Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Tough start to 2025 ahead for Australian businesses; sector outlook worst for hospitality

CreditorWatch, has released the November results for its Business Risk Index (BRI) with all key metrics pointing to an extremely challenging start to 2025 for Australian businesses, particularly small businesses.

Chief EconomistCreditorWatch

RBA board gaining confidence that inflation is moving towards target

AICredit Management

Harnessing generative AI to enhance credit risk assessment

Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business failures at highest rate since peak of pandemic; Soft household spending hitting hospitality hardest

Business confidenceChief Economist

Business Confidence and Consumer Sentiment improve as inflation pulls back

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Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Tough start to 2025 ahead for Australian businesses; sector outlook worst for hospitality

CreditorWatch, has released the November results for its Business Risk Index (BRI) with all key metrics pointing to an extremely challenging start to 2025 for Australian businesses, particularly small businesses.

Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business failures at highest rate since peak of pandemic; Soft household spending hitting hospitality hardest

CreditorWatch, has released the August results for its Business Risk Index (BRI) revealing that the rate of business failures is at its highest level since January 2021, when Australia was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Industry Performance Report
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

CreditorWatch rates 16.2% of hospitality businesses as high risk or above; Forecast closure rate of 8.9% over next 12 months for the sector

CreditorWatch, has released its latest industry risk ratings, revealing businesses in the hospitality sector are currently exhibiting an extremely high level of risk compared to other sectors.

Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Overdue B2B payments at highest rate since March 2021; Construction and hospitality sectors top payment defaults

CreditorWatch, has released the September results for its Business Risk Index (BRI), revealing that late payments are at their highest rate since the end of JobKeeper in March 2021, as more businesses struggle to pay outstanding invoices.

Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business failures at highest rate since Jan 2021; B2B payment defaults hit record high 

CreditorWatch, has released the August results for its Business Risk Index (BRI) revealing that the rate of business failures is at its highest level since January 2021, when Australia was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Outer Melbourne tops list of riskiest areas in Victoria

Outer suburban areas of Melbourne top the list of current and forecast business failure rates for Victoria, according to CreditorWatch’s Business Risk Index (BRI) data for July 2024.

ATOBusiness conditions

Thousands of businesses close after racking up massive tax debts

New data from CreditorWatch reveals that thousands of private Australian businesses have failed in the past six months after defaulting on massive tax debts.

Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business failures to increase in nine out of 10 Australian regions; Queensland to fare worst among the states 

CreditorWatch, has released the July results for its Business Risk Index (BRI) which show 87.2 per cent of regions around Australia will experience an increase in business failure rates over the next 12 months.

Media Release: Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business Risk Index, June results: Value of business orders at record low; 12-month forecast for hospitality failures rises to 9.1%

Credit reporting bureau, CreditorWatch, has released the June results for its Business Risk Index (BRI) which reveal a dramatic and concerning drop in the value of invoices held by Australian businesses as declining consumer demand forces cuts to inventory.

Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Nine out of 10 Brisbane areas to see failure rate increases

CreditorWatch’s Business Risk Index (BRI) data for May 2024 indicates that 88 per cent of regions in Greater Brisbane will record higher business failure rates over the next 12 months.

Media Release: Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business insolvencies surge to record high - rate increases 38% on average across all industries

Credit reporting bureau, CreditorWatch, has released the May results for its Business Risk Index (BRI), revealing that insolvencies for Australian businesses are now at a record high as the impacts of stubbornly high inflation, interest rate increases and declining consumer demand squeeze margins.

Media Release: Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

One in 13 hospitality businesses facing failure in 12 months; B2B payment defaults hit record high

Credit reporting bureau, CreditorWatch, has released the April results for its Business Risk Index, revealing that hospitality businesses (food and beverage services) are most vulnerable to current economic conditions by a significant margin over other industries, with a 7.45 per cent chance of failure over the next 12 months.

Media Release: Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

External administrations surge to record high; construction sector dominates ATO tax debt defaults

The March 2024 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) has revealed that external administrations are now at a record high as Australian businesses continue to battle cost pressures, skilled labour shortages and declining consumer demand.

Media Release: Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Invoice defaults at record highs as cost pressures squeeze businesses

The February 2024 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) has revealed that payment defaults from business-to-business transactions are at record highs.

Media Release: Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business order values at record low as Christmas trading boost fails to arrive

The January 2024 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) has revealed the average value of B2B invoices is now at a record low, reflecting the continuing contraction of business activity.

