customers at participating dealers only when you order and register a Juke Bose Personal Edition by 31st May 2019. Offer available to both cash and finance customers. Offer not available to Motability customers. Offer limited to one Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker per private retail customer. Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker will be posted directly to the registered address of the Juke Bose Personal Edition purchased within one month of the registration date. Nissan cannot guarantee that the Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker colour will be aligned with the exterior personalisation colour of the Juke Bose Personal Edition chosen at the time of purchase. While stock lasts. Availability subject to first come first served. Nissan reserves the right to amend or withdraw this offer at any time without notice. Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker not exchangeable for cash alternative.
Flexible finance available to suit your needs
Nissan Juke Tekna 1.6 Manual 5-dr £337.98 per month with Nissan Finance:
Vehicle Price: £20,610.00 on the road
Nissan Deposit Contribution: £250.00
Customer Deposit: £338.00
Total advance: £20,022.00
37 monthly payments of £337.98
Final Purchase Payment (GFV) of £7,854.65
0% APR representative, total amount payable £20,610.00
Based on an annual mileage of 8,000 per annum - excess mileage charges may apply.
The straightforward small print…..
All finance is subject to status and terms and conditions. Please ask for a written quotation, which our sales team will be happy to provide. These offers will generally be available until 30/09/2019, but we reserve the right to change them without notice. We will only do this if our manufacturer partners change their policies, prices or terms.
All Nissan Finance examples are Personal Contract Purchase finance through RCI Financial Services Ltd.


When you’re thinking about buying or selling your home, there are a lot of things to prepare. One of the first things you will do is choose from the pool of real estate agents to help you list and market the home. They will come in and make their own recommendations for repairs or upgrades to help you be successful.
When you have water damage in the home, it could drastically affect your ability to sell. In many cases, water damages will have to be restored. Or you could be forced reduce the value of your home to account for the damages and repairs that are needed.
If a home has water damage, it has the potential for mold. If an inspector notices mold, it could halt a pending sale. Home inspections are designed to find issues like these. If there is water damage that hasn’t been fixed, the chances are high there is also mold to contend with. Mold is certainly nothing to play around with, and potential buyers are not going to want to deal with it either.
Only in circumstances where you have the ability to sell a home “as-is” will this work. Otherwise, you may be required to correct the damages or remove mold prior to a sale occurring.
Lender Requirements (Not Real Estate Agents)
A large number of homebuyers rely on mortgage lenders for the purchase. In some cases, the lenders will have requirements to abide by. This is particularly true of government mortgages, like FHA, Veterans, or USDA loans. These often have stringent inspection requirements that have to be passed before the mortgage can be granted.
You will likely find that most lenders will not be overly excited to grant a mortgage for a home with water damage. The costs to repair water damages can be extensive, but there are also risks involved in taking on this liability.
Extended Length on the Market
Despite your real estate agent’s best efforts, you might find that a home with water damage will sit on the market for a much longer period. In recent months, homes have been selling within 45 days in most cases. But if your home has water damage, this may make it less appealing. Does that mean it won’t sell? No. It simply means you might be required to exercise patience until the right buyer comes along.
If you’re looking for a fast sale of the home, having water damage is likely going to impact your ability to make that happen. It’s up to you to determine whether fixing the damages prior to listing your home might be a better approach in the end.
Restore Damages Before Contacting Real Estate Agents
In most cases, you will find it is more suitable to have restoration of water damage handled first. Then, hire the best real estate agents to spin the renovations and help you make a great sale. When you need restoration, count on HS Restoration & Cleaning Service to help! Our teams are standing by, ready to get your home prepped to list on the market.


11 April 2020
Labor is calling on the Berejiklian Government to increase and expand energy bill rebates, to support NSW households struggling with additional COVID-19 cost of living pressures.
Labor is calling for:
- An immediate doubling of the Low Income Energy Rebate from $285 to $570 a year
- An immediate doubling of the Family Energy Rebate from $180 to $360 a year
- The extension of those rebates to people who have lost their jobs or pay due to COVID-19
Labor Shadow Minister for Energy Adam Searle said: “Ms Berejiklian’s business as usual approach to household energy bills isn’t helping anyone in NSW who has lost their job, seen their shifts cut or had to close their small business because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Berejiklian Government must double the energy rebates given to families and low-income households, and they must extend that same support to people who have lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 outbreak” — Adam Searle MLC, Shadow Minister for Energy
“Winter often sees the cost of gas and electricity go up for NSW households. Ms Berejiklian should move quickly to protect struggling households from the Winter energy bill cost crunch.”
Additionally Labor says the Berejiklian Government must work with energy companies to stop predatory behaviour during the COVID-19 outbreak, and:
- Stop disconnections for customers in financial stress
- Stop customer referrals to debt collection agencies, or credit default listings
- Support households and small businesses in financial stress to access payment plans or hardship arrangements
- Waive disconnection, re-connection and contract break fees for small businesses which have gone into hibernation, along with daily supply charges to retailers
“It’s not right that people are being threatened with disconnection during a pandemic, or that their phone is ringing off the hook because of some debt collection agency. It’s the time for a bit of compassion and understanding” — Adam Searle MLC, Shadow Minister for Energy
Mr Searle noted that these weren’t long term solutions, saying: “These are sensible steps for the Berejiklian Government to take while NSW households and small businesses are dealing with the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
To be eligible for the $285 a year Low Income Household Energy Rebate, you must:
- Be a NSW resident;
- Be on-supplied customer of an energy retailer; or
- Hold one of the following:
- Pensioner Concession Card issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) or Services Australia,
- Health Care Card issued by Services Australia, or
- DVA Gold Card marked with either ‘War Widow’ or ‘War Widower Pension’, or ‘Totally and Permanently Incapacitated’ (TPI) or ‘Disability Pension’ (EDA).
To be eligible for the $180 a year Family Energy, you must:
- Be a NSW resident;
- Be the account holder of an energy retailer;
- Have been the recipient of the Family Tax Benefit (FTB) for the previous financial year and have had your entitlement to the FTB payments finalised by Centrelink.
- Ensure the person in your household who’s registered as the FTB recipient, lodges the application. The recipient is the person who receives correspondence on FTB from the Department of Human Services (DHS).


The Provider of Exchange and Trading Platform www.kineticex.com (hereinafter – the "Company" or "we") is required to comply with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Legislation (AML/CTF Laws). To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person opening an account. We have developed internal Anti-Money laundering and Counter-Terrorism Policy (hereinafter - AML Policy) based on the risk assessment, so the objectives of the AML/CFT Laws can be achieved. These are:
to detect and deter money laundering and financing of terrorism;
to maintain and enhance the Company’s international reputation by adopting, where appropriate, recommendations issued by the Financial Action Task Force; and
to contribute to public confidence in the financial system.
By applying for an account with us you are taken to agree to the following terms:
you warrant that you comply with all applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations, including but not limited to the AML/CTF Laws and associated rules and regulations (in force from time to time);
you are not aware and have no reason to suspect that:
the money used to fund your account with us has been or will be derived from or related to any money laundering or other activities deemed illegal under applicable laws or regulations or otherwise prohibited under any international convention or agreement (“illegal activities”); or
the proceeds of your investment will be used to finance illegal activities; and
you agree to promptly provide us with all information that we reasonably request in order to comply with all applicable laws and regulations relating to anti-money laundering.
In accordance with our AML Policy we will conduct initial and ongoing due diligence for each customer according to risk level posed by the customer.
What this means for you: In compliance with the applicable law, we will ask for certain minimum identification information from each customer which opens an account; record customer identification information and the verification methods and results; provide notice to customers that we will seek identification information and compare customer identification information with government-provided lists of suspected terrorists.
This minimum information may include:
the customer's full name; and
the customer's date of birth if natural person; and
the customer’s nationality if natural person; and
if the person is not the customer, the person's relationship to the customer; and
the customer's current permanent address or registered office; and
the customer's company identifier or registration number; and
the expected origin of the funds to be used within the relationship; and
occupation and name of employee (if self-employed, the nature of the self-employment).
In order to verify the abovementioned information we will require submitting the following documents:
Current valid passport;
National identity card;
Driving license which bears a photograph; and
Document proving current permanent address (such as utility bills, bank statements, etc.).
For CORPORATE CUSTOMERS:
Certificate of Incorporation or any national equivalent;
Memorandum and Articles of Association and statutory statement or any national equivalent;
Certificate of good standing or other proof of registered address of the company;
Resolution of the board of directors to open an account and confer authority on those who will operate it;
Copies of powers of attorney or other authorities given by the directors in relation to the company;
Proof of identity of directors in case they will deal with us on behalf of the Customer (according to the Individual identity verification rules described above);
Proof of identity of the beneficial owner(s) and/or the person(s) on whose instructions the signatories on the account are empowered to act (according to the Individual identity verification rules described above)
In order to verify the abovementioned information we will require at minimum submitting the documents specified above. We may also request you to provide additional information accompanied with respective documents.


