While the process of setting up a business partnership is relatively straight forward, finding the right business partner to work with is an entirely different ball game. While you might think starting a business with a friend or relative is a great idea, there are some important factors to consider before entering into a business partnership. Five...
Grant funding could provide your small business with an opportunity to invest in new equipment or projects, launch a new product or service or expand your operations. With many business grants being competitive, it’s good to know how to give your application a competitive advantage. If you’re looking for ways to finance your business growth, grant...
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...
Small Business Commissioner David Eaton warns that the traditional technique of stretching working capital by delaying payments to creditors presents reputational risks, and boards of organisations need to prioritise creating a responsible payment culture. Late payments to small businesses from their larger business customers have long been one of...
Did you know that working on diversity and inclusion in small business can deliver greater productivity, innovation and workforce wellbeing? Recent research from the International Labour Organization and consulting firms McKinsey and Deloitte has found that companies who demonstrate inclusion through diversity perform better. So, what does...
We regularly hear from small business owners who have been asked to pay for government information or services that are actually available free of charge, or become aware of cyber scams that duplicate existing government services. Government websites are some of the most trusted and used resources for small businesses, and scammers are ready to...
Personal development is the ongoing process of assessing your values and goals, and developing skills and qualities to reach your potential. For small business owners, who often ‘are’ their business, ongoing personal development forms an important part of business success. However, without a formal personal development plan, developing your...
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...
1 July often brings with it a range of changes that small business owners need to be aware of. Here is a recap of what you need to know. 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 2026. National minimum wage increase If your business operates...
When you walk into your business premises and see the roof is leaking, your focus is going to be on getting the problem fixed as soon as possible. But what should you do in this situation? We’ve put together some simple steps to help you get damage to your business premises repaired in a timely manner. Step one: minimise further damage and check...
Are you finding it hard to work out how much you should be charging for your services? One of the most common questions we’re asked by new business owners is how much should they be charging per hour for their services. There are a number of factors to consider when setting an hourly rate. Here are our top tips if you are running a service-based...
Many business owners can relate to this scenario; you’ve hired a professional to do Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) on your website, you’ve paid them and they’ve been working at it for months, but you haven’t seen any significant results. So what’s gone wrong? More often than not, the issue lies in a disconnect between the search intent of a...
