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Ledge’s wrap up of the AOG Expo

The 10 Commandments of Terms of Trade: Protecting Your Business

In Bill Clinton’s campaign for office, James Carville famously stated “it’s the economy, stupid.” In business “it’s the small print, stupid’. And the ‘small print’ in this case is found in your credit application and terms of trade. Having reviewed hundreds, if not thousands of applications and trading terms, I know just how boring they can be, but I assure you they are critical. Particularly when it comes to ensuring your security for payment and security for the return of your equipment. Why Your Terms of Trade Matter Your terms and conditions of trade establish a contract between you and...

Does your asset protection structure really protect your assets?

For decades, Australian business owners have relied on a standard blueprint to protect their most valuable assets: splitting their business into two entities. Under this structure, an Asset Owner (a holding company) owns the expensive machinery, vehicles, or equipment, while an Operating/Trading Entity leases those assets to run the day-to-day business. The goal was simple—if the trading entity encountered financial trouble or was sued, the valuable assets remained safe in the holding company because the trading entity didn’t “own” them. The Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (PPSA) The Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (PPSA) fundamentally changed this equation. Under the...

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Understanding How Economic Sentiment Impacts Your Bottom Line

Your business doesn’t operate in isolation. The wider economic environment can influence how your customers spend, how lenders assess risk and how confident you feel about investing, borrowing and planning for growth and change. This is where economic sentiment can provide useful context. By understanding shifts in consumer confidence, business confidence and broader market conditions, you can make more informed decisions about your finances, operations and future plans. For business owners, understanding these shifts can provide valuable context when making financial and operational decisions. What is Economic Sentiment? Economic sentiment reflects how businesses and consumers perceive the current economy and...

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Commercial Property Finance: What Businesses Should Consider Before Approaching a Lender

Commercial property lending remains active despite a more restrictive borrowing environment. New ABS data shows the value of new business loan commitments for property purchases reached $27.2 billion in the June 2026 quarter, up 4.4% from the previous quarter and 18.9% compared with a year earlier. For businesses considering purchasing their own premises, acquiring an investment property or funding a broader expansion, that activity is a useful reminder that opportunities are still being pursued. But securing commercial property finance involves more than finding a competitive interest rate. The purpose of the property, the strength of the business, available security, cash...

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Please note the information provided on this page is general in nature and does not constitute financial, taxation or other professional advice. You should consider whether the information is appropriate for your needs and seek professional advice prior to making any decisions.

Ledge’s wrap up of the AOG Expo

Ledge’s wrap up of the AOG Expo

Related articles

The 10 Commandments of Terms of Trade: Protecting Your Business

Does your asset protection structure really protect your assets?

Understanding How Economic Sentiment Impacts Your Bottom Line

Commercial Property Finance: What Businesses Should Consider Before Approaching a Lender