Government contracts and tenders offer a lucrative business opportunity for small businesses as well as larger organisations. Multi-million dollars of federal, state and local government opportunities are advertised each year. But do small businesses have the muscle power to win these contracts? How small businesses can compete for government...
Regularly reviewing your business costs and raising your prices is good practice to stay profitable. Follow our three steps to see if it is time to review pricing for your business.
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...
More customers, longer hours and an increased workload can add up to festive fatigue for your team. Here’s your guide to looking after your staff members to help avoid burnout over the Christmas and New Year rush. While the Christmas carols tell us our days should be merry and bright, the reality can look very different for small business owners...
If you’re a business owner, it’s important to understand your obligations to provide a safe and healthy workplace. This includes keeping up with changes to health and safety legislation. The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has introduced new Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for Western Australia. Here are seven things to know...
If your rent is due to increase based on the consumer price index, here’s your guide to how it works and the calculations which could be used to work out your rent. The consumer price index (CPI) is a measure of how much the average costs of a fixed basket of goods changes over time. It is calculated quarterly and published by the Australian Bureau...
Market research is essential for anyone looking to go into business, according to East Victoria Park business owner Shellie Attwood. “Don't just open something without looking around in the neighbourhood to see what is already there,” she advised. Shellie is the owner of Greenbunch, a florist, café and plant store along the popular hospitality...
Deciding to raise your prices can be a big step for your business. The next crucial step is to make sure your customers know what’s changing, why and when your new pricing takes effect. If you’ve decided it’s the right time to increase your prices, it’s important to invest time in planning how to share the news of your new pricing. Our small...
Tendering is the process of creating a formal offer (or ‘bid’) to supply goods, services or works as requested by a government agency or private organisation. Procurement and tender specialist Celia Jordaan also sees tendering as an opportunity to work out what you do well in your business and use that to your competitive advantage. Through her...
A false sense of urgency, manipulative tactics or any kind of aggression should be red flags when someone is trying to sell you something. Learn more about high pressure sales tactics and how you can avoid issues within your small business. Some sales training can involve not taking “no” for an answer, overcoming all objections or creating a sense...
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...
Great news! You don’t need to provide an on-site video arcade, unlimited holidays or free pet-sitting to be an employer of choice. With these simple ideas, you could create the kind of workplace and culture your team will love. You might spend a lot of time and effort attracting customers to your business – but how much have you invested in...