News

Do your customers want to buy stuff while they are on the move? Blogger David Boyd explains some of the different types of mobile payment systems you could use.

Retailing is more than a price war. Technology can give your business an added edge, says contributor Ian Whiting, Managing Director of Markinson Business Solutions.

Small businesses are hurting as tobacco laws unintentionally push smokers to large grocery outlets and illegal tobacco traders. The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) says regulations must change.

Haven’t got a website made yet? You’re not alone. Between 50 and 60 percent of Australian businesses do not yet have an online presence, but no more excuses: from today, the first 50,000 businesses to sign up get a free website from MYOB and Google. No strings attached.

Google lost messages and contacts for hundreds of thousands of people at the weekend as a result of a gmail glitch. To help prevent a tragic data loss, here’s how you can back up your business and personal gmail accounts.

Whether you’re running an established business or looking to start a brand new business getting the right advice is key to operating a successful venture. In Australia, small business owners have some high quality, inexpensive sources of advice and information that can help.

The Federal Parliament is in uproar following Opposition Leader Mr Tony Abbott’s pledge to repeal the proposed carbon tax. Greens Senator Mr Bob Brown says Mr Abbott is being irresponsible, while industry observers say up to 34,000 new, clean, green jobs in regional Australia are at risk.

The milk price war that the big supermarket chains are engaging in is hurting the smaller businesses in the food production chain and farmers, cafes and independent food outlets are demanding the Federal Government steps in.

A rate rise may be on the way for Australians but not yet. A number of factors are helping to keep inflation down, including the recent spate of natural disasters, though the possibility of a rate rise has not been entirely ruled out.

One of our bloggers, MYOB General Manager, Julian Smith, based in New Zealand, reflects of the resilience of antipodean businesses and communities in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake.

If you’re a regular traveller for business then getting savvy about the latest perks can help make your journey a bit more enjoyable. Here’s a quick update.

In Australia approximately 96 percent of businesses are “small”, so it seems odd that the banks prefer to lend for mortgages than business growth. Senior NAB executive Joseph Healy shared his views about how banks think and why small businesses struggle to get their help.

The clash between Google and Microsoft intensifies with the launch of Google Cloud Connect, a simple add-on you can download free. It makes working in the Cloud cheaper and easier, and will change the way businesses collaborate.

Australians have a love-hate relationship with their banks and research released today confirms what many banking customers already know: banks aren’t listening but they know very well what people want from them.

The bank wars have just begun and small business owners may find themselves in the unusual position of having a whole lot more bargaining power than you might otherwise think.

When you’re running a small business it’s vital to manage your fixed costs. Staff costs are possibly the biggest one. You want to pay fairly but not through the nose for your people, but how do you know what your staff are really worth? Digital tools such as the salary checker app for iPhones may help.

Given differing advice, and with different levels of financial nouse, some Australian councils, churches and charities lost millions during the sub-prime crisis. Today mediation for a class action to recover the money from the now-bankrupt Lehman Brothers Australia begins.

Even before the floods in December and January, business confidence was already on the wane, according to the quarterly business survey released by the National Australia Bank on Tuesday. The survey of 900 businesses found there was a drop in the business confidence index from 9 points in the third quarter to 5 points in the fourth quarter, with a decline in profitability, sales and trading being significant factors.

With work to be done from Far North Queensland to Victoria and WA, as the rebuild after floods, fires and Cyclone Yasi kicks down a gear, Prime Minister Julia Gillard is asking tradesmen to consider packing their bags and mucking in to help, aided by a new apprentice or two.

Facebook addicts, and mobile business people, the world over can soon get their hands on their very own super smart android phone, purpose built for social media. Brand HTC – which is rapidly becoming synonymous with “Google phones” (phones built on the open source, android platform) has launched two new smartphones at the World Mobile Congress in Spain.