From 1 July 2026 in Australia, employers must pay super each payday instead of quarterly. Contributions generally need to reach employees’ super funds within seven business days of payday. For workers it’s a welcome change. For small retailers, it means less time between paying staff and paying their super.
Quarterly super provided a buffer. That money sat in the account for weeks and helped cover the gap between buying stock and selling it. Now it leaves with every pay run. Add slow-paying accounts, higher costs and Christmas stock orders, and cash gets tight quickly.
A simple routine helps more than worrying about it.
Treat super as part of wages
The easiest mental shift is to stop thinking of super as a separate bill. It’s part of the cost of every hour worked. When you look at your wages figure, look at wages plus super. When you plan your roster, plan for both.
Make sure your payroll software is set up for Payday Super, with correct fund details for every employee. If a contribution bounces because of an incorrect account number, it’s still your responsibility to fix it on time.
A weekly cash-flow check
Set aside half an hour at the same time every week. Put it in the diary like any other appointment.
- Check your bank balance against what is due. Look at wages, super, supplier payments and rent over the next fortnight.
- Review sales against last year. Your POS should show this at a glance. A soft week is easier to manage when you notice it straight away.
- Look at accounts receivable. If you sell on account, follow up anything overdue. Late payment is now common, and a polite reminder works best when it’s early.
- Check open orders. Know what stock is coming and when the invoices will land.
A monthly routine
Once a month, go a little deeper.
- Reconcile your accounts. Make sure your POS, accounting software and bank all agree.
- Set aside GST and PAYG. Move the money into a separate account so it isn’t mistaken for spare cash. Many tax debt problems start when GST is spent before BAS is due.
- Review stock levels. Stock is cash on the shelf. Identify lines that haven’t sold in 90 days and decide whether to discount, return or bundle them.
- Compare actual costs with budget. Wages, rent, power and insurance are all worth checking, and each has risen for many retailers this year.
Manage stock as cash
For most retailers, stock ties up more cash than anything else. Buy well and you protect your cash flow. Software can help with this.
- Reorder based on what is actually selling, not habit. Use your data – that’s what it’s there for.
- Use minimum and maximum stock levels for regular lines.
- Spread Christmas buying where suppliers allow it, rather than taking everything in one delivery.
- Ask suppliers about payment terms before you place large seasonal orders.
Talk early if you fall behind
If a tax payment or super contribution is going to be late, don’t wait. The ATO is more willing to discuss payment plans when businesses come forward early. Your accountant or bookkeeper can help you work out what is realistic. Unpaid super in particular carries penalties that make the problem harder to solve later.
Let your systems do the remembering
A routine is easier to keep when the numbers are ready for you. Daily sales summaries, stock reports and supplier invoice records save you from hunting for figures at the end of a long day. If your POS connects with your accounting software, reconciliation takes minutes rather than hours.
What to do next
Book a recurring 10-minute cash-flow check in your diary. Open a separate account for GST, PAYG and super if you don’t already have one. Then look at your slowest-moving stock and decide what to do with it before Christmas.
If you would like to see how Tower’s reporting and reordering tools support a weekly routine, Tim and Justin can show you. Call 1300 662 957 or email sales@towersystems.com.au.
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