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1. RSS Feeds

  What is RSS? RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication" and is an easy and free way to track updates to the SmartCompany website. You can subscribe free to one or more "feeds" which send you the headline and a short summary of articles that have been recently added or updated on the website. To subscribe to an RSS feed, you will need a News Reader or...

2. 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 ...

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. How industries are created

Australia has, officially, 465 classes of industry that generate our GDP, which this fiscal year is expected to be around $1.38 trillion in output of goods and services. IBISWorld creates a number of "themed" industries, such as tourism, and singles out some major product groups within industry classes, bringing the number of reports closer to 500; b...

5. 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.  

6. eBook Library

Welcome to the SmartCompany eBook Library. You can access all the eBooks here and keep an eye out for new titles. Now that you are a SmartCompany member you can join in on the conversation by participating in forums, commenting on articles and networking with other like-minded Australians who want to build bigger better businesses.    

7. 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...

8. SmartCompany Smart50 Awards 2010

9. SmartCompany Awards 2009

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. 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. ...

12. 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...

13. 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    

14. 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...

15. SmartCompany Smart50 Awards 2011

16. 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...

17. Android dominates Australian smartphone market, Apple crumbl

A divide has opened up between smartphone sales in the US and Australian markets during the 12 weeks ending November 25th, with Android dominating the Australian market and Apple dominating the US, according to new market research figures. The figures, compiled by Kantar ComTech, show that Apple's Australian smartphone marketshare during the quarter ending November 25 sunk to just 35.9%, down from 41.3%...

18. Australia's sweet tooth resilient

IBISWorld estimates that the chocolate and confectionery manufacturing industry will grow by 1.1% in the five years to 2009-10. This industry has had to endure a recessive economy, falling disposable incomes, volatile commodity prices and increasing import competition. Despite these challenges, the industry has remained resilient, adapting to changing con...

19. SmartCompany Smart50 Awards 2012

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20. Hot 30 under 30

They're smart, they're young, they're tech savvy - and they're not afraid of the downturn. Meet SmartCompany's Hot 30 under 30 - a group of 30 entrepreneurs aged 30 years and under who are on their way to becoming Australia's next generation of business leaders.  

21. Federal Government Grants

Free money for growth Government assistance is designed to help companies grow – it will not provide start-up capital, get you through a cashflow crisis or help you pay creditors. In fact in many cases grants are made in the form of a refund or credit for money already spent. There has never been a better time to get your hands on some government assistance. For starters, the slowing economy means business...

22. Economy 2009: 10 key forecasts

There are several key elements affecting the overall economy, and the stability or otherwise of each can be integral to your business’s viability for the year ahead. JAMES THOMSON surveys the likely scenarios. ...

23. Wealthy power-tool entrepreneurs watch empire collapse

Australian power tool empire Global Machinery Company – better known to those handy around the home as GMC – has been placed in receivership by its main lending banker Westpac Banking Corporation. GMC was owned by Melbourne-based entrepreneurs Peter Hosking and Tony D’Antonio. The pair were valued on this year’s BRW Rich 200 at $270 million and were praised for the way they built their fledging tool company into a worthy rival for global companies such as Black & Decker an...

24. How to get a government grant

Getting a government grant can be a great way to accelerate the growth of your business. But while there are some valuable grants around -...

25. Australia's top female entrepreneurs for 2011

There’s a strong argument that the past year has been a landmark one for Australia’s female leaders.  There’s a woman (Julia Gillard) in the Prime Minister’s office. A woman (Gina Rinehart) has become Australia’s richest person. Two women (Kristina Keneally and Lara Giddings) have become State Premiers, a ...

26. 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...

27. Australia's top 30 female entrepreneurs 2012

First she took on Australia, then she took on the world. Mining and media magnate Gina Rinehart is already Australia’s richest person, and word is spreading that she will become the world’s wealthiest individual within years. So it’s no surprise that Rinehart tops SmartCompany’s third annual top female entrepreneur list and drags its...

28. Smart50 2008

Congratulations to the winners of the Smart...

29. 10 collapses and the lessons learnt

It’s tough out there right now. This year it seems that every week another business goes under, from big companies like trucking firm 1st Fleet to small businesses like the football and athletic shoe importer Azumah. From tourism industry troubles to construction company collapses and the ongoing downturn in ...

30. Australia’s property hotspots

Prices have eased at last, but picking property’s ideal investment bargain is no less elusive. JAMES THOMSON gleans the good oil from the experts for the top hotspots around the country.By James Thomson

31. Alcohol industry in better spirits

Australia imports most of the spirits it consumes. Domestic manufacturing represents a relatively small proportion of the estimated $5.2 billion retail value of spirits consumed in Australia. For many products, some degree of transformation occurs domestically, particularly in the case of ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages. The main spi...