Depending on the number of DUIs you have on record and whether your DUIs were charged as misdemeanors or felonies, you could be sentenced to spend anywhere from a few days to up to a year or more in jail. While many areas of your life are adversely affected when you're incarcerated, possibly the biggest impact will be felt in your finances. If you anticipate you'll be in jail for a long period of time because of a DUI, here are two tips to help you prepare your finances to minimize the associated fallout.
Obtain Deferments When Possible
Many times, people lose their sources of income when they're incarcerated. Not only do they lose their jobs, but sources of public assistance may also be cut off. For example, the Social Security Administration will not pay disability benefits while you're in jail.
If you anticipate you won't have any income while you're in jail, try to obtain payment deferments from your creditors. If you have student loan debt, for example, contact the lender and explain the situation. Typically, you can get a deferment if you're going into federal prison and provide proof to the creditor. Be aware, this may only be available with loans backed by the federal government.
Other creditors may or may not have similar programs available, but you won't know until you call and ask. Get as many of your bills deferred as you can for the length of time you'll be in jail. This way, you'll avoid coming home to a mountain of collection notices, late fees, and accumulated interest.
Automate As Much As Possible
If you do expect to continue receiving some income during your time in jail, then automate as much as you possibly can. Have any payments deposited directly into your bank account, and set your bills up so they are automatically paid from that same account every month. For instance, if you're getting dividend payments from investments, have that money put in your account, and then schedule your monthly child support checks to be sent to your ex using the bank's automated bill pay system.
It's a good idea to add someone you trust as a joint account holder on your bank account. This way, the person can make deposits and withdrawals and handle any problems that crop up with the account while you're away. Depending on how long you're going to be in jail, you may even want to give the person power of attorney so the individual can handle your financial affairs until you're released.
For more tips of preparing yourself for incarceration or assistance with litigating a DUI case, contact a criminal defense attorney or a traffic lawyer.Share


A building survey is not a legal requirement and at a time when you maybe saving every penny you can to afford your new dream home, skipping the extra cost of having a survey may cross your mind.
But having a survey carried is essential to possibly save you large sums of money, from uncovering hidden issues with the property which could cost you now or in the future, this could allow you to use the information to negotiate a lower price of the property, prepare for repairs that will be needed straight away or in the future, or ultimately letting you walk away from a potential disaster.
Each property is unique and thus the type of survey required.
Generally, for older properties (1900’s and beyond), unconventional buildings, or one which has received or is planned to be extensively renovated or extended, we recommend a RICS Home Survey – Level 3 (formally known as a structural survey).
For more recent properties, which are constructed in a more conventional way and in reasonable condition, we recommend an RICS Home Survey – Level 2 report.
If you are buying a new home using Help to Buy, HomeBuy Direct or similar shared equity scheme, we recommend an RICS mortgage valuation.
A surveyor’s report will nearly always uncover some issues, especially with older properties, Some of the most common issues include:
• Problems with the roof
• Central heating system
• Damp or timber issues
• Electrical installation issues
• Further complications which will require a structural engineer, such as subsidence.
RICS is a globally recognised professional body, which ensures RICS registered surveyors adhere to the highest professional standards set across the globe.
Mortgage brokers require a mortgage valuation to satisfy them that the property you desire is worth the price you’re paying or at least the amount it’s lending.
If the property is valued below your offer price, you can go back to the seller or estate agent and offer a lower price backed up by the mortgage valuation.
A HomeBuyer report also known as level 2 surveys is a survey and inspection of the easily accessible parts of the property, this includes things such as ceilings, the roof, walls, floors, bathrooms, and woodwork.
An inspection of the central heating system, drainage system, electric, gas and/or oil and water services.
An inspection of permanent outdoor buildings and the outside of the home including roofing, pipes, gutters, walls windows, and external doors.
Assessment of timbers for rot and active woodworm infestation.
A building survey or level 3 (formally known as a structural survey) is the most detailed type of survey available.
The level 3 survey includes a thorough inspection of all the accessible parts of the property and its outbuildings, an assessment of all the major and minor faults found within the property, and implications of these faults.
Examination of the potential for hidden defects, assessment of timbers for rot, and active woodworm infestation.
Review the condition of the heating and water system.
An investigation into the condition of the damp proofing, insulation, and drainage (if access to the drains is available).
We will also test the walls for problems with damp.
After a survey has been completed you will receive advice and technical information based on the survey you choose, this includes guidance on any maintenance or repairs necessary.
You can view an example of a RICS Home Survey – Level 3 report here.
Whatever your requirements, we have expert who can help.Contact us


Small Projects under $200K (CUPCCAA)
Contractor Pre-Qualification Information
Clear Creek School District is a participant in the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA). This act allows for a streamlined negotiation and bidding of projects valued at less than $200,000.
Contractors who would like to add themselves to our list to be notified of informal bidding projects can submit their information on this FORM. The form needs to be submitted every year, and it is the responsibility of the contractor to do so.
There is no cost to contractors interested in pre-qualifying with CCSD.
Please contact Kindell Tygart with any questions at email@example.com or 530-273-3664.
Thank you for your interest in pre-qualifying and working with us!


Category Title > Sam's Condo Buying Tips
New homeowners are often surprised... perhaps even a bit overwhelmed by the complexity and expense of buying a home
Are you considering home ownership?
New homeowners are often surprised... perhaps even a bit overwhelmed by the complexity and expense of buying a home. Are you new to the market and thinking to buy a home, your first home? A condo may be the right choice for you! After all, it's a great way to own a home without the extra complexity and expense of a single family house.
these tips to help guide you as you look for your condo:
1) Consider Location
Location, location, location... As with any real estate purchase, location is a key factor in your decision to buy. Begin your search by narrowing down the area/neighborhood where you’ll start looking. Consider factors important to you: schools, parks, shopping, restaurants, grocery stores, public transportation, health clubs, coffee shops, parking accessibility, access to major streets/highways, and consider any other amenities that are located close by. Chicago is full of many great neighborhoods, if your search is in Chicago or Chicago area, call me (I’d love to help).
2) Attend an Open House
One of the best ways to get a feel for a condo/home is to attend an open house, or you may consider scheduling a separate viewing (i.e., showing). Don't be shy, now is the time to ask questions, take notes and some of your own pics (Note: keep in mind, you may need to ask permission from the seller/tenant first if you want to take pics and should always be respectful of their property). Take a look around the building, look at storage areas (is the storage area organized, well lit, clean, and accessible?), parking locations (do you have assigned parking, garage parking, space for guests?), landscaping (is it well maintained?),common areas (security cameras, well lit, elevators, controlled access?), and amenities (is there a party room, weight room, laundry room, pool, doorman, valet?). Take a moment and chat with any neighbors you meet, are they friendly, what do they like or perhaps dislike about the building/neighbors/association?
3) Review Condo Agreements and HOA fees
Condos are different than apartments or single family houses. A couple major differences to consider are that condos involve communal property and HOA fees. What is communal property and what will it mean for you? You do own your living space, however, you’re also a part-owner of the communal property (e.g., the pool, party room, halls, parking lot/garage, etc...). Know what kinds of agreements are in force regarding common property and what the associations' reserve funds for building upkeep and maintenance are. Be sure to thoroughly review the condo’s homeowners’ association (i.e., HOA) agreement and covenant, conditions, and restrictions (i.e., CC&Rs) document. HOAs require condo owners to pay monthly fees for building maintenance and repair (Note: some HOA fees may even cover your heating, gas, and cable TV costs). However, HOA fees do not cover the repair and/or maintenance of the inside of your condo. CC&Rs contain rules on what you may or not do in your condo building and often include policies on pets, satellite dishes, and the color of a front door or perhaps even what paint colors you may use on your interior walls.
4) Budget for your purchase
Shop around for the best rates, keep in mind, first time buyers may qualify for down payment assistance. Down payment assistance is money, if you qualify for, that will help you with the down payment. This is money that, if you meet the requirements, you don’t have to pay back. Many people think you need 20% down to buy a home, you don’t, with as little as 3.5% you can own your own home (perhaps even less). Also, be sure you factor monthly fees into your condo purchase, after all, HOA fees affect your debt-to-income ratio and mortgage lenders factor it into how much you can afford.
This is where I come in, don't go it alone, contact me today (or if you are not in the Chicago area) a real estate professional familiar with your community to start your search.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff
2301 N. Clark St. Suite 202
Chicago, IL 60614
312-264-1261 / email@example.com


