Buying a franchise can be a great pathway to running your own business. Before signing on, make sure you’ve sought advice and considered these seven key areas.
If you have a great idea for a new product, you’re at the start of an exciting but complex business journey. From developing your idea to testing demand in the market and finding the right manufacturer, here’s your guide to the steps involved in turning your idea into a new product available for sale. Step 1: Develop your idea Developing any new...
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...
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 businesses start as a hobby business or ‘side hustle’ which you might run in your spare time while holding a job with another employer. Setting your own hours and being your own boss might sound like a dream when you’re working while running a business on the side – but it’s important to make an informed decision before you decide to...
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...
You might think eInvoicing is what happens when you email invoices from your accounting system but there is much more to it, including a number of benefits for your business. Here is our quick guide to the benefits of eInvoicing. What is eInvoicing? eInvoicing is a secure payment method designed to streamline payments between businesses and their...
Have you found yourself in a situation where you’ve finished a job only to discover you’ve only just broken even or perhaps actually lost money due to underquoting? First of all, don’t beat yourself up. Most small business owners discover at some point, particularly when starting out, that they have underquoted. Here are some tips to help you avoid...
Like many businesses in our current environment, you may be expecting a downturn in your turnover for the next financial year. We’ve put together some tips on how to prepare from a tax perspective. From staffing challenges and supplier constraints to customer behaviours and global events, there are many reasons your business might be preparing for...
If you’re expecting a surge in business in the 2024-25 financial year that will boost your taxable income, now is the time to plan ahead to make sure you meet your obligations and maximise your cashflow. Take a look at your expected taxable income for the current financial year (2023-24) - that’s the assessable income for your business minus any...
As a former school principal for more than 10 years, Orlando dos Santos always encouraged staff and students to achieve their dreams. When he identified a need within the community after witnessing a lot of pet stress, he knew it was time for him to achieve his own dreams. With more than 50 years of experience in dog training under his belt...
Every business should be fully aware of the current Sex Discrimination Act 1984, but from 12 December 2023 it will move from being just a complaint-based system to one where businesses will have a pro-active obligation or ‘Positive Duty’ as well. What has changed? The changes will not replace the current legal components under the Act but...
