Newsletter - November 2025

Inside this edition:

• Recap our live sessions with Jenn Donovan and Marnie Hawson

• How to prep for your holiday break

• Share the business wins you're most proud of this year

• Results from our October poll

• And a few more handy resources for solo business owners 👇

▶️ Catch up on our November live sessions

Make your solo business stand out in a crowded marketplace with Jenn Donovan

If you’ve ever felt invisible online or overwhelmed by marketing advice, this session is for you.

Jenn Donovan, is a marketing strategist, founder of Social Media & Marketing Australia, Buy From a Bush Business (350K+ members), and the Small Business Made Simple podcast. She shares what’s working for Aussie sole traders right now.

How to Build a Values-Led Business (and Still Pay the Bills) with Marnie Hawson

Photographer and former environmental scientist Marnie Hawson shares how she built not one, but two purpose-driven businesses that put people and planet first.

📆 5 things to do this month for a less stressful holiday break

✅ 1. Start chasing payments now

Follow up on any unpaid invoices (or let Rounded follow up for you!) before clients disappear for the holidays. The earlier you nudge, the more likely you are to get paid before everyone clocks off.

✅ 2. Plan your shutdown (and tell your clients)

Decide when you’ll finish up and when you’ll return. Add those dates to your email footer, socials, and out-of-office message now so clients can plan around you.

✅ 3. Start getting your books in order

Reconcile transactions, upload receipts, and review your expenses. Now is the perfect time for a quick financial tidy-up before the new year.

✅ 4. Prep your marketing for the break

Batch and schedule any social posts, newsletters, or promotions you want running while you’re offline. Or, take the time to map your 2026 marketing strategy so you hit the ground running.

✅ 5. Reflect and reset

Look back on the year: wins, lessons, and what you want to do differently next year. It’s a great way to wrap up 2025 on a high note.

📣 What business win are you most proud of this year?

2025 has been a lot for many people.

(Understatement, we know.)

So before we all collapse into December, we want to shine a light on the things that made the hard parts worthwhile.

Maybe you:

• Raised your rates (finally)

• Took a proper holiday

• Found a client who actually pays on time

• Hired your first subcontractor or outsourced that thing you hate

• Switched from spreadsheets to sanity (hi 👋)

• Or even just kept your business running eve

Whatever your win, big or small, we’d love to hear it.

We'll be sharing your answers in our next edition, along with our own from the Rounded team.

💡 Tip Of The Month With Lauren Thiel, Accountant For Creatives

Community is key.

I never wanted to connect with other accountants until recently. I was focused on my clients – sponsoring and attending event where they'd be.

As much as I still think that's important, it's also valuable to connect with others in your own industry. I feel less alone, learn new things, and stay motivated.

👥 Melbourne Video Freelancers

Another great meet up of the Melbourne Video Freelancers this month (featuring co-founder Grant)

Looking to connect with other video freelancers or find

opportunities to collaborate with awesome creative folks?

Make sure you check them out!

📣 Oct Poll Results: Do you use 2FA?

The majority of you who answered last month's survey are securing all accounts with 2FA – well done!

For those of you out there who haven't switched on 2FA for Rounded (we won't name names 👀), here's how.

👤 Helpful links for sole traders

• Make your voice heard in the MEAA's 2025 Freelance journalists, photographers and media workers survey

• How to market your business without social media from the Freelance Jungle

• How to use AI to find clients from The Content Byte

• Reflections on strategic quitting and spectacular failure from Monica Davidson at Creative Plus Business

• Join our weekly Rounded masterclass

Cover Photo by david Griffiths on Unsplash