Small Business
Australia’s continued economic relationship with China is showing little sign of slowing down[1], with the country – our biggest trading partner – investing in Australia at a level not seen since before the global financial crisis. There are, undoubtedly, valuable export opportunities for Australia’s small business sector not only in China but also in the […]
Leadership is something that often looks easy… but only if you’re watching great leaders. For the average person, the ability to lead is something that can take years to learn and even longer to master. As a young leader, leading teams can be stressful, confusing and at times overwhelming; however, there is a key to […]
It’s a common refrain when businesses are looking to justify a cut in the travel budget: why spend on physical travel when we can meet with the same people using conferencing technology? At first glance, replacing corporate travel with virtual meetings makes sense. The financial cost evaporates, the stress involved with travel disappears, and the […]
Those of us planning on flying in the next few weeks – either domestically or internationally – are probably a little concerned. We’re hearing horror stories left, right and centre about heightened security, hours of delays and missed flights. So how can you ensure that your business trip runs smoothly and how can you adjust […]
Collaboration is a ubiquitous word in the modern business environment. We no longer work with our colleagues; we collaborate with them. We partner internally to save time, reduce costs or to extend our reach and call this collaboration too. What of collaborating with other brands or even—whisper it quietly—our competitors? See also: Two brands are better […]
Business insolvency is a very real risk for many small businesses but countless business owners are not spotting warning signs early enough. The reality is that around 60% of businesses don’t make it past the first three years, which is why business owners should seek help early on to ensure their financial health. But first, […]
When small businesses engage with large enterprises, standard form contracts often leave them with no room to negotiate. Small businesses are left with the choice of either accepting terms heavily weighted against them, or terminating a deal that would be valuable for their business. To protect small businesses from backing into a corner, the unfair […]
Small business owners are increasingly embracing the 80:20 travel trend, whereby 80% of their holidays are reserved for leisure with the remaining 20% dedicated to work, according to Xero’s Travel Habits Report. Key findings from the report, which compares the travel habits of 400 working Australians and 400 small business owners, include: 48% of business […]
Whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, most of us know travel insurance is essential. But many people don’t know there are things you can do that will make a big difference for your bottom line, not to mention your wellbeing. Here are my top ten: Consider a multi-trip or annual policy If you’re […]
Influencers continue to re-shape the media industry as an increasing number of businesses enlist them to fuel business growth and customer engagement. As the director of a PR agency, I have recognised the power of influencer marketing to reach client’s target audiences and start real conversations with consumers. The rise of influencer marketing can be […]
Female founders are outnumbered three to one in Australia’s startup ecosystem because they often lack the support of a strong network of ‘door openers’, according to Fiona Boyd, the CEO of Heads Over Heels. She explained that Head Over Heels, an Australian not-for-profit founded in 2010, provides female entrepreneurs with a “powerful platform” to scale – and […]
The mantra of many successful entrepreneurs is the idea that you must spend money to make money. It is also one of the biggest reasons that some people fail to act on their business aspirations, because they believe that they don’t have the money required to take their business to the next level. I believe […]
Richard Branson is right about many things…but he’s wrong about attitude. One of his famous observations was that “you can learn expertise and gain experience but attitude is inherent”. In other words, you can’t train for attitudes – you hire attitudes. I believe that view is now defunct. By failing to train for attitude, organisations miss out […]
Over the years we’ve heard plenty of grandiose plans for businesses that never eventuate and untold numbers of excuses for not hitting the targets that were bragged about at the start of the year. As accountants, we’re not really interested in all of that, what we’re interested in is the numbers because they tell great […]
When it comes to Amazon’s entry to Australian retail, there are many and varied opinions on the likely extent of its impact. No one knows for sure what will ensue. Will Amazon disrupt Australian retail? And if it does, to what degree? Or will it resort to a competitive fight with retailers in this diverse […]
The strange thing is you can have a full order book and see that your business is really taking off, but if you don’t have a firm grip on the cash flow situation you could struggle to stay afloat and achieve long-term success. It is important to understand why cash flow matters so much to […]
If you have a task to complete, such as launching a new product, you will want to keep a tight handle on project costs and be able to work to a realistic timescale. Delivering a project on time and on budget is a challenge, but there are ways to ensure that everything stays on track […]
Today, most Australians carry at least one Wi-Fi-enabled device at all times and according to Cisco’s 2016 VNI report, more than 540 million public hotspots are expected to be online by 2021 to support smart devices worldwide further propelling their proliferation. While most retail businesses have realised offering a reliable Wi-Fi network for guests is […]
Nearly one in two Australian businesses are leaving themselves vulnerable to bad debt by not performing credit checks on their existing customers, new research shows. In a survey conducted by Australian credit bureau CreditorWatch, business owners, accountants and credit professionals from small to large-scale businesses were asked questions in relation to their credit management responsibilities. […]
Casual workers will be given the right to convert to part-time or full-time employment, and receive new minimum engagement periods, the Fair Work Commission announced earlier this month. The Commission has decided to give employees across most industries and occupations the right to request permanent employment status after 12 months of regular and systematic employment. […]