32. SmartCompany Awards 2009 Categories

CATEGORIES The Smart50:

33. 10 ways to prepare your website for Christmas

It's that time of the year again - with just 77 sleeps until Christmas, it's time for online retailers to start panicking about their key selling period. While normal bricks and mortar retailers have the luxury of shutting up shop every night, the internet is open 24/7 and online retailers know their shopfronts require constant att...

34. 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.

35. 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...

36. The big issues for 2010

There's no question that 2009 was the year of the GFC. But interestingly, just as some were ready to declare that a new Depression was upon us, the global economy bounced back. We can thank the aggressive stimulus applied by Governments and Central Banks. We can also give thanks to China – the global rebound wouldn't have occurred without Ch...

37. How will your sector perform in 2009?

The threat of recession hangs heavy over the business landscape, but not every company is bracing for bad news. In a sector-by-sector breakdown, SmartCompany reveals the industries of likely refuge in the maelstrom ahead. By Patrick Stafford and James Thomson

38. 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...

39. Software – hardwired!

Scott Farquhar tells how, with partner Mike Cannon-Brookes, he built the enterprise software house Atlassian to a global operation turning over $22 million. By JACQUI WALKER.

40. Your sector-by-sector guide to 2012

The only certainty is uncertainty: chances are the Australian economy is headed for another topsy-turvy year. But for the nation's small- and medium-sized enterprises, there are good sectors to operate in, and not so good. We've taken the pulse of 15 key industries. Here's SmartCompany's guide to 2012, ...

41. Shouldering the drive and passion

Amanda Briskin is a true innovator. She started Mimco 11 years ago with $5000 and a design for two handbags and just sold the company for $45 million. She bucked the norm many times while building her handbag and accessories company and now tells Amanda G

42. Multi-billion dollar industries: Part IV

SmartCompany’s Developing an Entrepreneurial Australia Roundtable came up with 10 multi-billion dollar industries of the future. JAMES THOMSON talks to IBISWorld’s general manager Rob Bryant about the next two sectors that will take off: Tourism and Leisu

43. CARBON TAX: A sector by sector guide

The Government’s carbon tax has finally been released to the public and millions of businesses are struggling to find out how they will be hit, with many warning that they will need to pass on extra costs to consumers. Here’s SmartCompany’s sector-by-sector guide to the impact of the new carbon tax: Agriculture Agriculture has escaped the tax, with the Government making the industry exempt. The industry is set to receive some benefits, with the Carbon Farming...

44. Cleaning up

Enjo's founder Barb De Corti tells AMANDA GOME how the plan to expand her $100 million cleaning products business to the US lost her a lot of money, how her marriage broke up and what she plans to do next. Austrian-born Barb de Corti moved to Australia when sh...

45. SmartCompany awards 2008: The billion dollar list

Australia’s top small and medium businesses have shrugged off the downturn to reveal spectacular growth rates at this year’s SmartCompany.com.au awards held on Friday night in Melbourne, hosted by NAB.Australia’s top small and medium businesses have shrugged off the downturn to reveal spectacular growth rates at this year’s SmartCompany.com.au awards held on Frid...

46. 15 tax tips from the experts

It's that time again. The 2009-10 financial year is almost upon us, and the Australian Taxation Office is preparing to knuckle down and get to work. Businesses struggling to survive the downturn will know that every dollar counts. Whether extra money is used for cashflow issues or employing an extra worker, keeping a business's tax burden low ensures more money ca...

47. Bouncing back

John Randel's first rubber manufacturing factory went up in smoke, but he clawed his way back, and has made a great success of his second enterprise, A1 Rubber. He tells his secrets to JACQUI WALKER. John Randel, the founder and chief executive of recycled ru...

48. Juice toasts a bright future

Consumers’ increasing preference for fresh juice is good news for the industry, which has struggled with poor crops and wild weather. By Jason Baker of IBISWorldThe $927.1 million fruit juice drink manufacturing in...

49. Dyesol’s electric blue sky

Technology that allows iron roofing or glass windows to generate electricity – it sounds like futuristic pipe dreams, but Dyesol’s power-generating innovation is turning the dream into revenue-generating reality. Founders Sylvia and Gavin Tulloch talk to By Brad Howarth

50. Board of Newcastle Knights rugby league club to meet on coal

Rich list coal baron Nathan Tinkler has stunned the world of rugby league by offering to buy the struggling Newcastle Knights rugby league club in a deal worth more than $100 million. Tinkler, who tried to buy the club in November 2010 for the more conservative sum of $10 million, has made a proposal to the Knights board that would see him guarantee a minimum of $10 million in advertising revenue for the next 10 years, plus pay off the company’s $3 million debt, in return for the ...