SmartCompany Plus

Equity Mates' podcasters Alec Renehan and Bryce Leske say its a big world out there and technology has made it easy to invest in it all.

“Come to Cooly”: Coolangatta small businesses band together with campaign to bring back tourists

Lois Maskiell

31 August 2021

Two Coolangatta locals have launched an advertising campaign to encourage Queenslanders to visit the Gold Coast suburb that's suffering from the NSW lockdown.

Fintech players welcome payment review that could lead to stricter rules for Google and Apple

Analysis

Stephanie Palmer-Derrien

31 August 2021

The Payments System Review could see the government keeping a closer eye on big-tech payment platforms, but fintech players back the recommendations.

NSW pubs could reopen to vaccinated customers and staff under industry proposal

Lois Maskiell

31 August 2021

NSW pubs could reopen in October to vaccinated customers and workers under a plan that the peak hotel industry has put forward to the state government.

NSW opens Supplier Hub to support SMEs with e-invoicing

Melissa Coade

31 August 2021

The New South Wales government has launched a centralised hub to support more than 20,000 SMEs with a platform to submit and review the status of electronic invoices.

Employers urged to consider employee wellbeing as WFH exacerbates back pain

Remote Work

Jane Kilkenny

31 August 2021

A focus on wellbeing and overall health is an effective strategy for improved workplace education, which should also include emphasis on mental health initiatives and sleep quality.

PEXA offers parents up to $1000 a month to support childcare fees

People

Angela Priestley

31 August 2021

The $1000 a month childcare payment is one of a number of policies that emerged after PEXA actively sought to ask people about the pain points they were experiencing.

Booktopia shifts focus to acquisition opportunities following year of mammoth growth

Dean Blake

31 August 2021

Booktopia chief executive Tony Nash says this year's result has laid the foundation for further growth in the 2022 financial year.

There’s value in the process: Why you should enter business awards, and seven winning strategies

Fast Tools

Smart50 Awards 2021

The process of applying is a valuable opportunity to break down and evaluate the separate pieces of your business.

Kikki.K collapses for the second time in two years, citing lockdowns as the cause

Eloise Keating

31 August 2021

Administrators Liam Healey and Quentin Olde from Ankura will reportedly now seek a buyer for the business.

Frydenberg issues new directions to ASIC, contradicting the banking royal commission

Andrew Schmulow

31 August 2021

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg appears to have thrown the most important findings of the banking royal commission under a bus.

SmartCompany Plus

How to Get Started Investing, and tips on avoiding home country bias

Equity Mates' podcasters Alec Renehan and Bryce Leske say its a big world out there and technology has made it easy to invest in it all.

There’s value in the process: Why you should enter business awards, and seven winning strategies

Fast Tools

Smart50 Awards 2021

The process of applying is a valuable opportunity to break down and evaluate the separate pieces of your business.

How to have hard conversations effectively when emotions are running high

Fast Tools

People

This article teaches you how to frame and explain your feelings to bring the conversation back to solutions.

good edi founders Aniyo Rahebi and Catherine Hutchins

How edible coffee cup startup Good Edi found success despite launching in a pandemic

Hospitality

Good Edi had to conquer the technical issues of building a sustainable product while selling to one of the hardest-hit sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic: cafes.

Startups

Kiwi startup Komodo raises $1.7 million to improve mental wellbeing in schools

Startup News

31 August 2021

We caught up with the founders of Komodo talk about audacious dreams, strategic investors and the effect of COVID-19 on student wellbeing.

Xero introduces “vital” flexible working policy, as it embarks on a hiring spree

30 August 2021

Xero's new flexible work policy comes in as the tech company embarks hiring drive, and could help it attract the best tech talent.

Camplify’s strong results show caravans are making a comeback: Why that’s good news for Aussie SMEs

Startup News

27 August 2021

While strong growth is clearly good for Camplify, it may also reflect a trend that’s bringing cash to small businesses in regional towns.

From oyster farms to artificial voice boxes: Eight businesses secure a combined $4 million in Accelerating Commercialisation Grants

Grants

27 August 2021

Eight Aussie businesses have been granted a combined $3.9 million in government funding through Accelerating Commercialisation Grants.

The future of retail

NSW makes late changes to vaccination and testing rules for workers in Sydney hotspots

Lois Maskiell

30 August 2021

Frontline workers who need to leave a COVID-19 hotspot in Sydney for work now have until next Monday to receive their first coronavirus vaccine, following last minute changes to public health orders.

Coles and Woolworths race to keep up with grocery delivery boom with tech and automation processes

Retail

The Conversation

30 August 2021

As lockdowns continue across Australia, many households are doing something they may not have considered just 18 months ago: ordering groceries online.

Explained: New vaccination and permit rules in Sydney’s LGAs of concern

Lois Maskiell

26 August 2021

Tougher public health rules affecting workers in Sydney’s 12 hotspot suburbs are coming into effect this weekend, including vaccination, testing and permit requirements.

Instagram scraps ‘swipe up’ for new Link Sticker that could allow all businesses to add links in stories

Retail

26 August 2021

Instagram is replacing the ‘swipe up’ feature for adding links in stories with a new sticker, and it could become available to the smallest of SMEs.

Partner content

Working from home

Xero introduces “vital” flexible working policy, as it embarks on a hiring spree

30 August 2021

Xero's new flexible work policy comes in as the tech company embarks hiring drive, and could help it attract the best tech talent.

Atlassian’s Dom Price on how to keep staff on board when talent is scarce

People

Employees are more focused than ever before on culture, values and work-life balance. If you don’t get it right, they’re willing to walk away.

Simon Griffiths cares deeply about his 120 staff, but doesn’t give a crap where they live

Remote Work

Simon Griffiths

16 July 2021

Social enterprise Who Gives A Crap fully embraces remote work, and co-founder Simon Griffiths says it's all driven by a desire to prioritise the wellbeing of his team.

Women’s health company Organon gives Sydney parents three hours a day to support kids in remote learning

Sole traders: How to set and stick to your business goals in FY22

Angela Priestley

16 July 2021

Parents working at health company Organon have been given up to three hours a day to support children in their remote learning activities during Sydney's current lockdown.

Destination business success: A guide by Xero

Stories of business owner resilience; skills for an increasingly digital and unpredictable future; and opportunities for plucky small business owners. This curation of articles has been produced in partnership with Xero.

Sole trader tips: How to plan (and stick to!) a weekly routine

Five tips to grow your business as a sole trader

A sole trader’s greatest asset is time: Here’s how to manage it effectively

If you build it, they will come: How to create a website for your business

Level up in 2021: Three sole traders share their best advice for fellow business owners

Five marketing tips to help sole traders expand in 2021

Partner content

Sole trader tips: How to plan (and stick to!) a weekly routine

Xero

31 August 2021

To help you plan out a weekly routine — especially with the added stress of shifting lockdown restrictions — here’s a three-step plan that makes consistency easy to achieve.

Technology drives aged care revolution

Lookout

30 August 2021

With the Royal Commission into Aged Care calling for urgent and drastic change within the sector, innovative technology is leading the charge.

Want to build a better, stronger business? There’s a suite of apps for that

Xero

18 August 2021

Small businesses using apps did better in 2020 — here's how you can reap the benefits of using apps in your business too.

How a plucky startup has grown to be one of Australia’s largest and most trusted video production agencies