Find out more about the key changes taking effect from 1 July 2024 that are likely to have an impact on small business owners in Western Australia. New minimum wages The minimum wage for both the national and state industrial relations systems will increase from the first pay on or after 1 July 2024. National minimum wage increase If your business...
Have you heard about small businesses having their Facebook and Instagram accounts wrongfully shut down, in some cases severely impacting their business? Here’s a look into what has happened and how you can help to protect your business from the impact of something similar. Many WA businesses rely on their Meta accounts (which include Facebook and...
You may have heard about recent changes to the Fair Work Act 2009. Here’s an overview of three changes that could impact you, your employees and your business operations. The Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has announced updates to the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022. This was formerly...
Are you thinking of funding your business with a bank loan? It may be helpful to know what financial institutions are looking for when deciding whether to approve your business loan application. How banks decide whether to give you a business loan While there are a few different ways to fund your business, including through your own savings or...
If you’re one of the many small business owners across WA facing rising costs, uncertain economic conditions and the impact of inflation, you’re not alone. While you can’t control these factors, you can take action to help put your business in the strongest position possible. We asked one of our experienced business advisers, Brian Childs, for some...
Right now, you might be wondering how your business will cope with the pressures of inflation, supply chain disruptions, wage increases and the complexities of global trade, including tariffs. We spoke with seasoned business consultant Trevor Flint, who shared practical strategies to help you stay ahead of rising costs while supporting your growth...
Most businesses evolve over time. You may start off running a small home based business and then branch out to hiring staff, moving into business premises or offering new products and services. If you’re starting a business or planning changes to the way you operate, we recommend taking a moment to check if there are any additional licensing...
Making sense of industry changes and trends can be overwhelming when you’re focused on the daily demands of running your business. The SBDC can help simplify this process by providing free access to IBISWorld, offering reports with the latest data and developments. Competitor activity, global market shifts and evolving consumer trends are always...
As tax time draws nearer, you might be wondering what you can claim or ‘write off’ as a tax deduction this year. It’s important to know exactly what you can – and can’t – claim to avoid running into issues later. Our business adviser, Brian Childs, shares some of his top tips for small business owners around claiming tax deductions. Beware of...
Need the help of a contractor or service provider to help your business? Whether you work from home or run your business from an office or other premises, at some stage you’re likely to need the services of a contractor to help in areas you either don’t have experience in, or don’t have time to take care of. You might need a new web design, an SEO...
'See you in court' might be an easy way to resolve disputes in your favourite legal series – but the reality of legal proceedings is much more complicated, expensive and potentially stressful for small business owners. Whether you’re handling a dispute with another business, your landlord, or an individual or organisation, it’s always worth...
In 2015, Claudia Franke started her IT consulting business in her spare time while still working in an office-based role. After two years of building her business, she resigned from her IT day job to focus on providing IT consulting, support and training services for small businesses. The move to create her own business, Fraulein Tech, allowed...
