2025 was a big year for small business – with new rules, regulation changes and a social media ban, there was a lot to keep up with!
We’ve put together a list of the top stories from the SBDC blog that grabbed your attention throughout the year.
How to calculate your hourly rate
One of the most difficult aspects of running a service based business is knowing how much to charge. Determining an hourly rate as a business owner differs greatly to what you may be paid as an employee.
This article outlines the key factors to consider when calculating your hourly rate. There’s also a handy hourly rate calculator that you can download and use.
Starting a food business in Western Australia
Whether it’s a food truck, café or home based, food businesses are a popular choice for many aspiring small business owners. We break down the key steps to follow when starting a food business, including licensing and approvals, commercial leasing and safety standards.
Learn more about starting a food business in Western Australia.
How CPI is calculated in commercial leases
Commercial leasing is a complicated area, and we’re often asked about the factors that can impact rent increases – with one of the main ones being the consumer price index (CPI). When inflation increases, your commercial leasing costs are likely to rise too, especially if your lease states that rent will be reviewed in line with the CPI.
Find out more about how CPI is calculated in commercial leases.
Is it a hobby or a business?
In the early stages of running a business, it can be hard to know if what you are doing is classified as a hobby or a business. Knowing the difference between whether your activity is a hobby or a business is important, due to tax, insurance and legal obligations that may apply.
Find out more about the factors that decide whether it is a hobby or a business.
Free market research and industry data
A valuable step in identifying if your business idea has the potential to be a winner is to conduct research during the start-up phase. Whether it’s benchmarking data, industry trends or market research, there is a wealth of information you can access to help guide your business planning – much of which you can access for free thanks to the SBDC.
Discover the free market search and industry data we can connect you with.
Interested in these stories and more?
Sign up for our fortnightly small business news email to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