Media Release: Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

External administrations surging across most sectors as business activity slides

The November 2023 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) has revealed the industries with the biggest increases in external administration rates over the past 12 months with some surprising results.

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ASICBusiness Insights

Managing a Strike Off Action in Progress: What to do next

A successful strike-off action indicates that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has taken the necessary steps to deregister a company formally. This implies that the business name has been struck from the Australian Business Registry (ABR) and all associated parties, be they employees or creditors, have been notified of the winding up of the company.

Media Release: Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business activity dries up – invoice values at record lows; But Melbourne the most improved capital city

The October 2023 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) has revealed that Australian business activity is now at disturbingly low levels with the average value of invoices at their lowest point since CreditorWatch began recording this metric in January 2015.

Major update to unfair contracts laws: A fair go all round
Business InsightsCreditorWatch

Major update to unfair contracts laws: A fair go all round

Significant changes to the unfair contracts regime come into law today, with new multi-million penalties for companies and individuals forcing trading partners to sign contracts that are deemed unfair. Are your contracts fair and equitable?

Media Release: Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business activity picks up, but invoice values below pre-COVID levels; Western Sydney dominates list of high-risk regions

The September 2023 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) has revealed that the contraction of Australian business activity may have eased but it remains at a low ebb, with the average value of B2B invoices down 42% year-on-year and well below pre-COVID levels.

Media Release: Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business activity sinks: value of invoices at 7-year low as external administrations and payment defaults surge

The August 2023 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) has revealed Australian businesses activity is at near-record lows with the average value of B2B invoices now down 36% year-on-year - its lowest point since January 2017.

Media Release: Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Average value of invoices down 28% YoY as demand and cost pressures squeeze businesses

The July 2023 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) has revealed the average value of business invoices has fallen by almost a third over the past 12 months, with a drop of 28% year-on-year.

Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business Risk Index: Business payment defaults surge 52%; On the upside, Western Brisbane the most-improved region in Australia

The June 2023 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) show business payment defaults surge 52%; On the upside, Western Brisbane the most-improved region in Australia.

Business Insights
Business InsightsCreditorWatch

Podcast: Business Risk Index, May 2023 - Key business indicators show conditions worsening; NSW Central Coast suffers biggest YoY jump in business risk

CreditorWatch Chief Economist Anneke Thompson and Head of Content Michael Pollack unpack the CreditorWatch May 2023 Business Risk Index results.

Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business Risk Index: Key business indicators show conditions worsening; NSW Central Coast area suffers biggest YoY jump in business risk

The May 2023 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) show Australian businesses are coming under increasing pressure.

person in boat navigating tough water
Business InsightsSmall Business

Australia’s unfair contract terms regime changes significantly

The ‘unfair contract terms’ laws (as set out in the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) establish out a regime whereby a term in a consumer or small business contract will be void if the term is unfair and the contract is a standard form contract.Australia’s Unfair Contract Terms regime (UCT) has now been significantly expanded in respect of ‘small businesses’. The changes were passed by Parliament on 28 October 2022 and will come into effect on 9 November 2023.

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Business Insightsfinance career

Empower your Career: The Vital Role of Mentoring, Networking and Being Visible

In today’s job market, building a strong network and finding a great mentor are critical to achieving your goals. This is especially true now that the job market is more competitive than ever before, with hundreds of qualified candidates vying for the same positions.

Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business Risk Index: Trade activity surging despite rising external administrations; SE Queensland hit hard by defaults

The April 2023 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) has revealed that the average value of invoices (trade receivables) remained elevated in April despite other leading indicators showing that businesses are coming under increased pressure.

Business Risk Index June 2022 Industry Insights
Business InsightsBusiness Risk Index

Hospitality tops list of industries at risk as cost-of-living pressures begin to bite

This month’s data revealed the strongest bounce back in trade receivables data on record. This is an 86% increase on the previous month’s trade receivables data, but still 5.6% below trade receivables recorded in March 2021 and March 2020.

Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business Risk Index: Business activity back to pre-COVID levels but for how long?; High risk regions - six of the 10 worst are in Western Sydney

The March 2023 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) has revealed, on multiple indicators, that business activity has returned to pre-COVID levels despite continued high inflation and interest rates.

Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business Risk Index: conditions tighten further; default rates higher in regions with more younger people

The February 2023 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) shows that business conditions, particularly around payment times have tightened due to high inflation and interest rates, in combination with falling demand.

Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business InsightsBusiness Risk Index

Business Risk Index results - January 2023

The January 2023 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) reveals that business conditions are turning for Australian businesses, with a number of key metrics continuing to decline after a subdued end to 2022 as the RBA continued to tighten the screws on interest rates.

