Small Business
Skalata Ventures is seeking applications from early-stage businesses with proven traction to join its seed investment program. The six-month program, customised for each company, will offer operational support and up to $250,000 in funding to early-stage businesses to become significant and sustainable. Backed by noted business leaders Paul Little and Carol Schwartz, the seed investment […]
It’s not a new thing but it’s fast becoming a ‘thing’. Brands around the world have collectively twigged to the benefits of dealing directly with consumers and Australian retailers which make a business out of selling multiple labels will soon be on notice to up their game. Fail to do so and they risk losing […]
Global business leaders forecast one in three of their employees will be temporary workers by 2023. 94% of global business leaders are currently sourcing contract workers from online job platforms. The most common concerns of using online platforms: no guarantee of the standard of work (41%), a lack of alignment/understanding of the company (38%) and […]
The challenge of securing bank finance is seeing a growing number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) turn to online lenders. One in four SMEs have been knocked back for bank finance Among SMEs rejected by a bank, one in three have turned to family/friends or a credit card for funding Of those SMEs that […]
Employees who work from home to look after family, a sick child, to manage long commutes or to juggle other commitments is fairly common practice… but that could be about to change. If employees work frequently from home, there are certain measures that need to be taken in accordance with the law to prevent serious health and safety […]
Dr James Fielding founded Audeara Headphones in 2014 with Dr Chris Jeffrey – two doctors who saw patients with hearing issues and decided to act to solve a problem. In the public system, the wait for an appointment could be six months or longer – and then people could be turned away because they didn’t […]
Julia Christie, the innovator and designer of the multi-award-winning baby nail trimmer – the Nail Snail, has recently expanded her business outside of Australia and says that “Done right, it can be the best thing for your business.” After providing safer nail care to countless parents of toddlers, babies and newborns across Australia and selling […]
The 2019 federal budget was revealed last week, with many changes indicated for small business, and so we asked leaders in the SME world for their opinions and reactions. As a recap, the conditional budget saw an increase in the instant asset write-off threshold to $30,000, lower tax rates and an easier tax dispute […]
Small business council (COSBOA) launches ‘Fair to Small Business, Good for Everyone’ campaign With the Federal election looming, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) has launched a campaign; Fair to Small Business, Good for Everyone, which is calling for Governments to employ sensible policies to help small business people to get back to […]
The energy of conflict is generated by the gap between two different points of view; between what we want and what we are actually experiencing. When people disagree with each other, your organisation is healthier. This is because disagreements often result in new ideas being shared and a more thorough study of options leading to […]
A recent violent attack on police officers that splashed across national news has highlighted the need for better employment practices, particularly when a staff member is at the centre of the story. Human resources specialist Kelli McDougall from Fifth Eagle says many people were surprised that a female childcare worker was charged as part of […]
Managing expenses is a common headache for managers and finance teams, who often need to sort through hundreds of receipts, invoices, pay cheques, and reimbursement claims daily. Digitalisation has highlighted the flawed nature of traditional expense management practices, signalling that spreadsheets and paper document filing are insecure and error-prone. Small businesses should introduce simple technology […]
A recent survey commissioned by Prospa found that more than half (54%) of small business owners spend at least 6 days a week on their venture, with one in four (28%) working 7 days. When faced with the pressures of running a small business – from managing cashflow to acquiring customers to organising a new […]
Business owners that are looking to take a step back from their business need to find the right person to run it, which can be a difficult task. To get it right, there are three key questions to ask, according to Andrew Laurie, entrepreneur, CEO and elite business coach. Andrew Laurie said, “Business owners need […]
Meet Jessica Koncz: the founder of new food app EatSee where people can see their menu options before ordering A 25 year old female social media and technology entrepreneur from Newcastle, Australia, has won a $100,000 investment and a spot in the LAUNCH Accelerator program in San Francisco, after pitching the ‘Tinder for Food’ App […]
Public transport woes are part and parcel of living in any major global city. Just last month, we found out about the upcoming closure of nine rail lines in Melbourne, with a warning that 1.5 million train commuters will be forced to find other transport for more than three weeks in an “unprecedented” disruption. Sydney […]
Staying with a Big 4 bank could cost you $6,007 in extra interest on a $250,000 business loan over 5 years The average Big 4 business loan rate is 88 basis points higher than the average of the challenger banks The Big 4 failed to pass on the 100 basis point cut to the official […]
These Aussie start up founders share their thoughts on the Federal Budget reveal earlier this week, giving us an insight into how SMEs are going to be affected – the positives and the negatives. Carl Hartmann, Co-founder at ShortLyster “The part of Mr Frydenberg’s speech most relevant to the startup sector was his […]
Today we’re discussing customer retention and what businesses need to do to in order to achieve the so-called “X Factor” with their audiences. Customer experience is becoming increasingly important as the ability to share positive or negative reviews online is so easy in today’s digital age – and it can be very damaging to a […]
We like what we see, but turn words into action to benefit small business MYOB commends the Federal Government for returning the budget to surplus and for highlighting the importance of small business to the economy. MYOB particularly welcomes increasing the instant asset write-off to $30,000 and raising the threshold to $50 million. One of […]
