Search

  - All Sections -Content Search Advanced Search

1. The next 15 trends in social networking

There is no hotter trend in the internet, marketing and media space than social networking. What started out as a way for ‘cool kids’ to talk to each other has now become essential part of every company’s marketing strategy.  ...

2. Australia’s best online forums

Many companies underestimate the power of online forums as a branding, marketing and communications tool. Here's how Australia's best forums do it – and five of the best examples. By BRAD HOWARTH By Brad Howarth  

3. Where is Australia's housing market REALLY heading?

Overheated or undervalued? A powerful part of the Australian economy or a bubble that could burst and damage Australia's miracle economy? Australia's housing market has always been one of the most talked-about sectors of the economy, but the recent surge in property prices – against the backdrop of the subprime cris...

4. 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...

5. Terms and Conditions

Terms of Use Access to and use of the online magazine www.smartcompany.com.au and its associated email alert, is provided by Private Media Pty Ltd (ABN 11 102 933 362) through its vehicle SmartCompany.com.au Pty Ltd (ABN 23 121 200 002) called in this document "the publishers", on the following terms. Please read the whole of this page carefully. If you do not agree to these terms, you should not obtain information, services or products fr...

6. Wall Street rallies on Obama stimulus plans, Newspaper group

Wall Street has enjoyed a 4% rise after reports president-elect Barack Obama plans to inject billions into new infrastructure spending to help spark economic growth and new jobs.Wall Street has enjoyed a 4% rise after reports president-elect Barack Obama plans to inject billions into new infrastructure spending to help spark economic growth and new jobs.Companies associated with construction projects helped lead the rally, sending the market upwards for the second day in a row.

7. Taxman opens door on debt relief

Help can come from the most unlikely quarters, and business owners may find that it is the ATO itself that will ease tax debt pain. By TERRY HAYES of Thomson Legal & Regulatory.By Terry Hayes

8. MARKETING STRATEGIES: Organisational buyer behaviour

Organisational buying is very similar to individual buyer behaviour with some contextual differences. Organisations buy in furtherance of organisational objectives, such as to manufacture and deliver goods and services to members, customers or the community.   Purchases are ing...

9. 25 corporate collapses – and the lessons learnt

There have been some high-profile corporate failures over the past year, and the evidence suggests that the bloodbath isn’t over. We take a look at 25 more prominent cases to draw salient lessons for every business. It’s getting ugly out there. Credit agency Dun & Bradstreet believes one in nine compa...

10. Should you buy an iPad 2? The pros and cons

The wait is over. Two weeks after American tech-heads got their hands on Apple's latest device, it's now Australia's turn. The iPad 2 will launch at 5pm this afternoon, at Apple stores and various resellers across the country. By all accounts this launch has gone much more smoothly than last year's, which saw tech fans wait several weeks to get their hands on an iPad after demand in the US outstripped supply. But while the Australian launch has run on schedule, supply is ...

11. The Tax Forum: 10 ways to build a better tax system

The supposedly dry world of tax has been at the centre of two of the biggest political bunfights in as many years: the carbon tax and the mining tax. Throw in the controversy over the Government largely ignoring a lengthy review of the system led by former Treasury head Ken Henry and it’s clear bean-counting can be a taxing topic for our political leaders. When the Govern...

12. 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 ...

13. South Australian MP considers bill to weed out franchising r

South Australian Labor MP Tony Piccolo says he will consider introducing a private members' bill into South Australian Parliament if Federal Labor Small Business Minister fails to reform the Franchising Code. Late last week, the South Australian parliament unanimously voted in favour of Piccolo's private members' motion, calling on the Government to respond to an inquiry into the Franchising Code conducted last year by a joint Federal Parliamentary committee. The Joint Sta...

14. Privacy

SmartCompany.com.au Pty Ltd's daily email and the online magazine www.smartcompany.com.au are published by SmartCompany.com.au (ABN23 121 200 002), which employs staff and manages subscriber databases and accounting services for the SmartCompany.com.au business. In this privacy policy SmartCompany.com.au is referred to as "SmartCompany". Privacy policy purpose The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to advise subscribers, triallists, customers, staff members and...

15. Top 10 online retailers

In November 2008, Gerry Harvey issued SmartCompany with a challenge - find 10 Australian online retailers who are making "real money". Harvey was convinced the world has been conned by online retailing, claiming the co...