Bad credit
Business InsightsCreditorWatch

Business loans for bad credit - three ways to get approved in Australia

Whether you’re seeking a long-term business loan or a small loan to start a business, having a less-than-stellar company credit history can feel like a life sentence. However, there are options available to business owners that could be worth considering, to improve the likelihood of approval for a loan or line of credit and improve your business credit score.

Industry insights - Business Risk Index
Business InsightsBusiness Risk Index

Business Risk Index November 2022, Industry Insights

This month’s data showed some reasonably surprising insights into the state of business activity in Australia. While we usually see a run up in trade receivables as Christmas approaches, this key indicator of business activity has been flat since July and declining since September.

Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business InsightsBusiness Risk Index

Sign of the times - trade receivables point to subdued December trading period

The November 2022 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI) reveals that the usual trade momentum going into December has failed to materialise and businesses should brace for a more subdued Christmas trading period.

Business InsightsMonitoring and Alerts

How automated Financial Alerts can reduce risk for hire and rental sector businesses

Enterprises within the hiring and rental business historically operate on a critical foundation of trust. Understandably so, as the value and volume of goods loaned are often significant.

Business InsightsFinancial Risk Assessment

Five benefits of Financial Risk Assessments

CreditorWatch’s Financial Risk Assessments provide a comprehensive look into the financial viability of your trading partners, helping you make the right decisions to protect and grow your business.

Business InsightsCredit Management

How arts and recreation businesses can protect their interests with company credit checks

Spanning a broad cross section of Australian businesses, from art galleries to theatres, gyms to sport and recreation clubs - the arts and recreation services industry is a fickle beast.

Credit History
Business InsightsCredit Management

Why is a business credit history so important?

Looking at the past can help you determine trends of the future – but sometimes the past can come back to bite you. A company’s credit history can make or break its ability to secure credit and conduct business.

Emma Berry
Business InsightsCreditorWatch

How manufacturing businesses can prevent bad debt

For the vast majority of business owners, debt collection is not something you want to spend too much time dealing with. Whether you’re in it, chasing it, or just trying to stay one step ahead of it, you probably feel that the hours grappling with outstanding payments could be better spent working on your business.

Data
Business InsightsDebt Collection

Simplifying the Debt Collection Process

Running a business takes copious amounts of time and the last thing you want to be doing is chasing up debtors. Even with a proper credit check and credit score, debtors can sometimes slip through the cracks.

Chief Economist
Business InsightsCredit Reports

Unemployment steady at 3.9% but no signs of wages growth

The unemployment rate for April 2022 remained steady with the revised March 2022 rate of 3.9 per cent. There appears to be very little slack remaining in the employment market, with employed people only increasing by 4,000 people (0.03 per cent) despite a record number of jobs being available.

Business Insights
Business InsightsBusiness Risk Index

Podcast: Business Risk Index - April 2022 Insights

In our latest episode, we present the January Business Risk Index results and analysis. CreditorWatch CEO Patrick Coghlan and Chief Economist Anneke Thompson discuss the key insights.

Business Insights
Business InsightsBusiness Risk Index

Podcast: Business Risk Index - March 2022 Insights

In our latest episode, we present the January Business Risk Index results and analysis. CreditorWatch CEO Patrick Coghlan and index creator James O’Donnell from Open Analytics discuss the key insights.

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Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Tough start to 2025 ahead for Australian businesses; sector outlook worst for hospitality

CreditorWatch, has released the November results for its Business Risk Index (BRI) with all key metrics pointing to an extremely challenging start to 2025 for Australian businesses, particularly small businesses.

Interest Rate Commentary
Chief EconomistCreditorWatch

RBA board gaining confidence that inflation is moving towards target

The board has gained some confidence in the recent forecasts that show inflation tracking back towards the 2-3% target.

AICredit Management

Harnessing generative AI to enhance credit risk assessment

We’ve long been at the forefront of using AI to enhance credit risk assessment at CreditorWatch. Our machine learning (ML) models are the cornerstone of our credit scoring system, providing businesses with accurate and reliable risk assessments.

Media Release - Business Risk Index
Business conditionsBusiness Insights

Business failures at highest rate since peak of pandemic; Soft household spending hitting hospitality hardest

CreditorWatch, has released the August results for its Business Risk Index (BRI) revealing that the rate of business failures is at its highest level since January 2021, when Australia was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Business confidenceChief Economist

Business Confidence and Consumer Sentiment improve as inflation pulls back