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In a statement released by ASIC it was revealed that four of the websites operated by Insure 247 were believed to contain “misleading or deceptive advertising”.
That’s a pretty serious allegation, but it appears that the parties involved have been able to make the necessary changes to the websites without too much drama.
There were two main issues involved.
The statement from ASIC shows that they had serious concerns with some of the text used on the websites:
“ASIC was concerned the websites gave the impression consumers were accessing an online tool which compared the features and the cost of different insurance products. ASIC’s review found there was no evaluation or comparison of the products.”
One such example was the text “compare thousands of insurances from fifty different insurers”, but upon investigation there was no such comparison offered.
In my opinion this was probably just a copywriter getting a little over excited, but the fact is you simply cannot make claims on an insurance related website unless they are factual.
Insure 247 are not alone however, as over the years I’ve seen plenty of misleading text on insurance related websites.
I don’t think there is a deliberate intention to mislead people in most cases, but if someone can be misled then it doesn’t really matter whether it was deliberate or not.
Insurance company logos
The second issue was the use of insurance company logos, which ASIC made the following comments about:
“Further, ASIC found Insure 247 displayed the logos of insurance providers that were not offering quotes for the product featured on that page of the website. For some insurance products, only one insurance provider received consumer details through the website when consumers were likely to think their details would be passed on to many insurers.”
Using the logos of the big insurance companies is a great way to build some credibility for a financial adviser or insurance broker’s website.
There is nothing wrong with doing so, and I even have a selection of logos on my own firm’s website, but don’t go displaying logos of insurance companies if you don’t use them!
It’s fair enough for a consumer to expect that if they see certain logos on your website then you’ll be using or at least comparing the products offered by those insurers.
The lesson here for website owners, regardless of whether you’re an AFSL holder, an authorised representative or just an online marketer, is that you need to make sure your website does not have the potential to mislead or deceive.
Lifebroker was founded in 2004 and has grown to be one of the top two largest online providers of life insurance.
TAL has owned a 10% stake in the business for the last three years, and this week moved to full ownership of the business.
Of most interest to me was the amount paid for the remaining 90%, but sadly the purchase price has not been released.
What we do know is that TAL’s parent company, The Dai-ichi Life Company, valued Lifebroker at $28 million in June this year.
Presumably the existing owners would have sought a premium in return for relinquishing their entire shareholding, in which case it would be safe to assume that the final valuation was somewhere in excess of $30 million.
That’s a hefty chunk of money in anyone’s language, and it shows the level of confidence that TAL has in the continued growth of online life insurance.
Unfortunately it also shows how focused TAL is on the direct insurance market, which in my opinion could lead to more Australians taking the DIY approach instead of seeking professional advice.
In case you didn’t know, TAL also owns the InsuranceLine brand which is heavily promoted on television.
What is Lifebroker?
So what exactly has TAL bought themselves?
Lifebroker is a website that allows consumers to compare premiums for life insurance from a range of insurance providers.
In addition to life insurance, consumers can also access trauma, TPD, income protection, mortgage protection and funeral insurance.
Lifebroker compares policies from a range of insurers including AIA, AMP, Asteron, BT, Comminsure, Macquarie, MLC, OnePath, Zurich and of course TAL.
It’s not clear whether or not Lifebroker will continue offering non-TAL products, but based on comments from TAL’s CEO, Brett Clark, it would appear that they will:
“Lifebroker has built a reputation on the objective comparison on life insurance products from a range of different life insurers.”
“We strongly support consumer choice and a competitive life insurance market.”
That’s good news in my opinion, because the last thing we need is another so-called comparison website which only compares products from a single insurer.
Personally I still believe there is a big conflict of interest in an insurance company owning a comparison website.
Hopefully TAL does the right thing and makes very clear disclosures on the Lifebroker website rather than burying it in the FSG.
Provided that they do that, then good luck to them and I take my hat off to TAL for investing in online assets whilst the others are left behind.
The domain in question is carloan.com.au, and whilst it may not be insurance related, it’s still worth looking at.
The buyer was CarSales.com Limited, the owner of Australia’s leading online car sales portal of the same name.
Whilst the parties would not reveal the exact price, Wester advised that it was in excess of $200,000. This would make it the largest domain name sale in Australia for 2013.
Seeing CarSales as the buyer was certainly not a surprise to many people in the online marketing industry, as they have been prolific buyers of automotive related domain names over the last few years.
This sale certainly shows the value in generic finance domain names, and it will be interesting to see if CarSales simply parks the domain (excuse the pun) or builds it into a new car loan service.
Whilst many insurance companies and brokerages market themselves online under their own brand name, many choose to build websites under generic names also.
There are numerous reasons for this, but generally these companies are looking to build satellite websites that target particular niches, with the idea that they will funnel prospects or leads back to their main website.
What do I mean by a generic name? Generally they are based around a product or a service, as opposed to a brand name.
Examples could include ‘carinsurance.com.au’ or ‘insurancebroker.com.au’ etc.
There’s no question that this strategy that has worked well for some people, but if you think that getting your hands on such a domain name will be easy, think again!
We’ve used sales data from Netfleet, one of Australia’s largest domain name markets, to show just how much you’d need to spend to get yourself a premium generic insurance domain name.
Here are the top 15 insurance domain names sales from 2009 onwards:
- $30,001 – carinsurance.net.au (2012)
- $16,223 – petinsurance.com.au (2011)
- $12,001 – lifeinsurancecomparison.com.au (2011)
- $10,052 – homeinsurance.net.au (2012)
- $5,568 – doginsurance.com.au (2012)
- $5,152 – funeralinsurance.net.au (2011)
- $4,801 – cheap-travel-insurance.com.au (2011)
- $4,500 – lifeinsurancequotes.com.au (2009)
- $3,568 – catinsurance.com.au (2012)
- $3,001 – lifeinsurancecomparisons.com.au (2011)
- $3,000 – homeinsurancecomparison.com.au (2010)
- $2,778 – boatinsurance.net.au (2012)
- $2,501 – incomeinsuranceaustralia.com.au (2012)
- $2,501 – marineinsurance.com.au (2012)
- $2,042 – lifeinsurancequotesaustralia.com.au (2012)
Do these domain names represent a waste of money, or a fantastic opportunity? It really depends on what you do with them.
Regular readers will know how valuable generic domain names can be in the insurance sector.
Super premium domains in the finance sector have sold for six figures in the past, and we decided to have a look at who owns the super premium insurance domains and what they’re doing with them.
For each domain we have used the whois records to reveal the owner and have also looked at how the domain is being utilised.
We’ve also provided valuations on each domain name with assistance from some of the experts at DNtrade. The valuations are based on the domain name only, and not the associated website.
Owner: Insurance Consulting Services Pty Ltd
Value: $200,000 – $250,000
Usage: Stand-alone website which offers quotes for life insurance products and referrals for general insurance products.
Comments: The most generic of all insurance domains is surprisingly not owned by one of the major insurers, and is instead owned by a financial planning company. It’s not a bad looking website, but is fairly light on information.
Value: $150,000 – $250,000
Usage: Redirects to the life insurance page on the main iSelect website.
Comments: With online life insurance being a red-hot sector, this would be one of the most sought after domain names out there. By using the domain as a redirect iSelect would not be getting an major SEO benefit, but given that they already rank number 1 in Google for ‘life insurance’ I don’t think they’ll be too concerned.
Owner: Luke Donnelley
Value: $150,000 – $200,000
Usage: A very basic one page website with no ability to request a quote or contact them.
Comments: It’s almost unbelievable that such a premium domain has remained in private hands and is still so underutilised. No doubt the owner is fully aware of its value and has received countless offers over the years.
Owner: REA (realestate.com.au)
Value: $30,000 – $50,000
Usage: Redirects to the realestate.com.au website.
Comments: It’s not a huge surprise to see this domain used by the owners of realestate.com.au, but it is surprising to see that it is very underutilised. There is an insurance section on the website, but this domain does not redirect to that area. I should add that I believe ‘realestate.com.au’ is the best use of ANY premium generic domain name in Australia.
Owner: Income Protection Pty Ltd
Value: $50,000 – $100,000
Usage: Main website for the business of the same name.
Comments: Out of all the premium insurance domains, this would be the best utilised. In this case an entire business has been built around the domain name, and having met the original owner who started the business around 15 years ago, it has been quite successful.
Value: $5,000 – $10,000
Comments: This is the second entry for iSelect, but unlike lifeinsurance.com.au which redirects to the relevant page of the iSelect website, tpdinsurance.com.au simply returns an error message. This certainly seems to be a lost oportunity, however iSelect already rank #2 for the term in Google and would probably get limited benefit from using this domain any differently.
Value: $5,000 – $10,000
Comments: iSelect have scooped the trifecta with lifeinsurance.com.au, tpdinsurance.com.au and traumainsurance.com.au. Unfortunately this one also returns a nil result, but iSelect won’t be too upset since they also rank #1 for this term.
Value: $20,000 – $50,000
Comments: Ordinarily a domain name with three words would no be considered as ‘super premium, but this particular domain would be one of the rare exceptions. Unsurprisingly this domain is also owned by iSelect, and as with their TPD and trauma domains it simply returns an error message when you attempt to visit the site.
Owner: TIOTN Pty Ltd
Value: $150,000 – $250,000
Usage: Travel insurance business of the same name.
Comments: Finally we have a second premium domain name which is being properly utilised. Travelinsurance.com.au is a fully branded website offering travel insurance as a fully fledged business. Unfortunately for the owners of this website it does not rank very well in Google at all, which is a little unusual for a well used premium domain.
Owner: H and N (Nominees) Pty Limited
Value: $20,000 – $50,000
Usage: Insurance brokerage of the same name.
Comments: The last domain we’ll look at is businessinsurance.com.au, and it’s pleasing to see that this is another very well utilised domain. The website is owned by an AFSL holder and contains plenty of great information about business insurance and about their company.
Small Business v Big Business
It’s interesting to see that other than those owned by iSelect and REA, many of the super premium domain names are not owned by big corporates.
It’s also clear that the smaller sized owners are utilising their domains in a far better fashion than the big corporates.
The reason for this may be that the big corporates can afford to buy up valuable domains and sit on them, whilst smaller businesses really need to generate a return on what will have been a fairly large investment in most cases.
Going back to iSelect, they own four of the best insurance domains available, being lifeinsurance.com.au, tpdinsurance.com.au, traumainsurance.com.au and incomeprotectioninsurance.com.au.
These four domains have a combined value of anywhere between $200,000 and $400,000 depending on who you ask, and potentially even up to one million dollars.
But each of the domains are completely underutilised, and there is probably little need for iSelect to develop the domains since they already rank #1 or #2 in Google for each term.
So why would they spend up big on buying them? One possible reason is to simply stop anyone else from getting them and doing something more substantial with the domains which could compete with iSelect’s main website.
To Be Continued
In part 2 of this article we will be asking some of the owners of these websites why they decided to invest in a premium domain name.
We hope to get some interesting answers to share over the next few months.
In the past this website was all about the services that I provided to financial advisers, insurance brokers and online publishers in the insurance space.
But I don’t really write much content for others now (basically none) so it’s time to change direction…
Whilst I don’t write for others, I’m writing more than ever for my own company’s portfolio of websites, and I’m pleased to say that they’re going quite well.
So the new direction for this little blog of mine is to start sharing my views on insurance advice in the online world, along with reporting any news that I come across from around the place.
It’s certainly no secret that the internet is continuing to change the way that people search for personal and business insurance, and for those businesses that make the right decisions now I believe there will be major rewards in the not-to-distant future.
This blog entry will probably be of little interest to my regular readers, but I had plenty of trouble finding this information for myself, so I feel the need to share!
I am writing this from Paris where I am enjoying a holiday with my wife. Whilst not a working holiday, I do have to keep fresh content on my websites to ensure those Google rankings stay strong during my six week absence.
I’m using wifi wherever I can whilst overseas, which is fine for everything else, but when I tried to upload some new content via my FTP program I couldn’t get in. I tried instead to use the File Manager function through my WHM (web host manager) but that wouldn’t let me in either.
The thought of not being able to update my websites for six weeks almost made me sick! This wouldn’t be a problem if I used WordPress for all my sites, but for various reasons I don’t for my main business sites.
So anyway I searched and searched for a workaround and couldn’t find a solution, but finally I came across a gold nugget which saved the day!
If you are trying to access WHM from a wifi or other network which won’t allow access to the required port, simply use the following link as a workaround:
It’s as easy as that! From here you can access the cPanel for each domain you have hosted within your WHM.
This is instead of the usual IP address based URL which would look something like 123.456.789:2086
So disaster averted and I once again have access to upload new content to my non-Wordpress websites.
For more information on accessing WHM from an overseas or wifi network please visit the original page (link here) that saved me.
I’ve just been reading through some old magazines which have been sitting on my desk for a few months and came across this little item in the June issue of The Adviser…
The article doesn’t mention the prices paid, but we know that homeloan.com.au was purchased for $100,000+ and homeloancalculator.com.au was purchased for $33,001.
Previously it was only known that homeloan.com.au sold for somewhere in excess of $100k, but given that this latest article talks about “hundreds of thousands of dollars” we can probably assume that the $100k figure was very conservative.
Whilst I’d hardly call The Adviser a mainstream publication (I’m probably the only non-mortgage broker who reads it!) it is still good to see domain name sales getting attention outside of the domaining industry.
I realise that these two domains have limited relevance to insurance, but with them still being in the overall finance industry it does show what a super-premium insurance domain name could potentially be worth.
Every day there are hundreds of domain names which expire and are sold to the highest bidder at auction.
Many of these domains are deliberately left to expire, but unfortunately for the owners, sometimes the domains have unknowingly expired.
It can happen to anyone – even me!
Believe it or not, this almost happened to me today.
One of my content clients called me to let me know that my website (shanemoore.com.au) was down. I found this a little strange since I knew that other websites of mine on the same server were working fine, so the first thing I did was a whois search on the domain.
The result shocked me, as I saw that the domain had expired four days prior!
Thankfully domain owners are given around two months grace on their domains, so I was able to pay the renewal and fix the problem instantly.
How did it happen?
It happened in the same way that it happens to most other people. I had an old email address listed as the contact for the domain name, and therefore I never received the renewal notice.
The easiest way to avoid this problem is to ensure that the email address listed on each of your domains is current and actively checked.
It is also important to use a generic company email address rather than an individual employee’s address. Many companies have lost domains as the email address used for the domain was for a person who has since left the company. The email address is either cancelled or no longer checked, and therefore no one in the company gets the renewal, leading to the domain expiring and being lost.
I couldn’t finish this article without mentioning a couple of well known examples within the domain owners community.
One of the best stories is that of hardware.com.au. This fantastic domain was owned by Bunnings, however they let it expire and it was subsequently snapped up by bitter rival Masters for just over $30,000.
This was an example of the email address being that of a former employee.
Another great example was investmentproperty.com.au. This domain was allowed to expire by it’s previous owner, and was snapped up by an astute buyer for a massive $125,000. Losing a six figure asset due to a missed renewal is not good!
Register your domains using an email address which you know will be available and monitored regardless of staff movements, and check your valuable domains from time to time to ensure that they are still active and have the correct contact details.


