Talk of a looming recession is being shrugged off by SME operators, according to the latest Business Monitor from accounting software provider MYOB. The bi-annual survey of more than 1000 SME operators found that 26% expect the economy to improve over the next year, while a further 33% expect it to remain the same. The […]
If he wasn’t already busy enough heading up three manufacturing start-ups, Queensland’s Dave Biggars has set his sights on leading the $19 billion-dollar caravan industry out of the bygone era of timber into the era of smart design. Last year, the 32-year-old entrepreneur founded Zone RV, a manufacturer of built-to-order off-road and luxury touring caravans. […]
By seeking out ‘smart capital’, as distinct from seed funding, early stage SMEs can enhance their business acumen, avoid unnecessary start-up mistakes and increase their appeal to prospective investors, according to Kylie Hammond, founder and CEO of Director Institute. “Smart capital is money from an individual or group of individuals who can, by sitting on an investor […]
Businesses with 19 or fewer employees have less than two weeks to transition to SuperStream – the new, mandatory electronic standard for paying superannuation contributions. “The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is pleased that more than 75 per cent of small businesses are already SuperStream compliant however, there is still a way to go to ensure […]
By supporting the local start-up ecosystem, angel investors not only stem brain drain but keep IP in Australia. According to Trevor Folsom, co-founder of Sydney-based start-up generator Investible, problems arise when investors are seduced by opportunities that see them invest ‘too heavily and too early”. This month, Investible launched First Angel, a 12-month educational program aimed […]
What if we could start putting superannuation to better use? The internet has changed the way we view and treat money. Paypal pioneered the idea of sharing money online, while services like ApplePay allow consumers to ditch their wallets for good. Yet when it comes to superannuation, we may be leaving some benefits on the table. […]
Taxes are high in Australia. But when it comes to taxation policies, our government is too lenient on some large businesses and too hard on small business. Some large multi-national companies have been able to utilise tax structures that allow them to avoid paying their required tax in Australia, which has enabled them to lower their […]
Despite federal election promises of greater support for SMEs, businesses owners remain pessimistic about the Australian economy, with two in five expecting it to worsen in the coming year, the latest MYOB Business Monitor revealed. The bi-annual national survey of over 1,000 SME operators found that 42% believe the economy will decline over the […]
Intellectual property, such as patents and copyrights can represent a significant portion of a company’s assets – particularly for highly innovative start-ups. Currently, intangible assets are subject to a legislative “effective life” period which is used to calculate their rate of depreciation. However, these existing provisions which mandate their life span are inflexible and often […]
The story of Atlassian is the perfect tech startup fairy tale; two humble guys from Sydney bootstrap a company with a $10,000 credit card and pull off a successful IPO with a market cap of $4.4 billion (USD). Although, contrary to the hopes of many Australian entrepreneurs, the success of Atlassian doesn’t ride on the […]