Small Business
In a world where software is omnipresent, there has never been a better time to learn to code. Coding skills broaden your scope of opportunity, and becoming a web developer is just one option among many. When you first dive into programming, two things happen. Firstly, you don’t feel the urgency to build a new […]
One in five Australians are living with a disability. This includes 357,000 individuals who are blind or visually impaired[1]. Like most Australians, they rely on the internet to find information, goods, services, and employment. As the internet becomes an intrinsic part of our daily life, websites optimised for people with disabilities are no longer optional, […]
We all know that accidents can, and do, happen. According to the Oxford dictionary, an accident is “An unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury”. And unfortunately, many of these accidents happen in the workplace. As an employer or manager, no matter what the size of your company, your […]
Small businesses and startups face as much risk in employment as larger enterprises but they are often less well-equipped to address these issues. When working in a small business, people tend to form strong personal relationships and employers plan to retain staff. Sometimes, however, businesses need to dismiss staff for a number of reasons. While […]
Video is everywhere and whether you prefer to stream YouTube shows, flick through Facebook or get your fix in 10 second Snapchats, chances are you’ve already engaged with video content today. In fact, more than 500 million people watch Facebook videos every day. And that’s not just funny cat videos. If your business is not […]
Considering the small business sector employs nearly half the national workforce and contributes around $380 billion to Australia’s GDP [1], it’s easy to see why it’s frequently referred to as the ‘engine room’ of the economy. Like all engine rooms, the sector requires sufficient fuel – in this case, working and growth capital – to […]
John Shepherd, Assistant Commissioner, Australian Taxation Office delves into some of the finer detail ahead of the 1 July move to Single Touch Payroll (STP), a change to the way larger employers report tax and super to the ATO. The 1 July start for Single Touch Payroll (STP) is fast approaching, and all larger employers, […]
“There are only two types of companies: Those that have been hacked and those that will be hacked.” – Robert S. Mueller, III, former Director of the FBI and now Special Counsel into the Russian interference of the USA election, made this famous quote. But almost by the time he made it, it was out of […]
A blog is an invaluable marketing tool that can help your business reach new customers, retain existing customers and even generate more sales. Unfortunately, many business owners ignore these benefits and, instead, focus their marketing strategy on minimally effective outbound techniques. Regardless of what type of business you operate, though, a blog can increase your […]
These days, everyone is aware of the risks that some construction and industry jobs bring with them, and much time and effort is spent on training, signposting, drawing up safety plans and equipping staff with the correct materials to perform their tasks. So why is it still a struggle to make sure some employees use […]
When people hear the term “workplace accident”, they often think of people in high-risk jobs working with heavy machinery, with dangerous substances, or working at height. But the reality is that even someone who spends most of their day answering the phone, typing letters or driving a van can be at risk of workplace injury. […]
While futurists talk about Artificial Intelligence and robots ruling the workforce, the HR industry has a challenge that is much closer to home. Digitising recruitment and retention processes is critical in today’s hot talent market in order to strike the delicate balance between maximising profit and retaining the best staff. This fact is amplified for […]
One of the unavoidable realities of doing business today is the pervasiveness of cyberattacks, which are a major threat to the security and safety of company data. In fact, the Federal Government estimates that Australian businesses lose a whopping $1 billion to cybercrime each year – a cost that is expected to rise exponentially [1]. […]
The progression of conversational artificial intelligence (AI) has completely transformed the way consumers engage with businesses. Recent breakthroughs have led to a new generation of Virtual Assistants (VAs) – these could be specific to your bank, telco and even your pizza ordering. As the Australian business landscape becomes increasingly more competitive – particularly as international […]
With companies increasingly defaulting on payments, going into administration and getting wound up by the ATO, small to medium businesses are more vulnerable than ever to bad debtors. To safeguard their bottom line against slow and non-payers, it is necessary for businesses to perform due diligence on their customers and otherwise maintain an effective credit management system. Our […]
Today is Harmony Day, the annual Australian holiday recognising our multiculturalism and different backgrounds. It’s a great opportunity as a workplace to celebrate what makes us as individuals different and unique, as well as what makes us inclusive as a society. We celebrate Harmony Day as Harmony Week every year. It gives everyone in the […]
What are the attributes of an SME that is growing, and how do they differ from a business with static or declining revenue? [Related: SMEs trading banks for fintechs, poll suggests] Twice a year, when more than 1200 owners or leaders of SME businesses are interviewed for our SME Growth Index, one of the first questions […]
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has released a report detailing changes made by the big four banks to remove unfair terms from their small business loan contracts of up to $1 million. The report, Unfair contract terms and small business loans, also provides detailed guidance to bank and non-bank small business lenders about compliance with […]
Fintech and other non-bank lenders are set to overtake banks as the preferred source of growth funds for Australian SMEs, the latest Scottish Pacific SME Growth Index suggest. [Related: Let’s Talk… Fintech, FinTech Australia’s CEO steps down but will continue to help Aussie fintechs from Asia and Fintech Code of Conduct recommended by report into best-practice for SME […]
With more conveyancing companies offering e-Conveyancing it’s important to know what is Electronic conveyancing or e-Conveyancing. e-Conveyancing is having the settlement process streamlined online and actioning key points online instead of multiple parties and paperwork spread over different sites/times. So, with e-conveyancing you can have buyers, sellers, lawyers, conveyancers, title offices and banks all access […]