All new members who are referred by a current CrossFit
Franklin athlete, and who sign up for any of the Unlimited Gold Membership options, will receive $50 off their first month
of membership dues. The Referring athlete will also receive $50 off their membership
dues for that same month.
1. Refer 2 people? The referring athlete WILL receive their $50 off their monthly dues & the next month FREE!
2. Refer 3+ people? Every additional referral will be $50 credit towards your membership.


DAVELEN Disposable Towels: Saving Money for Spas, Salons, and Self-Employed Hairstylists
Spas, salons, and self-employed hairstylists are all businesses that require the use of towels. Whether it's for drying hair or wiping down a client's face, towels are an essential part of these businesses. However, the cost of constantly washing and replacing towels can add up quickly. That's where DAVELEN Disposable Towels come in – offering a cost-effective solution that can save these businesses a lot of money in the long run.
DAVELEN Disposable Towels are made of high-quality, absorbent material that feels soft to the touch, yet is sturdy enough to withstand multiple uses. They come in a variety of sizes and styles, so they can be used for everything from drying hair to wiping down surfaces. One of the biggest advantages of these towels is that they are disposable, meaning they can be used once and then thrown away.
This may seem like a small thing, but it actually has significant cost savings for businesses that use a lot of towels. Traditional towels require constant washing and drying, which uses a lot of water, electricity, and detergent. Additionally, towels can wear out quickly with frequent use, leading to the need for replacement towels on a regular basis. With DAVELEN Disposable Towels, all of these costs are eliminated. There's no need to wash and dry them, and they can be easily replaced when necessary.
For spa and salon owners, this means they can save money on water, electricity, detergent, and replacement towels. This can add up to significant savings over time, especially for businesses that use a lot of towels every day. For self-employed hairstylists who work out of their own homes or rent a chair in a salon, these savings can be even more important since they have to cover all of their own expenses.
But it's not just about the cost savings. DAVELEN Disposable Towels are also more hygienic than traditional towels since they are only used once and then thrown away. This reduces the risk of spreading bacteria or other germs between clients, which is especially important in a spa or salon setting where people are in close proximity to each other.
Additionally, DAVELEN Disposable Towels are eco-friendly. They are made from sustainable materials and can be recycled, making them a great choice for businesses that want to reduce their environmental impact. And since they are disposable, there's no need to worry about storing and washing large quantities of towels, which can take up a lot of space.
In conclusion, DAVELEN Disposable Towels offer a cost-effective, hygienic, and eco-friendly solution for spas, salons, and self-employed hairstylists. They can help these businesses save money on water, electricity, detergent, and replacement towels, while also providing a more hygienic experience for clients. With their high-quality materials and variety of sizes and styles, they are a great choice for any business that uses towels on a regular basis.