16. 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

17. Australia’s 25 best business blogs

Did the great corporate blogging revolution ever happen? It seems only a handful of years ago that, inspired by US automaker General Motor’s FastLane blog, nascent social media pundits (and this writer) were predicting that corporations would open up and begin a two-way dialog with customers. But in the ye...

18. Contact us

Want to be part of SmartCompany? There's lots of ways to join in. You can register for the site so you can comment on all our stories and participate in the forums here. Send news releases and story pitches to: news@smartcompany.com.au. If you'd like to make a comment or correction, or offer feedback please email us at: feedback@smartcompany.com.au. Feeling inspired? If you would like to write a stor...

19. Top 10 jobs of 2010 and beyond

With IBISWorld predicting 2010 will be a boom year for Australian business, and that the next five years will see significant economic growth, opportunities for university graduates are set to grow as companies seek to invest in talented staff. The fact that December 2009 saw the number of jobless people fall by 13,300 is a sure sign tha...

20. Happiness in a new job

Employees who leave jobs they are unhappy with will likely find a greater level of satisfaction with new workplaces, a new report has found.Employees who leave jobs they are unhappy with will likely find a greater level of satisfaction with new workplaces, a new report has found.The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, published by the University of Melbourne, studied the circumstances of 13,000 participants over five years.The survey found 56...

21. Apple cleared in Buzzle collapse, launches iPad-ready versio

Tech giant Apple has finally been cleared of any wrongdoing in relation to the collapse of the Apple reseller group Buzzle, following nearly a decade in legal battles and hearings to determine whether the group acted as a shadow director. The New South Wales Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Apple, and its finance director James Likidis, were not shadow directors of Buzzle, and that there was no basis in the $57 million claim brought against both parties by Buzzle's liquidator. ...

22. Australia’s top 20 online retailers

What a year it’s been in online retail. This time last year the retail industry was up in arms over the “unlevel playing field” supposedly caused by the GST-free import threshold. Now, that argument has been diluted by concerns over wages, penalty rates, and workplace relations. And online sales have continued to climb. According t...

23. Zara to open doors in Australia, but how should local retail

The popular Zara clothing brand will finally open its doors to eager Australian shoppers in 2011, after its Spanish-based parent, retail giant Indetix, announced it will open stores in the local market and South Africa next year. And despite a sluggish retail market, analysts say the company will establish itself well due to its high-quality brand positioning and low prices, but local fashion retailers will need to prepare themselves for the new competition. Pablo Isla, deputy ch...

24. Australia’s top 10 online retailers 2011

The past 12 months have seen a revolution in the online retailing sector.  Emerging players such as DealsDirect, Catch of the Day and OzSale dominate Australia’s top 10 online retailers and the past year has seen Australia’s big retailers finally start to take online selling seriously. Major department stores Myer and David Jones have ...

25. Research and development business Permo-Drive on the market

Research and development business Permo-Drive was listed for sale this week by administrators PKF Chartered Accountants. Permo-Drive was established in 2000 and has developed an intellectual property that hydraulically captures kinetic energy in heavy vehicles to reduce operating costs. The technology converts energy from braking into kinetic energy that saves on fuel, but it was never commercialised and Permo-Drive has never made a profit. Permo-Drive is a public ...

26. 30 government grants to grow your business

It's tough to get money at the moment. The venture capital funds have shut up shop, the sharemarket is shying away from IPOs, the banks have backed away and the angel investors have had their wings clipped.  

27. 20 tax tips from the experts

The 2008-09 tax season is almost upon us and entrepreneurs can expect to get some extra scrutiny this year. MIKE PRESTON and JAMES THOMSON ask a panel of tax experts for their best tips and the best action you can take now to minimise your tax billBy James Thomson and Mike Preston

28. Australia’s best business blogs

Blogging is a great way to engage with your customers, build your brand and stand out on Google. BRAD HOWARTH explains why entrepreneurs often write the best blogs – and lists Australia’s top 15 business blogs. By Brad Howarth  

29. Why your company needs core values

The very phrase “company values” is enough to make some business owners – and many employees - groan and roll their eyes. For many businesses, corporate value statements are little more than vague motherhood statements that sound nice but bear little relation to way business is done. But that’s not that case in every business. For a n...

