Expert
Let me start by saying that effective marketing is the lifeblood of any successful business, big or small. Having said that, smaller start-up businesses often don’t have a lot of excess cash to splash around so I hate to see their money go to waste on marketing strategies that are unnecessary. Based on what I’ve seen […]
Intellectual property, such as patents and copyrights can represent a significant portion of a company’s assets – particularly for highly innovative start-ups. Currently, intangible assets are subject to a legislative “effective life” period which is used to calculate their rate of depreciation. However, these existing provisions which mandate their life span are inflexible and often […]
Hey, this is life Jim – and it is just as you know it! Yes, get used to it. As a business owner you’re always going to be taking risks, whether it’s hiring someone new, taking a lease on a new office, or something as simple as taking out advertising space for that new product launch. […]
When I came to Australia from the UK, via Hong Kong, and started my ‘’start-up’’ business, I didn’t know anyone and almost no one knew me. My previous experience, reputation network and endorsements carried little weight down under. 5 reasons and more! I guess my background in PR helped, but it is Public Relations […]
Gartner research published late last year suggested that more than three-quarters of companies were either already investing in big data, or planned to invest in it over the following two years. This suggests big data is changing the way businesses operate and delivering measurable benefits. The emergence of the data-driven business is now something that […]
When you are starting out in business, you will recognise that it can be a very lonely experience. You may have a couple of key people who are your ‘go to’ resource for advice. It is quite common for business owners to reach out to a former colleague, mentor, maybe a family member or even their accountant. However, […]
Beside the normal regulatory and governance requirements, most business owners, entrepreneurs and CEOs realise the need for and benefit of reporting to a board. With the right dynamics in place a board can empower people with complimentary skills, experience and wisdom to formally advise and assist us. Equally, contributing to other businesses and organisations as a […]
So you’ve found your dream home. Everything seems perfect, until you apply for a mortgage. If the bank says “no,” most of us want the earth to open up and swallow us whole. It’s a sinking feeling but it’s not the end of the world. If you have applied for a home loan and have […]
When planning for growth, one thing that often keeps business owners up at night is the question, “When is the right time to hire new staff?” Do you wait until you land that big new contract and then hire the staff you need? Or, do you take the risk and hire the staff first, so […]
Let’s set the record straight, work/life balance is a myth. The idea that we can balance our working career with the rest of our life is just nuts. What I strive for is to create my own mix of career, family, relationships and ‘me time’. I have chosen my own path, with my own […]
Employee Share Schemes (ESS) have long been a utilised as a valuable tool to drive and motivate key personnel to invest themselves in the future of the company. ESS are also particularly appealing to boot strapped start ups who may not have the capital or cash flow to attract and retain employees. From an employee […]
Opening a franchise is an appealing option for those who want to own a business, but getting started can be daunting. With a franchise, you’ll receive the support of a franchisor so you won’t have to worry about starting from scratch or jumping over obstacles traditional startups face. Here are eight important tips to ensure […]
Social Media is not just a communication tool to talk to customers, it is ideal to talk to your internal teams & staff. This video shares some tips on how to do this.
“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” Sam Ewig Running a business for over 20 years provides a wide ranging perspective on hiring, firing and the movement of people. We’ve seen all levels of skill, experience and commitment; […]
Entrepreneurs, along with their start-ups and innovative ideas have certainly been discovered as the new ‘best friend’ of the Australian economy – or at least, they have only recently been recognised as such at a governmental level. Welcome to the ideas boom. In December 2015, the National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA) announced a suite […]
“The biggest mistakes that tech startups make is trying to reinvent the wheel.” (Andrew Bosworth, Global Director of Engineering, Facebook) Ever spent time building a product or tool only to find it already exists? Was it because you didn’t seek out, or have access to guidance and advice? Reinventing the wheel in this way is […]
You’re in a performance review and your Manager tells you that a couple of your colleagues think your ego walks in the door two hours before you do. It’s ok though…. He’s “just being honest”. You’re having a discussion with a colleague and she raises her voice, points her finger and lets you know that […]
It’s an exciting time to be a small business involved in exporting. With the weaker AUD boosting Australia’s international competiveness in many industries outside of mining, and a host of new free trade agreements opening up entry into foreign markets, there are many great opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) thinking about expanding overseas. […]
Copyright In Australia, copyright protection is automatically granted to any original creations. This means that as soon as someone has created something original such as writing, music or artwork, they then become the copyright holder for the creation. As the copyright holder, you then own the rights to your creation, including the right to license […]
A crowd of business leaders aspiring to take their businesses to the next level gathered yesterday for the inaugural GrowthCon event at Sydney’s Hilton Hotel. The brainchild of Martin Martinez, who founded and grew the Australian Poker League (APL) from a “one-bedroom operation” into a 50-million-dollar enterprise, the event brought together ten of Australia’s leading […]
