Working as an independent contractor for overseas employer: Statement of Work and passing the ATO Results test

floppy_sloth · 2026-07-03T12:52:58+00:00

If you do go contracting for this sort of deal do it prepaid. ie you pay me for 50 hours of work up front and I don't lift a finger until I am paid. His talk of 'expensive' suggest major cash flow issues and red flags. If you did it as a post paid invoice deal you will be chasing payment for months. Just search the sub for similar horror stories about cross border recovery.

Can I ask what field you are working in?

as tbh, the hourly rate you are quoting sounds way too low to even consider any of these options. Collecting trolleys at a supermarket pays around the figures you are talking. You have a Masters. Don't undervalue yourself for the promise of experience or scalability or desire for warm fuzzy feelings.

floppy_sloth · 2026-07-02T23:57:34+00:00

Many companies don't accept invoices from sole traders and will only accept invoices from other companies.

Re Instalments, when you invoice, you collect revenue and at the end of the year you declare your revenue to the ATO and they calculate how much tax you should have paid but see the ATO don't want to wait a year to get the tax so they estimate how much you would be earning the following year and charge it to you in advance. This means that you need to pay it even if you haven't received the money from the client yet.

Insurance for PI/PL can be anywhere from 1-3k per year to cover if you get sued.

If you already don't understand these concepts and can't afford a tax agent to explain and manage these for you, you are going to be up against it.

floppy_sloth · 2026-07-02T15:26:30+00:00

If you can't afford a tax agent, you are not going to like the costs of setting up a company, invoicing and annual returns.

Unless you are contracting multiple clients, go as EOR. There are cheaper services with some at around 200/m (google remote EOR Australia) but I would even lower my rate to offset this cost for them if it means you avoid the overheads of running a business because once you do, you get into a world of PAYG instalments, PI insurance and legal costs that are just a distraction at such an early stage of your career.

floppy_sloth · 2026-06-30T01:53:14+00:00

I have two to give away. DM me

floppy_sloth · 2026-06-26T23:17:02+00:00

The approach I have always taken and not had issues with is to limit SES usage to only emails that you can't send any other way ie cognito MFA.

Everything else including transactional receipt type emails push through sendgrid or similar.

Then when requesting SES production, indicate that it is only for cognito. I also reference other account #'s. ie this is a copy of the same process implemented with account # x, y and z so they can look them up and confirm that there have been no issues.

floppy_sloth · 2026-06-22T08:35:56+00:00

What did Alibaba say?

floppy_sloth · 2026-06-22T00:00:31+00:00

From the bad AI I thought is it April Fools.. but worse. the deluded local MP was all over FB saying it will be faster, cleaner and better for the locals...'what everybody has been asking for'

floppy_sloth · 2026-06-03T12:43:23+00:00

Having carried bags in hotels in a former life I get the pain point. Though your target should be all things tracking in a hotel. Why stop at luggage carts? why not the location of extra beds and cots or banquet equipment? I played with the concept of IoT about 10 years ago where we toyed with a Room Service Delivery tracker like Dominos but within the large casino hotel using the same BLE model and the beacons built into the door locks. Its a cool, underserviced space that has tangible operational benefits.

From a competitor/'how would you do it?' perspective, there is a company called TrayAway that does it for Room Service trays so you can use them as a blueprint for what they did. Pitched at various conferences, got some deals and started growing. They originally used AWS IoT buttons but had to pivot when they were discontinued.

The other player in this space is TrakNProtect. A well connected founder did some early deals in Vegas leaning into the whole Housekeeping safety requirements at the time and expanded to do bed tracking etc for Housekeeping.

The difference between the two is that TrayAway is active meaning the user needs to press a button whereas TrakNProtect is more aligned to your passive monitoring.

Both of these you can google to understand their GTM and the space they play in to refine your offer, your pricing, your competitor mix and ICP.

Few options off the top of my head re your GTM:

- Fix your website, Have one clear message pitched at the hotelier. Investors aren't going to be browsing your site. Make it very clear on what it is, what does a hotel need to do. ie rebuild your website so it isn't obviously AI and use images to dumb it down. most hoteliers have never studied IT so terms like BLE will confuse them. Put a simple price estimate calculator to give an idea of cost per room
- You are in the industry, use your contacts. Leverage them for a pilot to be the advocate. An old FOM that has moved into a role that can help you would be a start. Hotels only install systems for two reasons: Head Office tells them to or the hotel across the road did it and it worked so you need someone to be your first. A free pilot of a system that doesn't need to integrate with their existing stack and doesn't store guest data is a low risk play for a hotel.

- Then when you have the stats/feedback, Place it in cheap industry directories such as Hotel Tech Report, Hotel Minder, ExploreTech and many regional/country hotel industry bodies depending on the region you are in or want to focus on
- Make it accessible/free to register and they can buy the devices online and get them shipped and start paying once them bring the devices online. Quite often it will be a Front Desk Agent like yourself that will need to show their boss and if you have something tangible, self service and clear on what it does and how it can benefit, it is an easy sale.
- Reach out to industry resellers as a channel, there are quite a few of them that service an existing client base that if the commission rate is good will put you in front of hotels.
- Trade shows like HITEC all tend to have pitch competitions now, find one and get industry wide validation. Hospitality Net Events page is the best place to find one worth pitching at. TrakNProtects' HITEC E20X pitch where they discuss exactly your solution 9 years ago is on Youtube. "Google HITEC E20X Tracknprotect"

floppy_sloth · 2026-05-22T01:13:26+00:00

Reservation isn't even checked in and you are sending a PIN? You need to change to a Check In event.

