10 Drivers to Review for the New Financial Year

Written by Kylie Walsh

As the new financial year approaches, it’s the perfect opportunity for business owners and leaders to reflect, reset, and realign. Reviewing key business drivers ensures you're not only prepared for what's ahead but positioned for strategic growth.

Here are 10 critical areas to revisit and refine:

  1. Cost to Manage – looking at your fixed expenses and ascertaining which properties under management are costing you money to hold. Of course, there may be circumstances where it is not feasible to put the management fee up or terminate, given relationships and or other factors, but in most cases, when offices look at the break even and profit point of each management, often you are better off to increase management fees, and lose a handful of managements rather than continuing to manage properties at a loss.  

  2. Subscriptions & Commercial Contracts - Meet with all key partners and review commercial contracts and subscription fees. (Nice to have, have to have). Review insurances, copiers and printing contacts. 

  3. Get a tax depreciation schedule on your office if you haven’t had one before, even if you are renting. 

4. Projects – Do it, dump it or delegate it. Be clear on focus and vision, keep it simple in the next 12 months, less will be more. 

5. Review client experience moments of magic in each process you have, how different are you really and are you putting yourself in a position to demonstrate greater value, so you are not competing on fee. This is a great team activity and work that can be done in pairs, lighten your load as a leader and get your people working shoulder to shoulder on this. World class process will ensure consistency, speed and competency benchmark in your brand. 

6. Reconcile your market rents against REA and/or CoreLogic insights. Imagine the implications and opportunities of a $50 a week increase across a year at your management fee. Multiplied across your portfolio could be huge.

7. COS – What does it cost you for every dollar you make? What are your desk costs? Which agents are not profitable? What is your strategy around managing this? Is the team clear on KPI’s, swim lanes and their role? 

8. Market share – PM and sales. 

9. Fixed cost coverage – how many managements or sales do you need to cover your fixed costs? This will help determine if you need to organically grow, merge or acquire. 

10. Google My Business Numbers – Reach, opportunity, visitors, reviews and campaigns. 

The start of a new financial year offers more than a clean slate—it’s a strategic opportunity to sharpen your focus and strengthen your position. By deliberately reviewing these 10 drivers, you can align your resources, energise your team, and make more informed decisions.

In a competitive and constantly evolving market, clarity and intention aren’t just advantages—they’re essentials. Set the tone for the year ahead with purpose, and lead with confidence.