As you dive into the new year in small business, it’s important to take stock of your achievements during the past 12 months and to set your business goals for 2025. We have put together a few tips to help ensure smooth sailing in the year ahead. Get on top of your finances Take some time to put your finances in order by reviewing your financial...
There can often be confusion and disputes when you’re exiting a commercial lease and need to meet a number of ‘make good’ obligations. The make good clause in your lease will outline the condition the building must be in when the lease comes to an end. Here is a summary of the top make good obligations that most often lead to a dispute, and some...
Have you been wondering how the Federal Government’s instant asset write-off may benefit your business? As part of the 2026 Federal Budget, the $20,000 instant asset write-off is set to become a permanent tax scheme for small business owners to access. Here's a quick rundown on the instant asset write-off and whether it’s something you should take...
Landing a big client is generally cause for celebration as a small business owner. If you’re signing a contract to supply a client with your products or services, you might be asked to commit to an exclusivity clause. An exclusivity clause means you are being asked to restrict your supply of products to just that client, industry or geographical...
If you’re a small business owner with limited resources, recruiting new staff can be a demanding exercise. To help you get through the process in a timely manner, we’ve put together tips to help you sort through job applications, run interviews and, most importantly, find the right person for the job. Identify the skills required Write down exactly...
How can you impact your profit as a small business owner? For most small businesses, making a profit is one of the most important goals. Profitability relies on a simple accounting equation: Income – Expenditure = Net Profit In other words, net profit is your business's profit after all business expenses have been deducted from your revenue...
If you’re like many business owners at the end of a busy year, you might find yourself putting off certain tasks, actions or decisions until after the festive break. However, sometimes there’s no time like the (Christmas) present to wrap up properly and ‘sleigh’ the end of the year. We asked our business adviser, Steve McLaren, for his thoughts on...
If you renew your business trade mark through a private business, rather than IP Australia, you could end up paying three times more than required. You also run the risk of giving away future control of the management and renewal of your trade marks. Who is IP Australia? IP Australia is the Federal Government department that administers...
Personal services income (PSI) can be earned in just about any industry, and can attract special tax rules. PSI is defined by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as income that is mainly a reward for your personal efforts or skills. It can be earned in almost any industry or job and can affect the tax obligations and the deductions you can claim...
On 1 July 2024, Business Local became SBDC Regional. While the name has changed, we’re still here providing you with free business advice and support in your area. Find your SBDC Regional provider . Making the decision to quit his fly-in, fly-out mining job to help care for his young son after a bout of surgery, Jordan Wilson knew he needed to...
Invoicing - something every business owner needs to know how to do, but are you getting it right? As a business owner, you’re required to provide proof of purchase within seven days and a tax invoice within 28 days of it being requested or having supplied goods and/or services.. Getting your invoicing right will not only save time, but will also...
Using an unregistered agent to lodge your tax return or business activity statement (BAS) can put you and your business at risk. An unregistered tax or BAS agent may not have the appropriate qualifications or skills needed to handle your BAS or tax requirements. If the agent is negligent with your return, you will not be protected by the safe...
