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Saturday 17 May 2008

Australia’s online magazine for entrepreneurs & SMEs

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Federal budget 2008
2008 Australian federal budget

How is the federal budget going to affect entrepreneurs, business owners and managers?


 

Coming Up

2008 SmartCompany Awards
SmartCompany Awards 2008
The hottest small and medium business awards in Australia.


 

Editor's choice

The power of Google

The power of Google    
Whatever you do, don’t mess with the $200 billion giant. 


 SEO mistakes

10 biggest SEO mistakes
Get better search rankings with an SEO strategy, but watch out for the traps.

10 ways to lose your business
10 ways to lose your business
Watch out for these 10 ways you could lose your business.


30 Sales and Marketing Mistakes
30 sales and marketing mistakes

We warn against 30 common sales and marketing blunders.


Online defamation
Defamation law and the internet
What are your legal options?


10 Legal blunders
10 legal blunders – and how to avoid them
Every entrepreneur knows that to stay in business they must stay on the right side of the law...


 

SmartCompany Library

Business advice
Sales & marketing advice
Starting a business
Your online marketing plan
 

Smart Blogs

An impostor

Banker of Last Retort: It is unlikely that a senior executive could manage to be so consistently de-motivating and utterly uninspiring by accident. MR BANKER

Success to significance

Get Out of My Way: It's not what you do that makes the most difference, it's why. NAOMI SIMSON

A GlimPSe into the future?

Online Sales: Google’s Street View is amazing, but the potential commercial fillip for Google has real wow-factor. CHRIS THOMAS

Best I can be

Gen-Y Millionaire: Aiming to be the best in the world at something just leads to disappointment. Aiming to be the best you can be is more important. KIRSTY DUNPHEY


The SmartCompany commmunity - your ideas, problems & reactions. Come on, we’re waiting…

Feedback

Barry Grossman writes: You guys have an awesome site. It’s easy to navigate, packed with heaps of information and great & inspirational articles. Keep up the good work (posted 16 May).

Franco Schena writes to Aunty B: Read through Simon's dilemma, apart from his current mindset, once he's thought about his differentiation a brand audit could assist in renewing his enthusiasm (posted 16 May)... more.

Joshua Barnard writes to Managing Gen-Y blog: I am a so called "Gen-Y," a 22 year old accountant. I feel I have to stick up for the young people; we are not all money hungry beasts without loyalty (posted 15 May)... more.

Tim Edwards writes on the budget: I am disgusted with the budget decision to axe Commercial Ready. This is a disaster for many and any case shows total disdain for new technology development (posted 15 May)... more.

Miriam and Neil Rosewarne write on the federal budget: This budget will send small business to the wall. This Government is a lying, cheating, useless Government (posted 15 May)... more.

David Blight writes to Managing Gen-Y blog: Your comments about retaining Gen-Y are very true. But we are trying to engage with modern working people with an IR system built last century (posted 15 May)... more.

Michael Heironymus writes to Managing Gen-Y blog: The only other way to retain staff that I found is making the employee enjoy what they do (posted 14 May)... more.

Pete Bishop writes on the budget: A very Smart budget! I agree with the delay in critical infrastructure spending. Needs need to be properly evaluated. Malcolm Turnbull's comments were rubbish (posted 13 May)... more.

Ray Borrodale writes: I think it is a great Budget. We can read about it, we can write about it, but until we do something about it we don't have a right to whinge about it (posted 13 May)... more.

Debbie writes to Business Tech Talk blog: I am moving out of the city but will be spending some of my working week in Melbourne, so I thought wireless would be the best option. It seems however my new home is in a BLACK SPOT! I feel I am being pushed back to Telstra, and not enjoying the thought. Any ideas? (posted 13 May)... more, and Paul Wallbank's reply.


Big Issues

Hot Innovator

Khai Yip Mun EcoRegen

EcoRegen cleans up

Award-winning biotechnology business EcoRegen has made its mark in Malaysia turning palm oil waste into organic fertilizer. As JAMES THOMSON explains, the next challenge for the business will be to manage its rapid growth.


Skills Check

SmartCompany Skills Check

Is your company entrepreneurial and innovative?

Do you have the entrepreneurial and innovative skills required to take your business to the next level? Take the Skills Check, score your responses, and see if your capabilities add up.


Tax & Legal Update

federal budget FBT changes

Salary packages hit by tighter FBT

Employers need to review staff remuneration arrangements as a result of federal budget changes to fringe benefits tax legislation and amendments to income tax brackets. By TERRY HAYES of Thomson Reuters


Entrepreneur Online

Ruwan Weerasooriya CafeScreen

CafeScreen’s win with technology

If you’ve logged on to free WiFi in a cafe recently or passed the time watching a TV screen, chances are you can thank CafeScreen’s entrepreneur Ruwan Weerasooriya. He tells AMANDA GOME how he turned a good idea into a business.


Industry Trends

Casino industry trends

Betting on the house

The casino industry in Australia can rely on a steady stream of revenue from local punters. But in recent years they have taken a punt on growth in overseas markets such as Asia and the United States. By ROBERT BRYANT of IBISWorld.


Top Story

Federal budget 2008

Budget overview: What it means to your business

There is nothing for business in Swan’s safe budget. The cuts, including the abolition of the Commercial Ready program, are savage. Why is there nothing for small business? JAMES THOMSON


Filthy Rich

Len Ainsworth Aristocrat

Not yet time to cash-in the chips

Aristocrat Leisure founder Len Ainsworth has taken a beating from the sharemarket, but is patiently hanging on for a turnaround. By JAMES THOMSON


Buy a business

Buy a business Turnarounds

Buying a turnaround? Have the right game plan to implement critical changes

Often, inherent capacities or capabilities just need fertile ground to flourish. Targeting a business that offers just that is a skill every acquirer needs to learn. By TOM McKASKILL


Wealth/Super

How not to lose money on property

How to avoid losing money on property

As the sharemarket falls, the temptation is to invest in the residential property market. Not a good idea – the outlook for the residential market is poor. MICHAEL LAURENCE has five tips to avoid losing a pile.


Business for Sale

How many potential buyers do you need?

How many potential buyers do you need?

Having multiple parties vying for your business is not always a given. It can pay to lay the groundwork before the For Sale sign is put out. By TOM McKASKILL


Industry Growth Focus

SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List

Transport and logistics firms take the fast road to growth

The SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List for the transport and logistics sector reveals a fast-growing sector that is expanding through specialisation and acquisition. By MIKE PRESTON