30. SmartCompany Awards 2009

31. iPad can be claimed as tax deduction, ATO confirms

Australians may be able to fund their purchase of Apple's new iPad through a tax break, with the Australian Taxation Office confirming the gadget can be claimed through the Federal Government's Education Tax Refund. The loophole could spark a rush of claims for iPads, with a new study from Boston Consulting Group revealing 23% of Australians plan to purchase an eReader or tablet computer this year, with that number growing to 49% within the next three years. The Australian Taxation...

32. 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."

33. Zuckerberg's marriages

Mark Zuckerberg must be crazy. After floating Facebook on Friday night US time, the world’s most talked-about chief executive went out and got married to his long-time partner, Priscilla Chan, in what looked like a pretty simple ceremony in the Californian tech haven of Palo Alto. Simple or not, everybody knows that getting married is one of the most stressful things you can do. I’ve never floated a $US104 billion company, but I’d imagine that ranks pr...

34. 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 ...

35. Australia’s 25 top business blogs

While Facebook and Twitter might hog the social media headlines, the humble blog remains a much-loved communication tool for many Australian business people. Around the country, and throughout many different industries, there are thousands of Australian consultants, contractors and entrepreneurs running lively, informative and at times, very persona...

36. Construction industry grows during October, Stevens says rat

The construction industry has continued to grow during October, but at a slower pace as the recovery in the apartment building sector has been impacted by a decline in new orders, according to a new survey. A survey of 200 firms by the Australian Industry Group and the Housing Industry Association has found overall construction activity rose just 0.1 point to 50.9, just over the 50-point level separating expansion from contraction. Ai Group associate director public policy, Peter ...

37. Cashing in on the 50% rebate - here's how to do it

Businesses with annual revenue of less than $2 million are being urged to take advantage of the Government's increased investment allowance announced in the federal budget.   Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said that the allowance will be extended from 30% to 50% for assets purchased by eligible businesses - but second hand items are out of the question. ...

38. The 10 next social media trends

Social media still dominates headlines as the new direction for business marketing, but it seems many businesses are resisting the call. A recent survey by Optus found that only 28% of small businesses used social media to promote their business, while 56% had no near-term plans to start. It's an understandable response. Jus...

39. State Government Grants

Free money for growth There are many juicy free money opportunities out there, but before leaping in, business owners need to understand the cost and red tape that comes with the grants process. Here we look at state government grants and examine the costs involved and the obligations you’ll face. SmartCompany’s selection of grants from the state governments Click on the name to link t...

40. 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

41. 30 hot entrepreneurs aged 30 and under

They are young, smart and come from industries as diverse as IT, fashion and agriculture. BRAD HOWARTH profiles 30 hot young entrepreneurs aged 30 years and under. By Brad Howarth    

42. Make-up keeps looking good

Cosmetics and toiletries are based on a solid foundation, and the segment's trend looks set to stay in fashion. By JASON BAKER of IBISWorld. Cosmetics and toiletries are based on a solid foundation, and the segment's trend looks ...

43. Our top 10 online retailers

The battle for the title of Australia's top online retailer has come down to a fight between the two heavyweights of the local e-tail sector. Both sell discount goods, both are growing rapidly – and both claim they hold the top position. In SmartCompany's second annual list of the country's biggest online retailers, department store...

44. 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...

45. Five top business ideas that made millions

According to Paul Graham, investor and founder of Y Combinator, the best way to get a winning business idea is to not think of any. Instead, you should be looking at which problems you can solve. “The very best start-up ideas tend to have three things in common: they’re something the founders themselves want, that they themselve...

46. Five lessons from the collapse of Storm Financial

Storm Financial’s stumble into administrator’s hands wasn't just a result of the financial crisis – its strategy left it badly exposed and distracted. JAMES THOMSON picks over the remains and looks at the salient lessons for every entrepreneur. By James Thomson

47. SmartCompany Smart50 Awards 2011

48. 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...

49. How Costco Australia will change Australian retail

There are just two things standing in the way of a potential revolution in Australia's retail sector: Melbourne's notoriously fickle weather, and a roof.   For Costco Australia managing director Patrick Noone, whether the warehouse shopping giant opens its Melbou...

50. Reception skills

You don't get a second chance to make a good first impression, and as your reception area is the first impression many clients get of your business, it makes good sense to make an effort here. We seem to be doing more and more online now, but when we do walk into a business – whether it be a small medical practice, a major accounting firm or a government department – we expect to be received well.   The receptionist is often the window to the organisation. Many people will ju...