I am pleased to see the ATO has recognised the potential impact of the STP initiative on small and micro businesses; and are considering extending the transition period, as well as, including alternate reporting mechanisms. Single Touch Payroll (STP) – an online payroll initiative designed to streamline the way employers report tax and...
Kerry Ridley's business, My Little Bookshop, began as a mobile bookshop in May 2019. Kerry discovered our SBDC services as she was preparing to open her first 'bricks and mortar' bookstore on the Rockingham foreshore. At the SBDC, we're here to support all kinds of businesses at all stages of their journey. My Little Bookshop has grown from being a...
If your business is involved in some kind of a dispute, you’re not alone – and help is available. Here are some of the most common disputes in small business, followed by what you can do about them. Contractual disputes A common example of a contractual dispute is when you may have paid upfront for services that you haven’t yet received, such as a...
Most business owners who’ve worked hard to establish their business, want to see it continue to thrive after they leave. A succession plan, or exit strategy, determines the best way to leave a business, whether that’s by sale, passing it onto other family members, introducing new management, or simply reducing your role in the business. Succession...
Your business name is a valuable asset, so when you receive a renewal notice your first thought is often to pay it straight away. While the notice letter or email may look official, you may not realise that it may have been sent by private organisations looking to make money from you. These unsolicited approaches are often made just before the...
We all want to avoid non-essential costs when starting a business. The good news is, there are some amazing free resources available to get you started on your business journey. Here are some of the best. 1 - Free Starting a Business workshop If you are new to business, our free Starting a Business workshop is the best place to start. You’ll cover...
In 2015, Claudia Franke started her IT consulting business in her spare time while still working in an office-based role. After two years of building her business, she resigned from her IT day job to focus on providing IT consulting, support and training services for small businesses. The move to create her own business, Fraulein Tech, allowed...
As tax time draws nearer, you might be wondering what you can claim or ‘write off’ as a tax deduction this year. It’s important to know exactly what you can – and can’t – claim to avoid running into issues later. Our business adviser, Brian Childs, shares some of his top tips for small business owners around claiming tax deductions. Beware of...
Reducing your environmental impact might be easier than you think. We share seven steps you can take to green your small business.
Are you thinking of funding your business with a bank loan? It may be helpful to know what financial institutions are looking for when deciding whether to approve your business loan application. How banks decide whether to give you a business loan While there are a few different ways to fund your business, including through your own savings or...
Your business could benefit from using a range of digital tools and apps to help manage your finances, keep accurate records, sell online, oversee social media accounts, improve productivity, engage your employees and customers, and more. Whether you want to boost your sales, streamline your processes or stop spending so much time updating...
You’ve probably heard of phishing, where cyber criminals send texts, emails or social media posts which appear to be from individuals or organisations you think you can trust. Business email compromise takes phishing one step further. Using phishing techniques, cyber criminals can steal information such as log in and financial details by...