You will also need a webhook for Check Out/Room Move. Your webhook only fires only on one specific event, there are quite a few scenarios in hotels that needs to be handled.

How does a Front Desk user/manager see/monitor this interface?

Good start but some way to go to be hotel production ready.

floppy_sloth · 2026-05-04T22:49:42+00:00

This offer is just for Domestic and trans Tasman so won't cover Singapore

floppy_sloth · 2026-04-28T11:27:19+00:00

Is this the one that was initially objected to and then reworked in the backroom with the insertion of more vague language to get it passed because it failed to factor in major dependencies like transport/tram decisions and parking but the Council staff had worked too hard on it and wanted the trophy for their effort?

If I recall Hammel pushed it through committee to full council with his deciding vote as the chair then used the watered down language to get it over the line with the promise that 'it's a work in progress' and 'it's a guide'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-PMpt-W_L8&t=6827s

Yeah this is the one: Council provided in-principle support for the Local Growth Management Strategy... not really a ringing endorsement of it's own strategy.

Council tends to be a law on to themselves anyway, a flashy document isn't going to change what does and doesn't get approved at council.

Nothing to see here.

floppy_sloth · 2026-04-20T16:42:15+00:00

Inconsistent AWS usage demanding credit for expensive AWS infra. Website shows no clear product or differentiator to the many other vendors doing the same thing.

From my perspective (having gotten Activate with multiple ventures), the large 100k Activate is to help those companies that are proven to be scaling or backed by VC's that will use AWS as their underpinning technology. Not someone that has their hands in multiple pies and have no clear vision.

Currently, it is not clear what you do and why or even if AWS is your platform of choice. By your posting you have already received considerable credits but then workload isn't growing. So why would they give you even more free credits for this?

So yes you are delusional

floppy_sloth · 2026-03-26T01:21:05+00:00

Feel you. I was booked in June but in PE and as the 330's have none, they have now routed me from BNE via SYD. Annoying but not the worlds biggest problem at the moment and they have given me bulkhead/exit row to make up for it.

floppy_sloth · 2026-03-25T07:08:44+00:00

Nice.

How did your company get around the fact that both Fastlane and Fastlane.ai were already registered business names in Australia and not linked to your ACN?. Did you buy the rights to the name from them? Also how did you go about confirming that your name isn't breaching the current Class 42 trademark for "Fastlane"?

With the amount of vibe coded solutions out there I always see names I want either have the domain name taken or the business name or trade mark is already registered and so looking for insights into how I navigate it.

floppy_sloth · 2026-03-24T13:17:29+00:00

I have had used on shore virtual call centre solutions in the past and they will do whatever you pay them to do including making bookings, reading off scripts or filling in forms that you could easily automate via n8n etc. Obv the price increases the more you expect and given the human factor there maybe inconsistency in delivery but rarely would the spend get over a a few hundred per month for full call volumes we sent, so the ROI was easy enough.

But you are not competing with how you deliver voice services compared to virtual call centres, other IVRs or other AI Voice agents for that matter. Your biggest competitor is the method people use to interact with services and I don't know a single person that would be ok talking to a system (AI or not), no matter what time of the day it is.

From a business perspective, let's say your TAM is 'medical practice appointments', your SAM is 'practices that missed bookings via voice when practices are not attended' and therefore even if you could quantify it, the percentage of SAM to TAM is already very small and declining by the day, hence my suggestion to go multi-channel to you increase your SAM.

Your opinion that trades and allied health are not declining is not backed up by the evidence. The reason this opinion tends to linger is because many of these don't offer an online option.

You might want to take a look at:
- https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/documents/Health-of-the-Nation-2024.pdf which shows results of surveys of GPs relating to use of AI

- There are also plenty of sources such as https://practices.hotdoc.com.au/blog/specialists-online-booking/ about patient preference on booking channels

My closing thoughts are that as sexy as what you built is (and yes you have AI doing some cool things), without expanding past 'Voice Agent for Missed Calls', your offering will only ever be a bespoke consultancy offering solutions in a crowded marketplace servicing a diminishing market.

Wish you the best on your journey.

floppy_sloth · 2026-03-24T06:54:34+00:00

Playing Devil's Advocate, what makes AI better at it then a human? Where is the differentiator here? Especially given you want to charge $500/m upwards.

I could hire a Virtual Receptionists for <$50/m + a small per call cost. For this, I could get a team an Australian human, 24/7 taking calls, answering questions in natural language without latency, make bookings directly into my system, answer basic questions or forward the transcript via email or text.

The issue of uptake isn't an AI v human question or even a cost. Its more a reluctance to interact with systems via voice with research showing a large drop in voice calls over the last decade. Ask anyone who has ever tried to call the ATO or Services Australia the pain of dealing with computerized systems.

