Keen to use your culinary skills as part of a new business or side gig? Here are our top tips to help you find the recipe for success.
Small business retailers often have more flexibility with opening hours compared with large retailers – but it’s essential to know about the regulations which can impact different businesses across Western Australia. The freedom to choose your own hours might have been one of the factors that inspired you to start or buy your retail business. While...
The Federal Budget, announced on 25 March 2025, provides a range of support programs to help improve the operating environment for small business owners. Here is an overview of the key announcements likely to have an impact on small businesses in Western Australia. Please note: these announcements will need to be passed as law through the Federal...
For small business owners in Western Australia, the 2026-27 Federal Budget brings a mix of tax changes, investment incentives and regulatory reforms. The measures announced may affect businesses in different ways depending on their circumstances, so business owners may wish to seek professional advice to better understand the implications. Here is...
Significant changes to the Australian Privacy Act 1988 are on the horizon. They will impact how customer data is handled and bring increased scrutiny from regulators. Understanding and preparing for these reforms will be essential for WA small businesses to remain compliant and build trust with their customers. The Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) is...
As a business owner, there might be times when you have uncollected goods from your customers sitting on your premises. This might include furniture or equipment left behind in a space, or something your customer never came back to collect, such as a watch or even a car left for repairs which turned out to be more than the value of the item itself...
If your business has been affected by a skills or labour shortage, here are some ways you can take action to keep your business thriving. An ongoing challenge many businesses are facing is the shortage of skilled or available workers across many industries. Some workers may have changed careers or industries, others may have moved away or perhaps...
Each year as the annual budget is handed down, there is a conversation about what’s in it for small businesses. While much of the analysis focuses on programs that are directly targeting SMEs, it is worth looking beyond the headline measures at how some of the investments open the doors for small businesses, either as part of the supply chain...
The past ten years have brought major shifts in the Australian small business landscape. Some sectors have boomed, while others have evolved, reflecting changes in technology, consumer habits and the environment. And of course, no recap of the past decade would be complete without mentioning COVID-19, which reshaped how Australian small businesses...
Being aware of the early warning signs that your business may be in trouble will provide you with the best opportunity to take action and turn things around.
The SBDC’s own Facebook group, ‘I’m a small business owner in Western Australia’, was created in 2014 to provide an active online community in which local business owners could network, ask for advice and share knowledge. The group recently hit the 15,000 member mark, and has proved to be a highly appreciated asset for small business owners to...
On 1 July 2024, Business Local became SBDC Regional. While the name has changed, we’re still here providing you with free business advice and support in your area. Find your SBDC Regional provider . When Melissa Raffan’s career took an unexpected trajectory and she became a small business owner, she was driven by her personal passion for...