DIYgirls shall take all reasonable steps to protect the personal information of users. For the purpose of this clause, "personal information" shall be defined as detailed in the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA). The PAIA may be downloaded from: http://www.polity.org.za/attachment.php?aa_id=3569.
Payment options accepted
Payment may be made via Visa and MasterCard.
Card acquiring and security
Card transactions for payment to DIYgirls will be conducted via PayGate (Pty) Ltd, an approved payment gateway for all reputable South African Banks. PayGate uses the strictest form of encryption, namely Secure Socket Layer 3 (SSL3) and no card details are stored on the DIYgirls website. Users may go to www.paygate.co.za to view their security certificate and security policy.
Customer details separate from card details
Customer details will be stored by DIYgirls securely, and all customer payment and card details are stored on PayGate’s secure site. For more detail on PayGate refer to www.paygate.co.za.
Merchant Outlet country and transaction currency
The merchant outlet country at the time of presenting payment options to the cardholder is South Africa. Transaction currency is South African Rand (ZAR).
First Party Service Provider
DIYgirls is the direct first party service provider, responsible for provision of goods and services in a given transaction, including any sale of goods and services sold on this website, ancillary customer service and support, and associated dispute resolution.
Country of domicile
This website is governed by the laws of South Africa and DIYgirls chooses as its domicilium citandi et executandi, for all purposes under this agreement, whether in respect of court process, notice, or other documents or communication of whatsoever nature, the following address: 24 Arklow Road, Bryanston, South Africa, 2191.
DIYGIRLS T's & C's
By ordering, purchasing, or receiving any products, good or services from DIYgirls, you irrevocably and immediately agree and bind yourself to the terms and conditions of sale and service as disclosed hereunder.
In these Standard Terms and Conditions, including the annexures to these Standard Terms and Conditions, unless a contrary intention clearly appears, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this clause and cognate expressions shall have corresponding meanings -
- In these Standard Terms and Conditions, where any provision is qualified by the words “to the extent permitted by law” the Seller and the Purchaser agree that such provision shall only apply to the extent that the laws of the Republic of South Africa allow same to apply, on the basis that if the Seller is precluded from applying –
- The Purchaser does hereby accept to be bound by the terms and conditions set out herein.
- Quotations are valid for a period of 14 (fourteen) days from date of issue.
- These Standard Terms and Conditions shall apply to all contracts of sale of goods and/or supply of services by the Seller to the Purchaser and no terms or conditions appearing in any of the Purchaser's documents, including the Purchaser's buying order, which are at variance with these conditions shall be binding on the Seller.
- Should any order be given to the Seller on an order form reflecting the Purchaser's name as the entity from which the order emanates, such order shall be deemed to have emanated from the Purchaser, notwithstanding the fact that such order may have been given or signed by a person not authorised by the Purchaser and such order will be deemed to constitute a valid order.
- Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Seller, payment of the full purchase price of the goods and services shall be made by the Purchaser to the Seller by means of Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and shall be on account of any indebtedness of the Purchaser. Payment will be considered made when the amounts reflect finally and unconditionally in the banking account of the Seller. No payments by way of cash or any other negotiable instrument will be accepted by the Seller unless expressly agreed to by a Director of the Seller.
7.1 The Purchaser shall be liable for any banking fees, costs or charges incurred when effecting payment of amounts due to the Seller. In the event that the Seller is charged such banking fees, costs or charges in relation to a payment made by the Purchaser, the Seller shall be entitled to invoice the Purchaser such costs – which shall then be immediately due and payable by the Purchaser to the Seller.
- In the event of fraudulent activities which are perpetrated whereby a change of banking details is advised on the Seller's letterhead or by other means, the Purchaser agrees that any payment made to any other bank account shall not constitute a valid discharge of the Purchaser's obligation to make such payment. The Purchaser shall be obliged to notify the Seller of any receipt by it of a notification of change of banking details and shall only give effect thereto if same is confirmed telephonically and in writing by a Director of the Seller. All losses suffered as a result of any amounts being paid by the Purchaser into any bank account other than the account of the Seller shall be borne solely by the Purchaser.
- Should the Purchaser become subject to a Credit Event the whole balance of any amounts outstanding by the Purchaser to the Seller whatsoever will immediately become due and payable, irrespective of any other agreements or orders to the contrary, and all outstanding work and obligations of the Seller, in respect of which the Seller was still to perform, shall be terminated with immediate effect and the Purchaser shall have no claim in relation thereto.
- Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in the event of the Seller granting credit terms to the Purchaser, the Seller reserves the right to withdraw such credit terms at its sole discretion if it believes that the Purchaser's financial position has deteriorated after the date that the credit terms were granted. Further, it is specifically recorded that any credit limit granted by the Seller to the Purchaser is for the sole benefit the Seller, and the Purchaser shall not be entitled to rely on said credit limit as justification for any limitation of indebtedness to the Seller.
- Should the Purchaser not make payment within 7 (seven) days of the due date for payment for any goods purchased or services provided then, the Seller shall be entitled to charge the Purchaser interest thereon at the rate of two percent (2%) per month calculated from the due date until payment (both dates inclusive) which interest shall be calculated daily and compounded monthly in arrears on the last day of each month.
- Should the Seller have historically granted the Purchaser any discount or reduced charges in relation to the provision of goods or services, that discount or reduced charge is entirely at the Seller’s discretion and is not binding on the Seller nor shall it be automatically applied to any future transactions. Each discount offered by the Seller shall be considered an individual and singular transaction, and shall not constitute or form any practice common between the parties or on which the Purchaser shall be entitled to rely.
- The Seller may agree to provide certain initial consultations, advice, or samples at a discounted or gratuitous preliminary rate or charge. If, however, the Purchaser elects not to proceed with a final order for goods or services in respect of these preliminary goods or services, the Seller shall be entitled to charge the Purchaser and recover its reasonable costs and expenses as agreed to between the Seller and the Purchaser before design phase or failing such agreement, to be determined by the Seller in its sole and absolute discretion in relation thereto.
- To the extent permitted by law, the Seller shall incur no liability in respect of the non-delivery or late delivery of any goods or services ordered by the Purchaser or failure by the Purchaser to collect the goods. In the event that the Purchaser is, irrespective of the aforementioned, able to prove the Seller’s liability in relation thereto, the Purchaser’s damages, costs or losses shall be limited to a refund of any amounts paid in respect of the goods or services. NOTE: This clause limits and excludes the rights and remedies of the Purchaser and places various risks, liabilities, obligations and legal responsibilities on the Purchaser.
- Signature by the Purchaser, or by any representative of the Purchaser, to the Seller's delivery note, or certificate of completion, shall be regarded as acceptance by the Purchaser that the goods and services reflected in such note have been properly and completely received. Goods that are posted or are to be transported by a carrier according to the Purchaser's instructions shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Purchaser on receipt of the goods by the Post Office or Carrier, as the case may be. NOTE: This clause limits and excludes the rights and remedies of the Purchaser and places various risks, liabilities, obligations and legal responsibilities on the Purchaser.
- Risk in and to the goods shall pass to the Purchaser on delivery by the Seller, installation by the Seller where the Seller is responsible for such installation, or collection by the Purchaser.
- Notwithstanding the delivery of any goods to the Purchaser, ownership thereof shall not pass until the Seller has received payment of the full purchase price. The Seller shall at its own discretion be entitled to demand the return of possession of any of the goods which have not been paid for and in respect of which payment is overdue, and apply for the necessary relief.
- In the event that the parties have agreed that the Seller shall deliver the goods to the Purchaser, it shall do so entirely at its own discretion and by the method and route it selects. Should the Purchaser request any amendments to the delivery process, the Seller shall have the discretion whether to proceed in accordance therewith and to charge the Purchaser for any additional charges incurred.
- The Seller may deliver, or make ready for collection, the goods as ordered by the Purchaser in portions or batches, and the Purchaser shall be obliged to accept delivery or collect said goods in the portions or batches as a divisible sale by the Seller. The Purchaser shall be liable to make payment for the consignment or portion as received from the Seller on the due date, irrespective of whether the balance of the original order has been received.
- The Purchaser shall not permit or allow the goods or any portion thereof to become subject to any landlord’s lien or hypothec until the price payable therefore has been settled in full, on the basis that the Purchaser shall be obliged to inform the landlord of the premises at which the goods are stored from time to time (to the extent that such premises are not owned by the Purchaser), in writing, of the Seller's ownership of the goods and to provide the Seller with an acknowledgement of receipt from the aforesaid landlord of such notification.
- To the extent permitted by law, the Purchaser shall have no claim for short or defective delivery, installation or collection unless the Purchaser has specified on the Seller's delivery note and/or invoice and/or certificate of completion the details of the alleged short or defective delivery. NOTE: This clause limits and excludes the rights and remedies of the Purchaser and places various risks, liabilities, obligations and legal responsibilities on the Purchaser.
- Where the Seller has agreed to the rectification of any snags or defects in relation to the provision of goods or services, the Purchaser shall be obliged to notify the Seller of any further snags or defects within a further five days of the Seller’s attendance to the rectification, failing which the Purchaser shall be deemed to have accepted the final goods and services in good order.
