Small Business
Businesses must invest in their online customer service as COVID-19 has driven up consumer demand for more virtual support. A LivePerson Customer Conversation Report found that 55 per cent of Australians said that they believed the online customer service of most companies could be improved. This includes providing more information online or having shorter hold […]
Linktree, the trusted tech platform that connects audiences to a user’s entire online ecosystem, has raised US$10.7 million in Series A funding, led by Insight Partners, an investor in Shopify, and AirTree Ventures, an early investor in Canva. The funding will accelerate Linktree’s expansion in international markets, including global team growth, and the evolution of Linktree’s product […]
The NSW Government is joining forces with Innovation District Partners, including the Australian Catholic University (ACU), to identify innovative businesses for grants under the Boosting Business Innovation Program. This year’s Boosting Business Innovation Program supports businesses which are accelerating the commercialisation of research products to address the many disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Innovation […]
A new study has been released highlighting the essential role small businesses play in shaping communities, with Australian consumers revealing their affection for the sector and its contribution to Australia’s way of life. The commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Xero, ‘The Next Chapter for Small Business’ found 87 per cent agreed […]
While China offers Australian exporters unprecedented opportunity in terms of potential customers, entering the market doesn’t come without risk. One cost-effective way for Aussie SMEs to sell to our biggest trading partner without having to establish a physical presence is through e-commerce. Selling online is a popular way to test how a product will be received in a […]
Small Australian businesses will be hurt the most if trade relations between China and Australia falter. While large companies like BHP and Rio Tinto can absorb the temporary revenue loss from lower export rates, it will be much harder for small businesses to survive. According to the latest release of ABS data on Characteristics of […]
Paypal and Buy From the Bush (BFTB) have launched an online marketplace for rural small businesses to expand their reach through ecommerce. The online marketplace connects bush businesses to consumers in cities around Australia. More than 250 small businesses have already signed up to the BFTB marketplace. Four out of five BFTB businesses are sole […]
With the 2020 Federal Budget bringing news of a new instant asset write-off measure for Australian small businesses, SMEs are being urged to use the opportunity to digitise. Under the new scheme, businesses are able to claim the full value of all new eligible depreciable assets of any value which are first used or installed […]
As the public looks to businesses for the stability and guidance that many international organisations, governments and political institutions have failed to provide, there’s a golden opportunity for Australia’s small business sector to lift the bar and change how it does business. But how can small businesses walk the walk when it comes to upholding […]
As trade tensions with China increase, Australian industries as diverse as cotton, barley, coal and meat are being forced to reassess their export strategies. Now a new report highlights how the dairy industry plans to become less reliant on the Chinese market by focusing on ASEAN-6 countries. After prioritizing the Chinese market for the past […]
The Law Council of Australia is encouraging the Government’s move away from the one-size-fits-all approach when dealing with small businesses facing insolvency to be fast-tracked. The reforms to the Corporations Amendment (Corporate Insolvency Reforms) Bill 2020 aim to establish a new formal debt restructuring process for eligible small businesses, to enable financially distressed but viable firms […]
With the news of the 2020 Federal Budget bringing forward the Coalition’s three-stage tax cut package, Payroll SaaS platforms are working to implement the new tax tables into their services for their small business customers. The Australian Taxation Office has announced that as the changes have been made part way through the income year, employers […]
Melbourne business owners are displeased with Premier Daniel Andrews’ plans to keep customer-facing businesses closed under his government’s latest COVID-19 response plan. In a press conference on Sunday, the Premier announced Melbourne’s newest roadmap out of the pandemic, along with which came news that customer-facing businesses may not open until November 2. There will be […]
Australia’s unemployment rate increased to 6.9 per cent in September, however Australians should be focusing on another more troubling labour statistic. The latest ABS data showed that the underemployment rate also increased to 11.4 per cent in September (3 pts higher than a year ago). “Even before the pandemic, underemployment in Australia was persistently high,” said Matt […]
Phase 2 of the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme commenced on the 1 October 2020 and includes a range of new measures to support businesses applying for loans. We examine what the Phase 2 changes mean for your business and how you can apply. What is Phase 2 of the SME Guarantee Scheme? The Government has […]
Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), Dr Philip Lowe, made a speech this morning encouraging Australians to spend more money to assist the stimulation of the economy. The speech addressing the annual Citi Australian and New Zealand investment conference also outlined the RBA’s plans to raise the cash rate, saying it will not […]
We live in an age of belief-driven buyers. Increasingly, consumers worldwide are making purchase decisions based on the impact they have on the world and on their health, and are seeking help in making sustainable choices, according to Nielsen’s 2018 report, “The Evolution of the Sustainability Mindset.” And yet that belief is tested every day — from reports of […]
Understanding how to grow your business is difficult, however understanding how to grow your business beyond domestic borders can be even more daunting. As technology opens up a multitude of global partnership opportunities and communication channels, knowing where and how to start can be critical to your business’s success. This week we ask: ‘What are […]
Dr Farzaneh Ahmadi is the CEO and Founder of Laronix, an Australian stratup creating Bionic Voice: the world’s first smart, wearable (non-invasive), artificial voice box that gives people who have lost their larynx, their voice back. So far, Dr Ahmadi has raised over $1 million for Bionic Voice, and has guided the technology from inception […]
With the Australian Government putting pressure on small businesses to digitise amidst the COVID-19 recession, more SMBs are looking for support to build an online presence. AppsVillage (ASX: APV) creates mobile apps from SMB Facebook and Instagram pages. The apps created using the tool aim to assist businesses to interact with their customers, and create […]
