Small Business
Australian employees will now have their casual employment calculated towards their redundancy entitlements as a result of a recent Fair Work Commission ruling. The Fair Work Commission recently upheld an appeal made by the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union against a decision that allowed engineering and shipbuilding company Forgacs to only calculate the permanent employment period […]
I don’t like to fail, but I know it’s all part of the process. In order to succeed, you must first learn to fail. This mantra has enabled my company to experience rapid growth. Makinex wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for a culture of innovation. We invest up to 10% of our turnover in research and development […]
What makes an effective business leader? Some leaders possess unique skills and characteristics that are difficult to define and even harder for others to replicate. According to Dr Natalie Ferres, a psychologist and director of strategic leadership firm Bendelta, it doesn’t matter who you are – you won’t succeed as a leader unless you inspire […]
It’s that time of year again: tax time. When the challenge of filing personal taxes is compounded by the need to sift through work-related travel expenses, it’s no wonder many workers would rather visit the dentist. Knowing how to file business travel expenses can be one of the most confusing areas when submitting expenses to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). […]
Starting up and successfully running a small business can certainly be overwhelming at times and it is of the utmost importance that you get things right from the very beginning. Your employees are one of your greatest assets, vital in the growth and prosperity of your business. To make the most of this valuable resource […]
For career-minded mothers, returning to work following the birth of a child can be bittersweet. A return to full-time work often means cutting short quality parenting time and increased childcare costs. On the other hand, if they’re having to deny their professional aspirations and accept a part-time job beneath their expertise, the excitement and financial reward of ‘getting […]
In the modern business world, change happens so quickly that if you haven’t got your eyes on the game, you can be quickly thrown out of it. As a business owner, you need to evolve and shift with the times and trends, or risk getting left behind. So if you want to play a bigger […]
Due to the amount of cash that can be tied up in stock, inventory-carrying small businesses must carefully balance the need for adequate cashflow against the need to invest in stock that will drive growth – not just to succeed but to remain viable. Dynamic Business spoke with Stephen Canning, CEO of JCurve Solutions, a […]
In a country that is pushing for innovation, and an economy that seems to be a perfect incubator for new start-ups, why do so many new businesses fail? I have first-hand experience of the highs and lows of building a fast growing business in Australia, and the main thing I have learnt is to be […]
While a majority of business owners are pleased with the return of the Turnbull Government, only one in four (27%) are confident the SME policies the Coalition brought to the election will pass, according to new research from MYOB. “The latest MYOB SME Snapshot confirmed that many of the policies the government took to […]
We all know how important it is for a business to master great customer and stakeholder communication through all touch points. If your interactions have a positive impact, you’re more likely to create repeat customers and gain access to the ‘holy grail’ of sales: referrals to others. Get it wrong, however, and it won’t matter if your business offers great products and […]
The Census debacle last night highlights what not to do in business. At the height of a system malfunction when millions of Australians couldn’t log on to the ABS website to complete their Census the Prime Minister tweeted how easy and important it was: ‘We filled in the census tonight online – v easy to do. […]
If you have a great product or business idea, an option for raising funds to take it to the next level, or to go into production, is crowdfunding. This will involve driving people to the campaign portal. Traditional media can help you in this respect. If you are a start-up founder or entrepreneur and you […]
Looking to cut overhead costs associated with rent and boost workforce productivity? The latest workspace trend could provide the answer. Forget open-plan offices, which can result in too many distractions for employees; instead, consider hot desking. As employers increasingly embrace workplace flexibility, the expectation that employees will always work from the office has diminished and […]
Promoting your business is a full-time job. There’s traditional and digital marketing to consider, public relations and any number of other things that help your business grow. But there’s also some unconventional ways to help you promote your business around the clock. If you’re looking for ways to to promote your business all year long […]
It’s a common condition for small business owners: the 3am stare at the bedroom ceiling and the nagging concern of how to grow the business faster. The staring is usually accompanied by a bout of the ‘if onlys’. If only I could allocate more to the marketing budget; if only we could get the website […]
Risk is an unavoidable part of business, regardless of whether you’re a startup founder or operate a successful established business. As an owner, it’s likely your job involves making risky investment decisions. To invest or not invest? That’s what it boils down to. Business is mostly conducted with the mind, rather than the heart, but […]
If you learn one thing as you work your way through your career, it’s that ‘who you know’ is as important as ‘what you know’. Who you know can help you become front of mind with mentors, friends, clients, suppliers and new ideas and opportunities. Expanding your spheres of influence by deepening and widening your contact […]
As your business grows, you shift from being a service/product provider to a capital manager. The shift is gradual but represents a significant challenge if you haven’t developed the necessary skills or don’t have any aptitude or interest in this new role. Most often the solution to any skills gap is to bring in expertise, which for capital management, is […]
Over the past few years, a strong entrepreneurial spirit has developed in Australia, leading to a record number of startup businesses. While this is fantastic, a great idea needs to be properly thought through from a legal perspective so it doesn’t hit a road block when it comes time to get it off the ground. […]
