The size limitations of the Australian domestic market mean that in particular sectors, small businesses struggle to achieve their growth potential. For many small businesses, these limitations can be resolved by tapping into much larger foreign markets that offer greater opportunities. The beauty industry in Australia is a good example. This market is a […]
A new year often gives business owners time to reflect on how to do things better in their organisation. What if the answer was: self-care for the boss (you)? ‘Busy’ is a common state for many business owners, but with great activity comes great responsibility – not just to ensure your staff are well looked […]
To beat the odds in small business, the focus for the first year must absolutely be on revenue creation. Without revenue, you have no business. But how much revenue should you be aiming for? Putting together your budget is the ideal time to define your longer-term vision for the business and ask yourself how big […]
Businesses are being encouraged to promote their commitment to good payment time practices by signing up to the National Payment Transparency Register, established this week by the Australia Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO). The Ombudsman, Kate Carnell, first called for a national register in her report into payment times and practices, published in […]
Federal Government agencies are paying 96% of their small business contractors within thirty days of receiving an invoice, according to a new report. Minister for Small Business, Michael McCormack said the latest Pay On-Time report also found agencies were paying 60% of invoices up to $1 million within 20 days, and that the overall results […]
The Christmas Blackout period can bring Australian small businesses to a halt as wage bills take priority and payments begin to dry up. With everybody looking to preserve the cash they have available, business to business transactions begin to slow down from November through to February, leaving some business owners scrambling or tying themselves up […]
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has today released a study into factors impacting small to medium enterprise investment. According to Ombudsman Kate Carnell, SME investment is being impeded by limited access to capital as well as red tape and energy prices and that removing these barriers would “give them confidence to grow […]
Every business owner understands that the rewards of running their own company are immeasurable, but the tradeoff is that you also bear the brunt of the consequences if things go wrong. This is why it’s important to have a risk management plan in place. Having a strategy for the common pain points that your business […]
Stating that small business subcontractors are vulnerable to delayed payments, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell has announced she is examining payment terms and conditions for “subbies” working on government projects. “Most government departments pay their invoices within 30 days, but when a prime contractor is appointed to manage a project […]
SMEs are vulnerable to late payers in Australia, with Small Business Ombudsman Kate Carnell stating, in April, that larger organisations are using them as a “cheap form of finance”, restricting their growth and causing solvency issues. From calls for legislation to the introduction of a voluntary code to deter late payments, late payments have never […]
