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1. 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...

2. About Us

SmartCompany is a completely free news, information and resource site for Australia's entrepreneurs, small and medium business owners and business managers to help keep them ahead of their competition. Our writers have many years of experience reporting for the best websites, newspapers and magazines. Contributors include Australia's top entrepreneurs, experts and advisers. Every Monday to Friday, SmartCompany posts a daily news briefing, a round-up of business trend...

3. 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.

4. 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...

5. 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...

6. 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...

7. 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. ...

8. 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...

9. 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.  

10. How to build a loyalty program

It’s estimated that there are around 200,000 loyalty programs operating in Australia, which makes it extremely difficult for a business to stand out from the crowd. But there are ways to ensure your program stacks up against the rest – as long as you’re prepared to put in some hard yards during the set-up phase. There’...

11. 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 ...

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. Gap to enter Australia, first store in Melbourne by end of J

American retailer Gap has signed an agreement to bring its brand to Australian shores following years of speculation, in the latest sign US companies are flocking to the local market attracted by the strength of the franchising sector. But while there should be enough demand for the company's product, one retail expert wonders whether it will struggle to compete against Australia's fashion-conscious market. It comes as a number of other American retailers, including the NexCen bra...

14. 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

15. Construction firms build on diverse foundations

The SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List for the construction sector reveals a fragmented broader industry that has shown strong growth in favoured parts but revenue that is sensitive to wide ranging influences. By MIKE PRESTON By Mike Preston  

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. Australia’s top web 2.0 entrepreneurs

The search for Australia’s best and brightest web 2.0 entrepreneurs reveals a tangled web of companies, individuals and technologies reports BRAD HOWARTH, tied together through an equally complex web of professional relationships and friendships. By Brad Howarth

18. The best of the best iPhone apps

It's almost impossible to think of a faster growing industry than the mobile application sector. In just 12 months the market has been transformed from virtually non-existent to a sector worth billions of dollars.   The undisputed leader of the sector is Apple. In the last 12 months, its App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch has recorde...

19. Woolworths to launch hardware giant Masters tomorrow – 10

Australia is on the brink of a war – for the hearts and minds of tradies, DIY-ers and sausage-sizzle-loving hardware consumers around the country. Tomorrow in the Melbourne suburb of Braybrook, supermarket giant Woolworths and its joint venture partner, US hardware giant Lowe's, will open the first in what it promises will be a 150-strong chain of Masters stores. The move is designed to break the dominance of market leader Bunnnings, which is owned by conglomerate Wesfamers, th...

20. Fast food franchise Souvlaki Hut collapses into administrati

Poor retail sales, threats of litigation and disgruntled franchisees are being blamed for the collapse of fast food franchise Souvlaki Hut. However, administrator Laurie Fitzgerald of BDO says he is confident of finding a buyer and finalising an agreement within the next few weeks. "We have found a buyer, and hopefully over the course of the next two or three weeks we will be able to finalise an agreement and get contracts signed and so on," Fitzgerald told SmartCompany...

21. Commonwealth Bank attacked after posting $6.1 billion profit

The Commonwealth Bank recorded a 42% increase in full-year cash profit to $6.1 billion this morning, and said it remains cautious about prospects for the next year as economic conditions remain uncertain. But the bank, and the financial industry altogether, has been accused of being run by a group of "greedy thieves" by Family First senator Steve Fielding, who says the Government and Opposition should be questioning the size of the banking sector's profit. Commonwealth Bank said i...

22. 2012's Hot 30 Under 30

They are young, smart and hungry for success. Meet SmartCompany's Hot 30 Under 30 class of 2012 – a group of entrepreneurs aged 30 years and younger, drawn from 30 of Australia's fastest-growing SMEs. These 30 young people are well on their way to becoming Australia’s next generation of top entrepreneurs.

23. Pinkberry craze next franchise hit?... Australia's cities ge

Next hot franchise trend?A tart-yet-sweet swirled yoghurt called Pinkberry is being touted as the next new hot franchise trend. Launched in Los Angeles two years ago, the 20th store just opened in Beverley Hills. And there are plans for 50 in Los Angeles and New York by the end of the year.The brand has been linked with celebrity names Salma Hayek, Jerry Seinfield and Paris Hilton. The foun...

24. 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...

25. 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...

26. Why invest in property?

In a recent blog I opened the debate - which is a better investment – property or shares? Of course, this is an age old debate with both sides pretty entrenched in their views. I concluded by saying that if you were still not convinced I would give you 11 reasons why property is a great investment and that's what I'm going to discuss today. Now let me just say that although I s...

27. Australians swell the ranks of Britain's richest

The list of the 1000 richest people in Britain, released last week by The Sunday Times, includes no less than 14 entrepreneurs with connections to Australia, including eight who have appeared on BRW's Rich 200.

