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1. Entrepreneurs reveal their cashflow commandments

Senior account director at debt collection agency eCollect Lou McLeish has been on the phone chasing up a string of overdue bills for her clients, one for as little as $368, another for $7,000 that is 90 days overdue. "There really is a big debt problem," she says. "Collecting money is everybody's least fa...

2. Choose the best superannuation fund

Here are nine strategies to help you choose the best super fund for you and to protect your interests if rolling your super into a new fund: 1. Look at the funds that the experts use Bresnahan says among the funds selected by his employees – “that I have seen” – industry funds are most favoured. And several other superannuation consultancies confidentially reveal that some of their employees hold their super in industry funds.

3. Internet pioneer on new web trends

Lloyd Ernst had an early start on the web, and has learnt how to achieve growth the hard way. He talks to AMANDA GOME about future web directions and what’s in the pipeline. By Amanda Gome

4. The ATO’s new Super Guarantee rules explained

The ATO recently released a very important ruling - Superannuation Guarantee Ruling SGR 2009/2 - that explains the tax commissioner's view on the meaning of Ordinary Time Earnings and ‘salary or wages' as defined in the superannuation law. It is a lengthy ruling and quite technical, but important for employers to be aware of in meeting ...

5. Australia’s best super funds

Is your super fund underperforming? It could be time to change. Here are 18 tips to help you chose the best superannuation fund in uncertain times. By MICHAEL LAURENCEBy Michael Laurence

6. First impressions count in retaining SME staff... Servant-CE

First impressions count even more for new SME employees New employees decide to leave an SME in a much shorter time frame compared to those at larger organisations, with more than half deciding in the first month, according to new research by consulting firm Chandler Macleod. In fact, 8% of SME employees decide on the first day of their new job, compared to just 1% of employees from larger organ...

7. Australia’s best super funds

Choose the best super fund for you, and protect your interests if rolling your super into a new fund, by following SmartCompany’s guide to finding Australia’s top super fund. By MICHAEL LAURENCE.By Michael Laurence Choose the best super fund for you, and protect your interests if rolling your super into a new fund, by following SmartCompany’s guide to finding Australia’s top super fund.  

8. SmartCompany Code of Conduct

"Public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility."

9. 20 sales and marketing problems solved

The recession has thrown the sales and marketing strategies of entrepreneurs into disarray. Customers have become more hesitant to buy, sales teams are struggling to get deals over the line, and the marketing budget isn't looking as healthy as it used to.   

10. Our top female entrepreneurs

Meet Australia's top female entrepreneurs – they are smart, focused and generate more than $3.6 billion in sales. In a special feature to celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, SmartCompany has compiled a comprehensive list of 48 of Australia's best business women (see ...

11. Australia's 45 fastest growing telcos

The SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Telco Industry Growth List shows which companies are booming thanks to growing demand for online content, faster internet speeds, VOIP, and new consumer trends. By MIKE PRESTON By Mike Preston

12. 10 ways to foster innovation in your company

The economy might be slowing, but now is not the time to stop innovating and let your competitors gain the upper hand. KOSMAS SMYRNIOS and AMANDA GOME explain how you can foster a culture of innovation in your business.By Kosmas Smyrnios and Amanda Gome

13. Top 10 must-have gadgets for 2009

There is only one thing an entrepreneur loves more than closing a big deal or finding about a new tax break – discovering a hot new gadget. With this in mind – and with Christmas just around the corner – SmartCompany has compiled a list of 10 must-have ga By Patrick Stafford

14. 10 must-haves for your marketing plan

As the list of ways to promote your business grows, working out the most effective way to spruik your business can be half the battle. That's why it's vital that small- and medium-sized businesses put a solid marketing strategy in place and make sure they don't deviate from the plan. Here are 10 things your plan mus...

15. ATO warning on exceeding super contributions limits

Making contributions to superannuation is a good thing to do. So far, so good. But under the current superannuation regime, people who contribute more than the limits allowed under the law (known as the annual superannuation concessional contributions cap) will face penalties – in the form of what is known as the all-too-technically-sounding superannuation excess concessiona...

16. The Young Rich: Top 10 myths exposed

Reaching the über-rich ranks before you turn 40 has generated several urban myths about what it takes to get there. JAMES THOMSON reveals the truth about our young stinking rich entrepreneurs.By James Thomson

17. Should you buy an iPad?

After months of delays, speculation and countless reviews, Apple Australia is finally taking pre-orders for the much-vaunted iPad. But despite high demand, a fierce debate still rages – should you hand over up to $1,000 for a device that can't do many of the things a basic laptop can? Apple's long-awaited debut in tablet computing has certainly been a financi...

