The Small Business Development Corporation’s 2024-25 Annual Report was tabled in the WA Parliament this week. After five months at the helm of the SBDC, I can say that it is a great privilege to lead an organisation with a great reputation for delivering practical, expert support to Western Australia’s hard working small businesses. In the 2024-25...
The port City of Fremantle has bounced back from the disruption of COVID-19 with a number of initiatives to support local and small businesses. The City of Fremantle signed up to the Small Business Friendly initiative in 2019 and since then, has maintained a strong focus on supporting its small business community. The City demonstrates its...
A Working with Children (WWC) Check is a legal requirement for anyone undertaking paid or unpaid child-related work. Here are some common questions to help define whether individuals in your business need a WWC Check. How do I know if my staff and I need a WWC Check? Anyone in a role that undertakes child-related work needs a WWC Check, unless an...
Making the most of local events is a great way for you to boost sales and market your small business. While running your own event takes a fair amount of time, effort and creativity, attaching your marketing to a local event can make your life a great deal easier. Local events such as street fairs, festivals, outdoor concerts, and sporting can...
Carrie-Anne Forsyth of Esteem Dance joined the PIVOT program and transformed her business.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has recently announced changes to how your employees can calculate tax deductions if they work from home. Here’s your guide to the changes. Millions of Australians work from home for some or all of their working week. If your business is structured to have your employees working from home at some stage, they...
How can you make your businesses attractive to the generation of Australians with the greatest buying power? The generation known as ‘baby boomers’, born between 1946 and 1964, is recognised as a consumer force in Australia. The distribution of wealth has shifted to older households over the last decade. Many older Australians have savings from...
If you’re starting a home based business, there are some important steps to take to prevent your home insurance policy becoming null and void in the future. Depending on your home insurance policy, you may have cover for your buildings and structures as well as the contents of your home. Running a business from home, or even storing business...
Being authentic and true to oneself has been Michelle Rimmer’s mantra since the launch of her business, Hills Massage, 20 years ago. Reflecting on her business journey, Michelle said she would tell the younger version of herself that consistency is the key to success. “You have to be consistent in the quality of your or product, your communication...
If you’re a business owner, it’s important to understand your obligations to provide a safe and healthy workplace. This includes keeping up with changes to health and safety legislation. The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has introduced new Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for Western Australia. Here are seven things...
Food trucks have become a popular feature at many outdoor events. What do you need to know before starting a food truck business?
Since it started in Western Australia in late 2020, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has had significant scrutiny, with final reports on the Royal Commission and a formal review of the scheme delivered in 2023. The Australian Government’s response has included making legislative changes that started on 3 October 2024 that you should...