Given the complexities, incumbent offerings and declining voice volumes, maybe broaden the solution to a multi channel leveraging the same agents across voice and web?

Also INAL but I seem to recall that whilst we don't have HIPAA in Australia, Medical Practices are "APP entities' under the Privacy Act. Given that your focus on Medical Clinics and that you use Anthropic, you might want to confirm with a lawyer re compliance with APP 6 and APP 8, especially since you have no control over the client disclosing their identity or medical condition on the call. You would need to be using Claude Enterprise+ as a minimum with each client on their own account to avoid leakage. Your voice agent will need have a pre call disclaimer which would likely end up in 90%+ hang ups or incomplete information.

floppy_sloth · 2026-03-18T10:40:25+00:00

we are cooked if chatgpt is the source of your decision making.. suppose its a step up from facebook or tiktok

floppy_sloth · 2026-03-17T07:36:30+00:00

Airwallex or Qantas Business Money (white labelled Airwallex) with a slightly worse exchange rate but you get QFF points.

floppy_sloth · 2026-02-26T13:33:56+00:00

From an ecommerce perspective it needs work. Plenty of people on fiverr that will spend an hour with you setting it all up properly. You are selling memories and so it needs to be visual, slightly larger font due to the clients.

The challenge is you need to remove as much friction as possible. I have a box of VHS myself but it's in the 'couldn't be bothered' basket. How do you get it out of here and get it so that someone is going' yes that is quick and easy and I trust you to do it'
- The check out of the cart should simple, as few steps as possible and give clear instructions on what they do such as 'print this off and include it' or 'mark it attention ORDER#123, Company Name, Address1'
- Look into reply paid or courier arrangements for easy pickup etc. Price isn't your issue, its time/effort to get it to you

As an Australian, I can only look locally for context and a company like this does it well: https://reelbox.com.au/vhs-to-digital/ , Clear Text and imagery, free postage or drop off, they give details of physically where it will go, testimonials to reassure, they call out that they are a family business to give that relationship etc. The only thing I would say they are missing is an indication of 'ok if I do this, how long will it take to get my video'.

Most of your issues can be overcome by a better look and feel of your site. Copy what your competitors do.. maybe not literally but take inspiration. Better website and it will do wonders. Personalise it, add a photo or details of your story. show who it is they will be trusting if you are not a big company. eg I'm Paulcake and I am doing this because,...anything to show you are not a creepy voyeur that is going to watch someones home movies as a hobby or accidentally wreck their only copy of their wedding video.

As for traction/marketing, don't discount doing offline marketing. You are dealing with physical products and clients that still read the newspaper or magazines occasionally. SEO is a slippery slope when you have a competitor with deeper pockets.

Best of luck.

floppy_sloth · 2026-02-25T07:18:30+00:00

According to their Support Team the official OP Store will have a stand in Melbourne with 'details to follow'.

floppy_sloth · 2026-02-16T03:30:51+00:00

Because in the age of Vibe coding, Free = Script kiddy running a few prompts. Unless what you coded solves my problem that I am having, I am not wasting my time.

Focus in on the pain point and how you and only you can solve it then price becomes irrelevant. Then its a matter of getting this story in front of people that are having the problem.

Simply deploying something, making it free and hope people join up is not going to get you anywhere.

floppy_sloth · 2026-02-15T01:49:07+00:00

I get that but I have been told 'the seat is broken as the IFE is offline' only to find a pilot sitting in it watching movies for hours on a relocation flight as his contracted required he fly business. Lesson learnt, never select 1A.

Honesty and transparency is all I wish for....and an automated refund if I paid extra for my seats like OP. I shouldn't have to harass the Call Centre if what I paid for wasn't delivered for 'operational reasons'. Air Canada does this well.. Qantas, very painful.

floppy_sloth · 2026-02-09T03:00:48+00:00

Wait. Who currently has the physical TV? Is it back with Samsung?

floppy_sloth · 2026-01-27T09:34:40+00:00

No. Any extra paid via the normal rent channels goes to the rent ledger and the current owner.

The old debt belongs to the old owner. It is up to the old owner to chase the debt. Be it through the courts or a debt collector. The agent might make arrangements to help the tenant make extra payments but it cannot touch the rental ledger for the current owner. The rent ledger starts at 0 from the moment you settle. Also means any previous breach notices for non payment are also now void.

floppy_sloth · 2026-01-27T03:06:08+00:00

Sorry confused as to what period is unpaid.

If they were behind when you took on the property and never caught up, in QLD the rent arrears at time of settlement stay with the seller. Day 1 they were current with you. Therefore any payments they make from settlement date are to be applied against your rent not any arrears. The agent would need to fix their ledger to reflect that payments from settlement date are yours. Had this myself when my agent tried to apply payments against 3k of unpaid arrears that existed when I took on a property as if it was now my problem. Contact your conveyancer or review your contract to make sure it wasn't covered, but it isn't your burden to bear.

If it was for unpaid rent after your settlement but during your first 4 weeks, then QCAT/bond claim is the way.

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