It’s no secret the costs of running a business are rising. If you’ve been absorbing inflation from your suppliers and higher fuel costs without considering what you’re charging for your own products and services, it could be time to consider a price rise. We asked one of our experienced business advisers, Steve McLaren, about the right and wrong...
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...
In the heart of Perth’s skyline, you will often find the skilled crew of High Access Window Cleaning (or HAWC as it is best known) suspended from the city’s tallest buildings. Founded in 2016 by Alex Butchart, HAWC is a 100 per cent Aboriginal owned and managed small business, delivering safe and reliable high access window cleaning and building...
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...
Like many people, Claire Sly’s fondest childhood memories are at her nanna’s house. She spent weekends with her grandparents, and her nanna always encouraged her to set up a ‘shop’ in the pantry to keep out of mischief. Her nanna would patiently wander around the living room, basket in hand, collecting her weekly 'shopping' from Claire and paying...
As a business owner, launching a new website can be a big step. It's your digital storefront, your brand's online home, and a crucial tool for attracting and retaining customers. For many businesses, website development and domain registrations are best outsourced to other businesses with specialised digital expertise. Before you dive in and hire a...
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...
Pricing your products and services can be challenging at the best of times – and it’s easy to make mistakes along the way. The good news is that with careful planning, research and the right pricing strategy in place, you could feel more confident with your pricing decisions. One of the SBDC’s experienced business advisers, Steve McLaren, has seen...
At this time of year, it’s common for businesses to take on extra staff to help them through the busy festive period. We asked our team of business advisers for their tips about hiring casual staff over the festive period, to help you make the most of hiring casual staff for your business. Tip #1: Be prepared Taking on a new staff member – or more...
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...
A new form of paid leave has been introduced to assist employees who are experiencing family and domestic violence. We outline the facts about the scheme and how it affects small business employers. What is family and domestic violence? According to 1800 Respect, domestic and family violence happens when one person in a relationship hurts another...