18. The reluctant entrepreneur

Simon Wright is the 28-year-old founder of the very successful website Whirlpool.net.au. Whirlpool makes almost no revenue, has no employees and isn't even a company, Wright says. Instead it will remain his hobby.  He explains to Amanda Gome how he built the ...

19. How I managed a crisis that hit 1,000 of my customers

The solar hot water industry has boomed over the past few years, and New South Wales-based Apricus has been taking advantage of the trend. Chief executive Chris Taylor has grown the business from turnover of $4 million during 2007-08 to $20.4 million in 2009-10, with thousands of units installed. But the company had a near-...

20. 22 online marketing tips that won't cost you a cent

It's a classic Catch 22 situation - you're desperate to improve your online marketing efforts, but there is precious little money left in this year's marketing budget. Don't despair. Here are 22 things you can do to improve your online marketing right now - and all they will cost you is time.

21. Businesses may claim iPad as tax deduction

Businesses may claim an iPad in their tax returns as if it were a laptop, but only if the gadget is primarily being used for corporate use and not as a private purchase, the Australian Taxation Office has confirmed. The confirmation comes as a number of businesses, including a restaurant in Sydney and airline giant Jetstar, are beginning to incorporate Apple's latest gadget as part of their work infrastructure. The ATO has confirmed the iPad will be treated as a laptop for tax p...

22. Clark Rubber bounces back fast

By keeping an eye open to developments overseas, Clark Rubber chief Chris Malcolm was able to take early remedial action to better position the business to weather the downturn. Well before the effects of the global financial crisis were being felt in Australia, Chris Malcolm, the managing director of swimming pool, rubber and furniture retailer Clark Rubber, had a strong sense of what was comin...

23. Who’d hire a Gen-Y?

They can be demanding and impatient – but some of the traits that so infuriate many bosses can also make Gen-Ys outstanding employees. It’s a matter of channelling the energy. By Mike Preston. By Mike PrestonThe jury is ...

24. Woolworths’ social media success: Five lessons from the bi

Supermarket giant Woolworths is well known for its jingle “Woolworths the fresh food people”, but the line recently became the crux of a social media scandal. On Monday a social media storm erupted as consumers took to Facebook to express their outrage over a Woolworths’ billboard erected on the Warrego Highway near Ipswich which labelled donuts as ‘fresh food’. The complaints started when Facebook user and I...

25. Re-inventing a cottage industry

Serial entrepreneur Ryan Trainor, 35, has spent the last year turning a cottage industry into a national, scalable business called Franklyn Scholar.  It has attracted a high profile board and has revenue of $20 million. Amanda Gome talks to Trainor about how ...

26. Kleenmaid directors face insolvent trading and fraud charges

The directors of failed whitegoods company Kleenmaid have appeared in court over charges the business traded while insolvent, in one of the first major insolvency cases for a business that collapsed in the aftermath of the GFC. The case comes after years of controversy surrounding the company’s failure, which affected thousands of creditors and placed the future of franchisees up in the air. Directors Andrew Young, Bradley Young and Gary Armstrong have been accused of 20 c...

27. The eight new rules of customer service

The Australian economy might have sailed through the recession relatively unscathed, but don't think that customers haven't been changed by the GFC. That's the message from international marketing guru Paul Bennett, the managing partner of global design consultancy IDEO, which organisations including Nokia, Intel, Bank...

28. Redundancy: your tax obligations

The Tax Office recently released an important tax ruling - TR 2009/2 - that outlines the conditions for a payment to qualify for concessional tax treatment as a "genuine redundancy payment" under the tax law.  They are important because part of a genuine redundancy payment is tax-free - for 2008-...

29. Will the Fair Work act re-write your work contracts?

The new Fair Work act comes into operation on 1 July 2009.  OK, most employers know that, but why would they want to worry about it before then?    The answer is that the new act will enable employers and employees...

30. Small Business Software and Tools

Starting a business is always difficult, and trying to start one in the middle of an economic crisis be even harder. To add to the problem, many small businesses are unaware of the internet's power when it comes to free business advice. So we've compiled a list of simple small business software applications and tools to help small business managers setup and grow their businesses for little or no...

31. Jim’s Mowing is a growing concern

Jim’s Group founder Jim Penman says the secret to successful franchising is good recruiting, tough leadership, developing a strong brand and keeping franchisees happy. He tells JACQUI WALKER how he does it.By Jacqui Walker

32. Top social media campaigns & what you can learn from them

Social media is a great business tool, but how many companies are actually using it well? With so many SMEs and huge brands now using sites like Twitter and Facebook to promote themselves, simply creating a basic fan page isn't enough.Businesses need to be creating and designing social media marketing campaigns to connect...

