A passion for sewing and lessons from her dressmaker mother motivated Fiona Larkins to move from retail management to running her own clothing alteration business at the tender age of 24. In 2024, her city-based business is celebrating 30 years, and still going strong. Location, location, location Armed with a can-do attitude, Fiona identified a...
Many small business owners are unaware that they may be required to obtain various local government approvals for their new premises, to ensure they are operating in compliance with the relevant planning, building and health legislation. Here’s how to avoid costly and disruptive mistakes. It’s an exciting time for your business. You have a strong...
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 . By his own admission, Kade Sims is adept at counting beans – the coffee variety that is, not financial figures. So, when the owner of Beck & Call...
How can you impact your profit as a small business owner? For most small businesses, making a profit is one of the most important goals. Profitability relies on a simple accounting equation: Income – Expenditure = Net Profit In other words, net profit is your business's profit after all business expenses have been deducted from your revenue...
Signing a lease is a big commitment for any business. Here are our top five things you need to know before signing on the dotted line.
Wondering if your business is eligible for a government grant? We’ve put together this overview explaining the availability and eligibility of grants for small business. Are there incentives or grants to help start-up businesses? There are no government grants available for the specific purpose of starting a business. Government support for start...
The cost of renting your premises can be one of the biggest overheads in your business, and can put the pressure on you when a rental increase is looming. Learn about market rent reviews and what you can do if you’re a tenant facing rising rental costs. The costs of being in business are rising because of inflation, interest rate rises and other...
It’s no secret that the cost of practically everything seems to have risen. As a commercial leasing tenant, it’s important to understand the outgoing clauses in your lease, so there are no surprises later on. Our business advisers spend a lot of time speaking with small business owners across WA. One question appears to be coming up frequently in...
Did you know that bubble wrap was originally sold as a textured wallpaper? As history has shown us, it wasn’t a viable product for its intended customers. The success of online business ideas or other small business ideas will always depend on a range of factors. Some factors are out of your control, such as interest rates, tax brackets and the...
Many small businesses are facing challenges because of increased costs, the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and other economic factors. You might be one of many business owners who negotiated rent relief to manage the impact of the pandemic, now facing the prospect of paying back your deferred rent on top of meeting your ongoing rent and other business...
Family-owned and operated business, Leaf Bean Machine, has spent more than a decade taking their love of a good brew to the next level by focussing on being more than just a coffee roaster. Fleur and Brad Cassidy, the husband and wife team behind Leaf Bean Machine, created a three pronged product focus which gave rise to its trading name. They...
Sometimes the simplest business tips are the most important pieces of advice you can adopt, and that’s definitely the case when it comes to ‘get it in writing’.