- To the extent permitted by law, the Seller shall be exempted from and shall not be liable under any circumstances whatsoever for any indirect loss or damages of any nature (including, without limitation, consequential damages) or any loss of profit which the Purchaser may suffer as a result of: a defect in the goods or services; the goods failure to perform to desired specifications or services failure to meet desired specifications; any breach by the Seller of any of its obligations; arising out of the use of the goods; or the Purchaser’s dissatisfaction with the final presentation of the goods or services.
- Should the Purchaser suffer any direct loss or damages as a result of the negligence of the Seller, or as a result of any defect in the goods or services, the Seller shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to remedy such loss at its own cost and through the use of its own contractors, services and products, within a reasonable period of time of being notified of such loss or damages by the Purchaser. Should the Purchaser refuse the Seller’s offer to remedy such loss or damages, the Seller shall be entirely resolved of liability and the Purchaser shall have no claim against the Seller in relation thereto. NOTE: This clause limits and excludes the rights and remedies of the Purchaser and places various risks, liabilities, obligations and legal responsibilities on the Purchaser.
- It is specifically recorded that the Seller renders services which require that the Seller have a degree of discretion in the implementation of the services or the specific goods to be provided to the Purchaser, in order to give effect to the Seller’s expertise as an artist and interior designer. The Purchaser accepts that, due to the nature of such services, the final product or services may vary, to a reasonable degree, from that which was originally discussed or negotiated between the parties, and the Seller shall have the final discretion on the execution of the services and selection of products which align with the Seller’s vision of the final design provided that the price and quality of such variation will not alter the quoted price and quality.
- The Seller shall have the right to substitute the services or products with other services or products of equal or greater value, at the Seller’s discretion, and in the interests of execution of a final interior design plan or renovation.
- Any intellectual property, of any kind, which is delivered, created, adapted, or developed during the course and scope of the Seller rendering the services or providing the products shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Seller, and the Seller shall own and have all right and title in relation thereto. Under no circumstances is the Seller deemed to have sold or otherwise disposed of any its intellectual property to the Purchaser or any third party.
- To the extent permitted by law, the Seller shall have no liability in respect of any claim –
- The Purchaser confirms that it has satisfied itself, prior to the purchase, that the products or services are fit for their intended purpose. The Seller does not, in any way, warrant the products will be fit for their intended purpose and the Purchaser shall, as a consequence, not have any claim against the Seller.
- To the extent permitted by law, the Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify the Seller against all claims of whatsoever nature which may be made against the Seller by any third party arising out of the use of the goods sold by the Seller to the Purchaser and/or the services provided by the Seller to the Purchaser, unless such claims arise out of gross negligence of the Seller. NOTE: This clause limits and excludes the Purchaser’s rights and remedies and places various risks, liabilities, obligations and legal responsibilities on the Purchaser.
- In the event that the Seller has agreed to attend to any portion of the delivery or installation of the goods or physical rendering of services at the premises requested by the Purchaser, the Purchaser must ensure that the site for such delivery is prepared and ready to receive the goods or services. Any delays which result from the Purchaser’s failure to ensure that the site is prepared will entitle the Seller to charge the Purchaser for the additional costs of labour, storage, or transportation as the case may be.
- Where the Seller has agreed to attend to installation of goods or rendering of services at the premises selected by the Purchaser, the Seller shall have no liability whatsoever in respect of any damage or loss suffered as a result thereof, or otherwise.
- The Seller shall be entitled to apply any payments received from the Purchaser to whichever outstanding claims or debts as it sees fit, and entirely at the Seller’s discretion. Unless otherwise specified by the Seller, it shall be presumed that any payments received from the Purchaser are allocated to the payment of any interest accrued or legal costs incurred by the Seller, and thereafter to the oldest outstanding invoices and debts.
- Should either Party commit a breach of these Terms, and fail to remedy such breach within 10 Business Days of having been called upon in writing by the other Party to do so then the aggrieved party may, in its discretion and on written notice to the defaulting party, institute any claims which the aggrieved party may have for damages or specific performance against the defaulting party in law or otherwise in these Terms and Conditions.
- The Seller shall be entitled to bring any action or proceeding against the Purchaser in any competent court, and all costs incurred in any action including costs on an attorney/client scale and attorneys collection commission will be paid by the Party who is found to be at fault. The Purchaser and the Seller agree that the laws of South Africa will govern any dispute between the parties.
- The parties hereby choose as their respective domicilia citandi et executandi for all purposes arising out of these Standard Terms and Conditions the addresses selected by the Purchaser and Seller as contained in these Standard Terms and Conditions, alternatively the address expressly recorded and notified to the other party in writing.
- Any notice required to be given by either party to the other in terms of this agreement shall be in writing and shall either be delivered by hand or be forwarded by email or pre-paid registered post; and unless and until the contrary is proved, a notice:
- Unless the context otherwise requires, the words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, a natural person shall include an artificial person and vice versa and the one gender shall include the other gender and vice versa.
- The Purchaser shall not, under any circumstances, be entitled to withhold or set-off payments to the Seller. A certificate from a manager or director of the Seller shall constitute prima facie proof of the Purchaser’s indebtedness. Furthermore, it is recorded that the Seller is obliged, by legislation, to comply with the requirements of the Trade and Metrology Act No 77 of 1973, and in terms thereof to regularly assize its weighing equipment. Accordingly, the quantity or weight of goods sold by the Seller and received by the Purchaser shall prima facie be presumed to be correct and accurate.
- Where the Seller renders services to the Purchaser, including installation, construction, renovation, maintenance, repair, and interim operation of products, the Seller’s obligations shall be limited as follows:
40.1 The Seller reserves the right to charge increased rates for labour and parts where such is required urgently or outside of business days from 09:00 to 17:00.
40.2 The Seller will attend to services and call-out to the Purchaser’s premises when possible, but will not be obligated to do so under any circumstances.
40.3 The Seller shall have the final unilateral discretion to select the date and time in which the services will be rendered, but the Seller will use its best endeavours to do so in accordance with the Purchaser’s requirements.
- If the products ordered by the Purchaser are special order goods as defined in the CPA, the Purchaser shall not enjoy the rights afforded by Section 17 of the CPA, which include the cancelling of any advance order or booking.
- The Seller may require advance payment of a reasonable deposit for any products or services yet to be rendered, and the Seller may impose a reasonable cancellation charge (which may be the entirety of the deposit) in the event of the Purchaser cancelling the order. The Purchaser acknowledges that the deposit and cancellation charge levied by the Seller is reasonable and fair in the circumstances. Further, the Purchaser acknowledges that the deposit may be utilised for the purchase of goods or construction materials which are non-refundable, and the Purchaser will have no claim for repayment of the deposit.
- Where the parties have agreed that the Seller is to order goods or products which require importation from a country outside of the Republic of South Africa for sale and delivery to the Purchaser, the Purchaser shall be liable for any increase in the cost of said goods in excess of 5% of the total gross purchase price (between the date of placement of the order and the date of delivery of the goods), insofar as such increase is caused by a fluctuation in the exchange rate between South African Rands and the currency of the country from which the goods are ordered.
- Where the Seller and Purchaser agree on the purchase price of specific goods in a currency other than South African Rands, the Seller shall be entitled to elect to receive payment in South African Rands at date of invoice or in the foreign currency as originally agreed.
- Orders placed by a Purchaser, and which are based on any price list published or furnished by the Seller, shall be subject to the Seller’s confirmation and availability of stock.
- Any warranty/guarantees provided by the Seller with respect to the products or services will be limited to that which is described in any supporting documentation, and failing any express warranty/guarantee provided by the seller in said supporting documentation, the Seller provides no warranty or guarantee whatsoever.
- Any condonation of any breach of any of the provisions hereof or other act or relaxation, indulgence or grace on the part of the Seller shall not in any way operate as or be deemed to be a waiver by the Seller of any rights hereunder, or be construed as a novation thereof.
- Each clause of these Standard Terms and Conditions is severable, the one from the other and if any one or more clauses are found to be invalid or unenforceable, that clause/clauses shall not affect the balance of these Standard Terms and Conditions, which shall remain of full force and effect.
- These Standard Terms and Conditions together with the Seller’s official quote contains the entire agreement between the parties and any other terms thereof whether express or implied are excluded herein and any variations, cancellations or additions to this contract shall not be of any force or effect unless reduced to writing and signed by the parties or their duly authorised representatives.
- The Purchaser's Representative who is signing on behalf of the Purchaser acknowledges having read these Terms and agrees that both he/she and the Purchaser (wherever applicable) are bound by them.
- The amount and date of deposit will be determined by mutual agreement between the parties. Final payment for any goods and/or services will be effected on date of final delivery.


