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1. 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.

2. 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...

3. 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...

4. 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...

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. 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 ...

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. 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...

9. 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.  

10. 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. ...

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. 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. 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...

14. Australia’s best super funds for 2010

The task of trying to select the best super funds is filled with traps for uninformed consumers. Take the potential minefield for anyone who focuses solely on trying to hunt down the best performance or extremely low fees but fails to compare premiums for fund-provided insurance. "The differential between the highest price insura...

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. Australia’s best super funds for 2011

An almost certain way to become highly depressed is to look at the returns of the big super funds' balanced portfolios over the five years to September. Almost all of the annual returns – even of the top 10 performers – failed to match inflation. The median annual return of the hundreds of funds surveyed by s...

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. Top 10 lessons of successful female entrepreneurs

What's keeping women entrepreneurs in the minority? Is it something they are doing wrong? It doesn't have to be this way. AMANDA GOME offers 10 steps to success.   By Amanda Gome    

19. 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. ...

20. How to make a profit – it’s easier than you think

Bevan Slattery and Stephen Baxter started telco infrastructure company PIPE Networks on a limited budget, but have been solidly profitable from day one. AMANDA GOME details the PIPE profit plan.

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. 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 ...

23. Australia’s highest-paid CEOs

The chief executives of the 300 largest Australian sharemarket-listed companies raked in an average of 28% more in salary and bonuses in 2006-07 compared to the previous year, according to the Australian Financial Review’s latest study of executive pay packets.The average earnings of Top 300 chief executives were up significantly, from $1.99 million to $2.56 million in 2006-07. This equates to $49,231 a week – close to average yearly earnings for the wider workforce a...

24. The next 10 online trends

It’s never been harder to keep up with the latest web trends - with the expansion onto mobile platforms, the growth of social media and the need for start ups to be aware of new SEO techniques. As a result, we’ve assembled a team of web experts to help you and your business keep on top of the most important trends on the web. Constructing a mobile website, creating social media campaigns and selling online are just some of the challenges businesses will face during 2010.

25. Australian SME wins contract to monitor Microsoft’s global

An Australian SME has won a contract with Microsoft to monitor the software giant’s energy usage, providing information on where the company can save money on emissions and environmental performance. The appointment comes as major businesses start to adopt more green technology within their infrastructure – especially in Australia as the carbon tax nears its introduction. CarbonSystems chief executive David Solsky says the Microsoft deal comes at an exciting time, as...

26. Zara launches in Melbourne, but flow-on effects to surroundi

Zara's second Australian store is set to open in Melbourne this morning, ending months of speculation and anticipation for eager fans who are lining up in droves to attend the first showing of the boutique fashion retailers' newest location. However, some retail experts say the launch isn't necessarily as high-profile as other stores that attract a more wealthy demographic, such as Apple, and may not result in as much extra foot traffic due to the overall weak retail environment.

27. RedBalloon rising

Naomi Simson is the founder and CEO of online gifting and experience company RedBalloon. She also happens to be one of SmartCompany's very well known bloggers. Naomi shares how RedBalloon is adjusting to the downturn, how she's saving time (and still hiring staff) being more productive, and...

28. Property hotspots for 2010

With Australia's property market continuing to rally despite the threat of rising interest rates, it's more important than ever to hunt out the suburbs and regions that offer the best value for money. With this in mind, SmartCompany turned to two of Australia's foremost property experts: Australian Propert...

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. 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...

31. 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...

32. Australia's housing market most over-priced in the world –

Housing bubble, affordability crisis, over-inflated markets, growing million dollar medians... the list of less than flattering descriptions for Australia's housing market continues to grow, as both local and overseas media outlets fuel speculation as to the state of our residential real estate sector. Some suggest we are heading for a price crash comparable to that experienced in the US during the GFC, or more recently in Ireland, where the housing bubble caused a monumental collapse in ...

33. Study shows 75% of SMEs spend over 10% of marketing budget o

Australian companies are now fully embracing social media, according to a new report conducted by Nielsen, which found nearly three-quarters of businesses allocated 10% or more to their marketing budget for social media, but corporates have more presence than SMEs. The Nielsen-Community Engine 2011 Social Media Business Benchmarking Study comes just days after a separate report from KPMG found Australia's largest banks are taking up social media more than ever before. Peter Fraser...

34. 10 big rich mistakes

Believe it or not, our richest entrepreneurs have actually made some mistakes on their way to fame and fortune – and some of them are dooseys. Here are the top 10. By JAMES BENNETT.By James BennettLast month SmartCompany bought you 10 secrets of the stinking rich. Now it’s time to take a look at the other side of the coin. Believe it not, occasional...

35. 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...

36. 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  

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. Australia's richest family feuds

You can choose your friends and business partners, but you can't choose your family. Just ask Indian billionaire brothers Anil and Mukesh Ambani, who are locked in one of the biggest family feuds in living memory. Anil (worth $12.7 billion, according to Forbes) and Mukesh (worth $24.5 billion) are the sons of famous Indian businessman Dhirubhai Amb...

39. 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...

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. Australia’s top 10 mobile moguls

Following the launch of the iPhone, the mobile industry has become hot property. But this is not a new sector. As BRAD HOWARTH reveals, a group of industry pioneers have been slowly building Australia’s mobile industry for more than a decade.By Brad Howarth

42. Selling land? Beware GST traps

In simple terms, under the GST law, sales of residential premises are considered to be input taxed supplies and the seller does not have to charge GST on the sales. Seems simple enough. But, as with all tax law, simple isn't necessarily simple! The issue hinges on what the GST law considers to be "residential premises". I...

43. The 10 next trends in mobile

As the world's technology companies brace for the toughest year since the dot-com crash, there is one bright spot on the horizon - mobile phones. The release of Apple's 3G iPhone had sparked a wave of product innovation in the sector, from handsets and operating sy...

44. 10 rules for successful property investing

There’s little doubt that 2012 will be a year of economic crises around the world. But what is certain in these times of uncertainty is that a group of successful property investors will be quietly growing their wealth by taking advantage of the opportunity the market is presenting them . While many Australians will sit on the sidelines waiting for someone to ring the bell heralding the property market has bottomed, savvy investors will be out looking for and buying invest...

45. Sitepoint: Ideas = exchange = business

Web 2.0 pioneer Mark Harbottle, 35, is changing direction, and has has started another business, 99designs.com, from an idea that grew out of his forums. By AMANDA GOME By Amanda Gome   Web ...

46. 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

47. Nintex

Brian Cook

48. Aussie’s strong growth plan

John Symond’s Aussie Home Loans has continued to grow despite ructions in the mortgage market. His advice? Don’t be a victim, especially as circumstances change and customer needs evolve. He tells AMANDA GOME how he positioned Aussie as an organisation th By Amanda Gome

49. Which sectors will win and lose in the downturn?

Are your sales efforts aimed at the right sectors? As the Australian economy hurtles towards recession, veteran business watcher and IBISWorld founder PHIL RUTHVEN nominates the industries that will be hardest hit – and the sectors that should hold up.   As bad...

50. How cloud computing could change your business – and save

If you want to slash your IT spending, maximise the flexibility of your systems, and be able to ...