The recent launch of 13 regional and metropolitan TAFE Jobs and Skills Centres (JSCs) has provided a one-stop shop for small businesses looking to recruit or train staff. The centres provide careers, training, and employment advice and assistance and serve as a direct link between businesses seeking staff and TAFE trainees and apprentices looking...
Illegal phoenix activity has a significant impact on the Australian economy with an annual estimated cost of up to $5.13 billion. While illegal phoenix activity has many victims, the impact on small business, particularly, can have a catastrophic effect on their operations as well as personal lives. Illegal phoenix activity is when a new company is...
Identifying and understanding your potential customer base can help you market your business more effectively by keeping your advertising spend in the right places. Knowing where to find this information can often seem like a challenge, but the good news is that there are free tools you can access to help you find out more about your potential...
Are you a small business owner feeling overwhelmed by social media? Me too! I got a degree in communications well before anybody had smartphones or Facebook friends, and the word “content” was mostly used to describe somebody who was pretty happy with their life. I’ve learned everything I know about digital marketing on-the-job over the course of...
In a world where customers are often driven online to find the cheapest option, it can be hard for bricks-and-mortar businesses to feel they have a fair chance to be competitive. Bricks-and-mortar business can be tough – but there are also some fantastic advantages that might not work for online businesses, particularly in light of recent pressures...
Pay rates and employer obligations can vary depending on which industrial relations system applies to your business. Find out about four free tools that can help you pay staff correctly.
In the 2025-26 financial year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will prioritise enforcing compliance relating to credit card surcharges and merchant fees. Paying by card is convenient for customers, but it can cost your business in the form of merchant fees charged by your payment processor (such as a bank). If your...
The way you report employee payments and superannuation is set to change, with the Federal Government passing legislation to extend Single Touch Payroll (STP) to all employers. Under the requirements of STP, you’ll need to report payments such as salaries and wages, pay as you go (PAYG) withholding and superannuation directly to the Australian...
There’s more to offering a discount than simply reducing your prices. Offering discounts is a popular promotion technique to help increase sales and attract new customers, particularly if business is slow or you’re just starting out. Before you start offering discounts across the board, some careful planning, and considering other ‘value add’...
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has recently announced changes to how your employees can calculate tax deductions if they work from home. Here’s your guide to the changes. Millions of Australians work from home for some or all of their working week. If your business is structured to have your employees working from home at some stage, they...
Whether you’re an employer or a person who considers themselves self-employed, it’s important to know the difference between what the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) sees as an employee and a contractor to ensure you are meeting your tax and super obligations. Many people believe that a worker is automatically a contractor if they have specialist...
There’s a common myth in small business that it’s a waste of time and effort to register for goods and services tax (GST) before your business generates $75,000 in revenue each year. Here’s the truth behind that myth and why you might need to consider GST registration sooner than you think. When you’re just starting out or coming through a tough...