What does it take to qualify for Green Aids from the French Government in 2023?
Yes, in 2023. Because come next January, there will be a whole new package out there, which I will tell you all about when the time comes.
Own your Main Residence
The very first condition is that you direct the renovations to your main residence, and that the lodging was built more than 15 years ago. There do exist some aids for lodgings just over 2 years old, but they are scant, small, and only apply to lodgings you are planning to rent out.
Conditional on your Household Yearly Income
Below is where you will find your Household Yearly Income —or Revenu fiscal de référence in French.
You will then be able to verify, from the table below, whether you have a chance at eligibility:
As you will observe, there’s a first column in which you’ll find the number of people in the household —from 1 to 5 and then you add a certain income with each extra person.
You then have another four colour-coded columns which will give you an idea of what income category you belong to, the blue category being the one with the lowest incomes, and the pink one the highest eligible incomes. Over €69.000, do not expect to qualify for any sort of PrimeRénov’.
And, There is still the VAT Reduction!
Indeed, no matter how high your income, if you go through an RGE professional for your renovation works, you can still benefit from a 5.5% VAT, instead of 10%, or even in some cases 20%.
You will also receive a specific form from your RGE professional, that you can use when declaring your 2023 income next year and thus see your tax reduced thanks to your green works on your house.
So, you see? There are ways to get some money saved when renovating our old homes.
And finally, there’s the Eco-PTZ —Éco-Prêt à Taux Zéro— which you can ask about at your bank.
But as mentioned earlier, there will be a whole new packaged-deal out in January next year! So, we’ll talk again.


25 Sep 2019
The Territory’s key Regional Tourism Organisations, Tourism Top End and Tourism Central Australia will each receive $150,000 in funding from 1 November 2019 to 30 June 2021.
Regional Tourism Organisations are membership-based bodies that provide visitor information services, intra-territory marketing and work with the tourism industry, all levels of government and the community to grow a region’s tourism sector.
The funding supports Tourism Top End and Tourism Central Australia to continue to deliver the Business Enterprise Development Program, which assists tourism businesses improve their effectiveness in a highly competitive global marketplace.
In addition to delivering the Business Enterprise Development Program to its membership-based associations the funding will also go towards a range of projects, including business enterprise surveys, the annual Tourism: Towards 2030 Conference and the Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards.
As part of the funding agreement, Tourism Top End and Tourism Central Australia will partner with Tourism NT to develop an operator feedback tool to help determine the success of tourism and development support programs as well as provide a regular calendar of workshops to regional operators.
Quotes from Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture Deputy CEO Andrew Hopper:
“An investment in Tourism Top End and Tourism Central Australia is an investment in industry. Our industry bodies work hard to promote their regions, and this funding will help grow their capacity, and support the many ways they already help operators.
“The Northern Territory Government is helping to grow the tourism sector through its Turbocharging Tourism initiative, which saw the release of the NT’s Tourism Industry Strategy 2030 earlier this month.
“Developed in collaboration with industry the NT’s Tourism Industry Strategy 2030 sets the direction for the next 10 years with the holiday visitor target set between 1.18 million and 1.45 million holiday visitors by 2030, accounting for $1.46 billion to $1.79 billion in holiday visitor expenditure, which translates to a total of 3,900 potential new jobs in the tourism industry by 2030.
“The tourism sector supports a total of 17,100 jobs in the NT as well as thousands of small to medium-sized businesses. Growing the sector will create more jobs in the Territory.
“Through collaboration between Tourism NT, Tourism Top End and Tourism Central Australia, we can continue to work together to get the best outcomes for tourism Territory-wide, and ensure industry voices are heard from across the sector.”
Quotes from Tourism Top End General Manager Glen Hingley:
“The partnership support of government co-investing with the tourism industry in business enterprise development is beneficial to the future visitor economy of the Northern Territory.
“Tourism Top End is grateful for the partnership support and is matching this with the creation of an Industry Development Manager role, along with related programs such as our Tourism Enhancement Program which is designed to help operators enhance and grow their businesses.”
Quotes from Tourism Central Australia CEO Stephen Schwer:
Business Enterprise program has been extremely useful for visitor economy businesses,
and so I am pleased the NT Government have decided to keep it going.”
“The one on one business mentoring has been received very positively, and in a time poor society, this mentoring will become increasingly necessary to help businesses grow.”
Media Contact: Department
of Tourism, Sport and Culture – 0428 052 647


Please feel free to read our client newsletter. It is provided to keep you up to date on the latest tax and accounting news.
2008 Special Update Newsletter
What does the recently passed $700 billion financial bailout legislation mean to you? With all the press and focus on the international banking system, many are overlooking $100 billion of the bill that directly impacts all taxpayers. This update tries to help make some sense out of the legislation.
- Emergency Economic Stabilization Amendment of 2008
- Protection for Savers
- AMT patch set for 2008
- Teachers save your receipts...AGAIN!
- General State and Local Sales Tax Deduction
- Qualified Tuition Deduction through 2009
- Charitable Deductions from Individual Retirement Plans Extended
- New Property Tax Deduction for Non-Itemizers Extended
- Energy Savings Tax Credits
- Child Tax Credit Changes
- More Reporting Sent to IRS Starting in 2011
- Business Tax Changes
Please contact us with any questions.
- Posted on: 07/31/2014
- Posted on: 07/03/2014
- Posted on: 06/05/2014
- Posted on: 05/01/2014
- Posted on: 04/03/2014
- Posted on: 03/07/2014
- Posted on: 02/10/2014
- Posted on: 01/02/2014
- Posted on: 12/05/2013
- Posted on: 10/31/2013
- Posted on: 10/03/2013
- Posted on: 09/05/2013


Metaverser is a virtual world that enables users to have fun while playing inside its metaverse and earn income from different play-to-earn games. The game mixes the world of finance and gaming, providing gamers with opportunities to generate an income while they play. Gamers will have more control by adding real-world value to their online entertainment. They can participate in the game challenges, earn MTVTs and NFTs, and sell them at the marketplace and cryptocurrency exchanges. Assets are minted as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and can be often traded on platforms outside the game’s universe. The magic of Metaverser is that whales are not the only winners in the game. Only the gamers with the right strategy and a certain amount of luck can get the final victory. Gamers can travel in the game using ports, train stations, and airports, complete missions, and earn real money alongside fulfilling their sense of curiosity in the process. Whether users are serious card players or DeFi enthusiasts, they can find their own happiness in Metaverser.