28. 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 ...

29. The 12 sales trends for 2011

It's been another challenging year for Australia's sales professionals. While most sectors have now weathered the storm of the GFC, markets remain tough, buyers remain reluctant to spend and sales people continue to be tested. And while economic conditions are expected to improve in the coming 12 months, 2011 looks set to throw up a new set ...

30. 2011's Hot 30 Under 30

Meet SmartCompany's Hot 30 Under 30 class of 2011 – a group of entrepreneurs aged up to 30 years, drawn from 30 of Australia's fastest-growing SMEs. While many of the entrepreneurs here have leveraged technology to grow their businesses, this group of business owners prove that IT isn't the only avenue to q...

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. 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

33. 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.

34. How the rich made their money

It's the question that has plagued young people and would-be entrepreneurs for years: how do you figure out your path in life when you are not sure what you want to do? In order to find to try to find the answer, who better to ask than Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, who sat down ...

35. Where are we in the property cycle?

Although the Australian property downturn of 2008 came as a shock to many investors, recessions are not a new concept. They are an inevitable part of the economic cycle; intermittent periods of growth and decline that have occurred throughout history. They impact all markets and industries including property. While well-located properties in Australia have doubled in value every eight to 10 years, capital appreciation is obviously not constant each year. Property values tend to rise and...

36. 55 Twitter tips

Like any medium that captures the public imagination, Twitter brings a myriad of opportunities to strengthen customer relationships and build brands and businesses. But not all tweets are equal - and because Twitter allows users to choose whether to listen, it also means they can just as easily choose not to. "If you'r...

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. Performance appraisals – getting results

To get results and improved performance from your people, you need to ensure they know what results they are aiming for and what is expected of them. To get results and improved performance from your people, you need to ensure they know what results they are aiming for and what is expected of them!   If you have been following the last two weeks’ blogs (

39. 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...

40. Last days of the 50% investment allowance – the 10 big que

41. Aussie Farmers Direct

Smart50 rank: 3Revenue: $64,984,745Growth: 205.87%Founders: Shane Hodskiss, 33; Jordan Muir, 29; William Scott, 30Based: VictoriaEmployees: 80

42. Capital Gains Tax

How to stay under the CGT threshold Here are seven strategies to consider if you are selling your business and are concerned about overshooting the small-business threshold. This  page will help you caluclate and minimise your capital gains tax. As discussed in strategy seven, you must always keep the anti-avoidance provisions in mind:   1: Make gifts to your adult children. ...

43. Destra placed in administration. What went wrong?

Digital media and marketing firm Destra has been placed in administration after major shareholder Prime Media Group and the company’s bankers withdrew support for the company.Digital media and marketing firm Destra has been placed in administration after major shareholder Prime Media Group and the company’s bankers withdrew support for the company.“Continued adverse trends in the consumer and advertising markets and unprecedentedcapital market volatility have… con...

44. The 15 most influential people in Australian IT

They are the titans of Australia's tech sector – the regulators, executives and entrepreneurs who decide the shape of our tech sector. For the second year running, SmartCompany set out to find the 15 most influential people in Australian IT, judging them on criteria such as their involvement across t...

45. 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, ...

46. Payless Shoes caught on the back foot by shoe downturn and p

Payless Shoes has become the latest corporate victim to succumb to poor consumer confidence, with the 220-plus strong discount footwear chain now placed in voluntary administration. The collapse of the business highlights turmoil not only in the fashion industry and footwear, which have suffered collapses and poor sales during the past year, but also the downturn in retail overall. WHK principal David Gordon says while there are some categories of footwear that are doing ext...

47. Billabong is Australia’s hardest working brand

Global surfwear giant Billabong has beaten the likes of Coca-Cola Amatil and Lion Nathan in a new ranking of corporate Australia’s most valuable brands as a share of total enterprise value. With a brand worth just over $1.6 billion, 41% of the company’s value, Billabong works its brand harder than any other company in the nation, according to research by analyst and adviser firm Brand Finance.That puts it ahead of Coca-Cola in terms of brand worth...

48. Clever ways to future-proof your business

As the old adage goes, you don't know what you don't know. But for small businesses, not knowing what the future might hold can cost them dearly. While small businesses are often great at what they do, they're not so great at planning for the future, the executive director of small business customer unit at Telstra, Charles...

49. Babcock & Brown forced into administration

Finance and investment giant Babcock & Brown has been forced into voluntary administration after creditors of the company in New Zealand voted to reject a plan to restructure the company's debt.   The move comes after a harrowing 12 months for the company, which had modelled itself on banking giant Macquarie Bank and accumulated more than $50 billion in debt. The company's shares have crashe...

50. 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...