33. Five lessons from the spectacular fall of Eddy Groves

ABC Learning Centres is in receivership and its shares are suspended, sealing the financial fate of founder Eddy Groves. JAMES THOMSON underscores five salient lessons from Groves’s downward spiral.By James Thomson

34. The top 10 free online courses

Entrepreneurs are always learning. Whether it’s through reading or watching a mentor work, learning how to do business better is a fundamental part of running a company. So it’s little wonder many courses in the latest trend of free education are aimed squarely at entrepreneurs. While some may still view free, online c...

35. ATO reveals targets for FY2012 – the wealthy, contractors

The Australian Taxation Office has revealed its targets for the 2011-2012 financial year, with small business benchmarks, wealthy individuals, sham contracting, work-related expenses and employer obligations for SMEs in the tax man’s sights. Releasing its compliance program, the Tax Office says fields as diverse as real estate, hospitality, carpentry, medicine, football and aviation will be in focus for the year to June 30, 2012. Here are some of the key targets the ATO ha...

36. IT checklist

Running an IT system can be a headache. Few small businesses can afford the luxury of a dedicated IT department or Help Desk, but they still need to cover their functions. A small business needs to make sure that those tasks are allocated to someone within the business or to an outside provider. The following checklist will ensure small-business owners and managers have an IT overview and don’t over...

37. The 12 sales trends of 2010

After an extremely difficult year, 2010 looms as a new challenge for sales and marketing experts. With business as usual not "usual" anymore, many businesses are wondering how to align their sales efforts moving forward.  Breaking through the constant noise t...

38. 10 marketing tips that won’t cost the earth

Businesses all over Australia are trying to do more with less as marketing budgets are slashed in these tougher economic times. But with a nose for a bargain and a little know-how from the experts, it is possible to extract good value from a shrinking budget. Looking beyond traditional mediums like television and radio may surprise you.

39. Life after Destra, and the digital future

Dominic Carosa, 33, was until two months ago, the founder and chief executive of digital media and entertainment company Destra Corporation. He talks to AMANDA GOME about life after Destra, the lessons he learnt, his new plans and how the digital world is Domin...

40. A start-up with style

The brainchild behind Swap My Style is 29-year-old Shaughla Ahmad, who has brought like-minded fashionistas a new concept that combines clothes, champagne and canapes with a night out. She tells AMANDA GOME how it all came about. By Amanda Gome

41. Career by design

The founder of kikki.K wanted to bring a sense of fashion and design to the everyday, and took her business from its start-up $3000 outlay 10 years ago to revenue now of more than $20 million. Kristina Karlsson tells AMANDA GOME the kikki.K story.

42. Dymocks and its digital turnaround

Don Grover is the chief executive of the franchise chain of book sellers Dymocks, which has emerged from the doldrums of this early decade with a new business model that embraces online strategies.   He talks to Amanda Gome about how he has changed the model and...

43. The GM syndrome

Late in October 2008 as the senior executives of one of America's longest established companies mulled over the most recent financial statements it became clear that it was not going to be able to pay its bills going into the New Year.   For years, mounting losses were taken in their stride as one of the costs of being the number one auto maker in the world. The possibility of failu...

44. Australia’s best super funds: 2009

Low fees plus exposure to less volatile unlisted assets have cushioned industry super funds from the worst of the global financial crisis and helped secure their near dominance of the short list for super fund of the year, to be announced next month by SuperRatings. Eight of the 10 finalists for the award are public-offer industry funds with...

45. The 20 best iPad apps for entrepreneurs

Got a spare $100? That's all you need to transform your iPad from a cool tablet device into one of the most powerful business gadgets on the market – and one that will make you consider ditching the laptop forever. The iPad is a nice piece of hardware, but it's the apps that really unlock the power of the device. Here...

46. Digital directions

John O’Neill, the chair of online strategy and digital agency Komosion, talks to AMANDA GOME about shaking the status quo in the face of the changing online space. By Amanda Gome   John O’Neill, th...

47. Recruiter rides the outsourcing wave

Andrew Banks heads the winning HR firm Talent2, and has built a highly successful and lucrative career from making canny calls on recruitment trends. He tells AMANDA GOME about his strategies and predictions. By Amanda Gome  

48. A clean sweep

Craig Lovett’s company Cleanevent has transformed the venue and events cleaning industry. He talks to AMANDA GOME about how he took the company from $35 million to $135 million in six years. Craig Lovett’s company Cleanev...

49. 10 web trends to watch in 2011

Think your website is ready for 2011? Think again. Just as you’ve mastered the latest web trends, suddenly major changes in SEO, web design and eCommerce appear from nowhere - and your business had better be prepared. Expanding your use of video, adapting to the growing use of smartphones and using your website to become ...

50. Inside the new Fair Work bill

It was always expected that Labor would change the IR landscape, and aspects of its workplace changes have been previewed – but there are still some surprises, and every employer will need to know them. By PETER VITALEBy Peter Vitale