You must submit evidence of sufficient funds for maintenance during your stay in New Zealand including:
Financial Undertaking Form/s (If more than one guarantor).
Affidavit/s of Support from Guarantors (also stating the exact relationship of the guarantor with the applicant). The guarantor must provide the documents of evidence of their identity including date of birth, signature, and contact details including telephone numbers.
Authorization letter(s) from guarantors authorizing Immigration New Zealand to verify their financial documents on their behalf. If guarantors are outside India, the contact name and numbers/email addresses can be taken for verification by the Bank officials.
The students should provide evidence of funds upfront for courses for the first year inclusive of living expenses (NZ$ 15,000) in New Zealand. If the duration of the course is longer than one academic year, students should provide a plan of payment to show that they have access to funds and have the ability to meet the rest of the course cost and living expenses while they are studying in New Zealand.
The following evidence of funds can be accepted:
Education loan sanction letter from a nationalized or multinational bank only
Latest bank statements for the past 6 months. It should not be more than 1 week old at the time of lodgment of the application. Please ensure that statements and not balance certificates are provided.
Fixed Deposits. In case of providing fixed deposits as evidence of funds please ensure that a copy of the deposit along with a letter from the bank giving the details of the deposit is provided.
Public Provident Fund Accounts/Employers Provident Fund Accounts.
Post Office Accounts.
National Saving Certificates.
Acceptable Payment Plan
EPF or GPF accumulated over a period of 1 year
NSC’s due to mature in the following year
KVP’s due to mature in the following year
LIC due to mature in the following year
Funds Transfer Scheme
Immigration New Zealand has introduced a system wherein the students are able to choose to transfer their living expenses of 12 months to a bank account in New Zealand which will be in addition to paying a tuition fee for 1 year. The amount is deposited in the bank and is sealed for a year, and is then provided to the student on a prearranged basis.
The fund transfer option is available for the students who are genuinely intended to stay in New Zealand and do not have sufficient funds that are 6 months old. Here the student is made to transfer $15,000 to the NZ’s bank account through which the student is provided only $1,250 per month for his/her living expenses. Students who opt for this option find no need to verify any documentary evidence to demonstrate their source of funds.


University Hospitals of North Midlands is delighted to announce that £184,000 has been raised for the Community Energy Scheme.
The scheme, launched on Monday 25 July, will install more than 1,000 solar panels across the Trust, the largest ever installation at a NHS Trust. The £184,000 raised so far equates to 55% of the £335,000 target, this has been achieved with valuable contributions from across the Trust and wider afield. Investment into the scheme can be as little as £100, which will secure investors a return of 4.5% and help generate a community fund which will be used by 'Beat the Cold' charity to help tackle fuel poverty in the area.
By helping the 'Beat the Cold' charity, the scheme is not only helping improve the living conditions of the local population, but also it is hoped that this project can have a measurable long-term impact on the health and wellbeing of those currently effected by fuel poverty.
Charlie Cox, Energy Manager, said: "The investment figures for the scheme have been very encouraging in such a short space of time. I would like to thank everyone who has invested so far and it's been very pleasing to see so many people get involved with a scheme that will have so many positive benefits. The project really is a unique opportunity not to be missed. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to reach our final target and we are hopeful that the total will continue to rise over the coming days and weeks."
For more information and to invest in the scheme, please visit: www.ethex.org.uk/SSCE


When I was growing up, I remember my parents encouraging me not to center my thoughts and goals around money. They warned me with the old adage, “money can’t buy happiness”.
As I became an adult and gained financial independence, I started to understand the truth is a little more nuanced than that. Money can’t exactly buy happiness… but it sure can help.
Additionally (and more urgently), having money means avoiding the mental health struggles that often come with financial challenges.
How financial stress impacts mental health
Studies show that people without adequate and stable financial resources are more prone to mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety. In severe instances, particularly situations involving insurmountable debt, financial stress increases the risk of suicide.
Economic challenges greatly impact a person’s autonomy and sense of mastery over their own life. This lack of control is detrimental to self-esteem and mental wellbeing.
Choices like picking up an extra job, moving out of the family neighborhood, and skipping indulgences for your children start to be made out of necessity, not desire. Those who receive public assistance or support from non-profit organizations are compelled to “follow the rules” in order to be eligible for help, losing the dignity of making the small everyday decisions in their lives that other people enjoy.
Long-term or lifelong financial stress is a chronic traumatic experience. Like other traumas, it can cause you to get stuck in the reactive modes of fight, flight, freeze, and collapse, limiting your mental and emotional flexibility.
A vicious cycle
Many of the ways that money impacts mental health are self-reinforcing. For example, if you are forced to spend virtually all your time earning money to try to make ends meet and solving financial crises, you don’t have the time or energy to grow in other areas of your life – there’s nothing left of you to spend on hobbies, relationships, or frivolities. Without those sources of joy, you are at even more risk of becoming depressed.
Constant hustling is also hard on the body – financial difficulties often cause you to sleep less, get less nutrition, and endure more physical strain. These physical stressors also impact mental health, as they can increase anxiety and other emotional difficulties.
Lacking financial resources carries a lot of stigma, and discrimination against people who are poor or low income is rampant in society. This can create social isolation and unfair loss of opportunity, adding on more mental and emotional stress.
Serious mental health crises that involve hospitalization or a period of time where you are unable to work can be very financially costly, due to medical bills and loss of income. Without adequate financial resources to cushion you, your recovery might stall or even be interrupted by relapse because you push yourself to go back to work too soon or get stressed out from being harassed by debt collectors.
Navigating money and mental health
The challenges that financial strain puts on mental health is ultimately a societal problem. Structural issues create artificial resource scarcity and allow only the privileged to gain and maintain true financial wealth.
But like my parents said, money can’t buy happiness – nor can it guarantee good mental health. Studies show that the effect of income on emotional wellness eventually plateaus, and past that point, more and more riches cease having an impact.
If you’ve been looking at your relationship with money or have been wondering why success and spending aren’t making you happy, therapy can guide you in digging deeper into those questions. Click the button below to set up a consultation, and we can chat more about your journey so far and how I might be able to help you go further.


In the finance industry, the accuracy and legality of information are paramount. To ensure full compliance while producing financial videos, firms must follow a careful procedure that involves script approval, teleprompter use, post-production reviews, and more. The process can be intricate, but it's crucial for maintaining trust and credibility.
Ensuring Compliance: A Step-By-Step Approach
Step 1: Crafting the Script
The journey towards a compliant financial video starts with a well-crafted script. The script should contain accurate, clear, and comprehensive information about the financial topic at hand, with a strong focus on transparency.
Step 2: Compliance Review
Once the script is drafted, it is sent to the compliance team for review. The compliance department, well-versed in regulatory requirements, will scrutinize the script to ensure it complies with all relevant laws and regulations. They will suggest edits or modifications as necessary.
Step 3: Using a Teleprompter
To guarantee accuracy and adherence to the approved script, using a teleprompter during the recording phase is a best practice. This ensures that the exact wording approved by the compliance team is used, reducing the risk of miscommunication or inadvertent misinformation.
Step 4: Post-Production and Second Compliance Review
Once the video is edited and finalized, it's sent back to the compliance team for a final review. This step is crucial to ensure that the content, visuals, and narrative align with the approved script and meet all regulatory standards.
This robust process nearly guarantees the production of legally compliant financial videos. However, while compliance is critical, it should not dampen creativity and engagement.
Balancing Compliance and Creativity
Even with stringent regulations, there is room for creativity in financial video production. Engaging visuals, creative storytelling techniques, and a conversational tone can make these videos interesting for the viewers. The key is to use creativity to enhance the clarity and comprehension of the financial content, not to dilute or obscure it.
In conclusion, producing compliant financial videos is a meticulous process that requires cooperation between content creators and compliance teams. By adhering to this process, finance firms can ensure they produce videos that not only educate and engage their audience, but also uphold the trust and credibility so essential to their industry.