Planning
Ho ho ... oh: planning the office Christmas party
James Adonis ‘Tis the season to be organising the office Christmas party. Here are seven ways to minimise the risk.
Get intimate with your accountant
Valerie Khoo Finding the right accountant is one of the most important things you can do as an entrepreneur. They are often the difference between your business surging ahead or being crippled by an unaffordable...
ENTREPRENEURS
Dodging the doubters: how to get rich despite the sceptics
Alexandra Cain Like many young entrepreneurs, Jack Delosa faced a huge amount of scepticism from friends and family when he bailed out of a commerce/law degree aged 18 to buy into his first business.
Finance
Taxing times - how to prepare your business
Christopher Niesche With the end of financial year fast approaching, it’s time for small businesses to start getting their tax in order and gearing up to take advantage of some law changes coming into force in the new...
The ultralight start-up: how to launch a business without clout or capital
David Wilson Launching a start-up is easier than ever. But, because entry barriers verge on non-existent and everyone wants to be the next Facebook, Twitter or Dropbox, competition is fierce.
Rates put big squeeze on small business
Clancy Yeates Small-business customers have received the least benefit from the latest cycle of interest-rate cuts, new figures show, despite moves by the major banks to target the SME market.
BUSINESS MAXIMS
Get ready to sell
Max Newnham There is a very good reason why every small business owner should operate their business as if they are going to sell it.
Goodbye, and no I won't be back
Tony Featherstone Which companies make it too hard for customers to leave?
One premium does not suit all companies
Christopher Niesche Different sectors need different coverage so it's vital to correctly identify your requirements.
India: business opportunities, technology ... and martinis
Valerie Khoo This year's Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network Event (DWEN) in India has shown that the country has many lessons for the aspiring small business entrepreneur.
How to get the most out of your work day
Andrew May The obvious solution seems to be putting in more hours, but this rarely solves the underlying problem.
Breeding loyalty can create dividends
Nina Hendy Loyal customers are vital if you want to gain a competitive edge. But with thousands of loyalty programs already operating in Australia, how can you make yours stand out from the crowd?
Home improvement, or time for renovation?
Tony Featherstone Running a home-based business has great benefits and risks for the unwary.
Motivated much? Let Laurie Lawrence be the judge
David Adams No one gives a rev-up quite like former Olympic swimming coach Laurie Lawrence. But this time he's taking his black line fever to the world of small business, offering Australia's SMEs a chance to...
Zumba isn't just exercise, it's big business
Alberto Perez started out as a street performer, today he stands at the centre of the Zumba exercise craze, having helped transform Zumba Fitness into a rapidly growing fitness empire.
Techie helps filmmakers get with the program
Christopher Niesche When Melbourne computer programmer Chris Rickard heard how films were planned and scheduled, he thought there had to be a better way.
The golden rules of tax deduction
Max Newnham Don't know whether a payment is tax deductible or not? The golden rule is that it must be linked with the earning of income.
Buying a bargain could be risky business
Christopher Niesche Many small businesses are going cheap right now, but potential buyers shouldn't be seduced by low prices and the chance to be their own boss.
Guarding your business when you're sick
Financial advisers spend a lot of time creating contingency plans for their clients, but many neglect to prepare for their own worst-case scenario.
