Small Business
Paper identifies ways to simplify the workplace relations system for the small business sector
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell, has released a position paper identifying ways to reduce the complexity of the workplace relations system for small businesses. “We have had significant consultations with small businesses over the last two years and the overwhelming view is the legislation is far too complicated for the […]
Why some businesses thrive while others fade into obscurity in the age of constant change
The pace of change is set to become even faster during 2018. Technology, globalisation and shifting workforce demographics are completely altering the way business is conducted. According to business consulting firm McKinsey and Co[1], every occupation that exists today has the potential to be at least partially automated, and the firm estimates half of all […]
Four ways to fix a pricing mistake
In my previous article, Oops… my business made a pricing mistake, I outlined pricing mistakes businesses commonly make. Knowing the mistakes should help you identify and avoid making the same mistakes but what do you do after you discover you’ve made on? Fix 1 – Know your target customer or customers A really useful strategy in […]
Non-bank business lenders growing in popularity amongst SMEs
There is no doubt the big banks remain major players in the SME lending market however, there has been a steady rise in the number of non-bank lenders offering fast and flexible lending options in this space. They are able to move much faster than the traditional banker with their unique ‘fintech’ approach, giving small […]
The modern workplace and how to adapt
Greg Scileppi, President of International Staffing Operations at Robert Half International, looks at how to deal with changes in the workforce and create a more flexible way of working. The traditional workplace is changing rapidly. We have reached a point where the combination of generations and demographics has resulted in often diverging expectations of work […]
The huge gains of incremental improvements
It’s a sobering exercise to consider where Australia ranks when it comes to global productivity levels. When the OECD compares countries by GDP generated per hour worked, Australia scrapes in at just 14th in the world.[1] We’re lagging the likes of Ireland, Germany, France and the United States. So, what’s the reason for this lacklustre […]
How to reduce your risk as a business owner
As business owners, we sure do have a lot on our plates. Balancing the day-to-day of running a business with high-level strategic and growth activities can be enough of a challenge by itself. However, things can go completely off kilter if something goes wrong, and you don’t have the proper protections in place. A dispute […]
Why youth homelessness is a business problem and how SMEs can make a positive difference
Today is Youth Homelessness Matters Day. Homelessness is often seen as a challenge for governments and charities to solve, but the private sector can play a part too – beyond throwing money at the issue. Youth homelessness is growing at an epidemic rate, and SMEs should take notice. These young people are future job candidates […]
How to spot a dodgy SEO agency
The impact of undertaking dodgy SEO shouldn’t be underestimated – it could cripple your business. Adopting what’s known as ‘black hat’ tactics may claim to offer your business short-term gains, but in actual fact run the risk of harming your business in the long-term. Website success today means following good ethical SEO practices, based on […]
Small business owners to learn how to level up from industry champions this weekend
Hearing directly from those who have succeeded – and keep succeeding – in an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing business environment is an invaluable learning experience for small businesses, says Sharon Williams, CEO of Taurus Marketing. “There are many skills needed to run a business, and advisers, mentors, industry events and management events are a […]
Is your intuition costing you business?
If you’re a small business, here’s an interesting question for you… what does your gut tell you about your business performance? For many Australian SMEs, the answer would likely be: not much. According to research by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, almost 62 per cent of SMBs lack any form of reliable data strategy, preferring […]
Oops… my business made a pricing mistake
In my recent article, How to work out what price to charge, I discussed how pricing is one of the most crucial decisions business owners and managers must make, while touching on the eight rules for pricing effectively… But what happens when you get pricing wrong and how do you recover from pricing mistakes? In this […]