Did you know that bubble wrap was originally sold as a textured wallpaper? As history has shown us, it wasn’t a viable product for its intended customers. The success of online business ideas or other small business ideas will always depend on a range of factors. Some factors are out of your control, such as interest rates, tax brackets and the...
United by a dream to “do aged care differently”, nurses Julie Arnould and Carole Bain launched their business, Perth Care + Companion Company, in 2019. Fast forward just three years and Perth Care + Companion Company (PCCC) now employs more than 100 healthcare workers, with around 90 per cent of them women. The business was recognised as a state...
Keen to try out a retail business idea without the cost or commitment of a long-term lease? A pop-up shop may be the answer. Not having the finances needed to get a great business idea off the ground is a common situation many would-be entrepreneurs find themselves in. Pop-up shops are a great way to give your business idea a go without the cost or...
2025 was a big year for small business – with new rules, regulation changes and a social media ban, there was a lot to keep up with! We’ve put together a list of the top stories from the SBDC blog that grabbed your attention throughout the year. How to calculate your hourly rate One of the most difficult aspects of running a service based business...
Wondering if your business is eligible for a government grant? We’ve put together this overview explaining the availability and eligibility of grants for small business. Are there incentives or grants to help start-up businesses? There are no government grants available for the specific purpose of starting a business. Government support for start...
Are you considering producing beverages, such as craft beer or juices, as a business? The Western Australian Planning Commission has produced new guidance to help navigate land use planning considerations for beverage production in WA. We’ve put together a summary to help you. What is beverage production? The term beverage production covers...
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...
What started as a childhood hobby and a simple love of beekeeping has since grown into a buzzing business for husband and wife team Rupert and Kim Phillips. With a clear vision and strong values around sustainability, authenticity, and education, Rupert and Kim opened The House of Honey, an agri-tourism business nestled in the heart of the Swan...
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...
For Ami Hackett, turning her ‘holiday job’ into a business launched her into the unknown, but keeping her business skills current helped her steer it through rough waters. Ami opened her self-named boat detailing and management business, Ami Marine, in Success in 2004 after an early career on the land in the wool industry. The marine business now...
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...
