Category: Business

The internet is a cornerstone of our daily lives these days.  Indeed, many small businesses are so dependent on their “online” presence that they couldn’t survive without it. But what are the tax implications? Mark Chapman, Director of Tax Communication at H&R Block, explains… Businesses use the internet in different ways.  Some businesses use their website just for promotions and marketing, while others provide location and contact details. Increasingly, many businesses require eCommerce capabilities as they generate ever larger amounts of revenue through online sales. Depending on whether a complex or basic web presence is needed, the costs involved in ... Read more

The ASBFEO February Small Business Pulse makes it clear that while an interest rate cut may have provided some modest relief to financing costs and a slight nudge to consumer demand, a challenging small business operating environment remains. Over the past quarter, the ASBFEO Pulse found small business ‘health-check’ has deteriorated a further 0.3 per cent to record a 1.5 per cent decline over the last 12 months, levelling off since sharply declining by some 25 per cent after the end of COVID-era support and substantially below the long-term average. If you believe as I do, that small and family ... Read more

When Adriana Parncutt first moved to Australia from her small village in the Czech Republic, she never imagined she’d one day build a business that would capture hearts and taste buds across the country. What began as a hobby to stay connected to her roots has grown into Adri’s Gingerbread, a brand stocked in iconic stores like David Jones and Haigh’s Chocolates. Adri’s passion for flavoursome food began at an early age. Growing up in an idyllic rural location, Adri tells Business Builders she was surrounded by the smells and flavours of homemade food. “My parents embraced self-sufficiency, raising pigs, ... Read more

Today is Family Business Day, an occasion to celebrate, respect, and support Australian family-owned businesses. However, research shows that only 1 in 3 people would start a business with someone from their family. The study, commissioned by COS, an Australian-owned and operated family business offering product supply solutions for the workplace, surveyed over 1,000 Australian workers and uncovered that most people these days would never consider starting a business with a family member. The main reasons were ‘You shouldn’t mix business and family’ (50 per cent), ‘It would be too hard to separate the two’ (32 per cent) and ‘I ... Read more

  Successfully navigating the complex world of trade marks often requires specialist knowledge because things are not always as you would expect. Trade mark expert Jacqui Pryor shares what you need to know. For example, did you know that a trade mark exists whether it is registered or not?  Or that your registered business name doesn’t necessarily belong to you?  Or that you don’t automatically own your brand logo if it was designed by someone else? Many business owners are unaware of or don’t know many things about trade marks—even seemingly obvious ones—that can materially affect the success and sustainability ... Read more

Running a small business is no easy feat. Between managing inventory, processing payments and keeping your customers happy, getting on top of things (and staying there) can feel like an endless task. But now there’s a way to simplify it all. Zeller has just launched the new Zeller Terminal 2, a game-changing all-in-one POS and payment solution that’s redefining what it means to run a small business efficiently. Here’s why it’s the ultimate tool for growing your small business. 1. Seamless integration of payments and POS As small businesses grow, they often have to pay more and more for the ... Read more

A former retail worker has turned his dream of financial independence into reality by building a £1million fortune in just four years. A chance observation changed everything for Lewis Cromptom, 35, Norfolk. He told Express.co.uk: “When I looked at my boss’s boss, I saw a stressed-out man who wasn’t paid that well. I didn’t want that for my life.” This realisation led him to take a risk and put half of his annual salary—£10,000—on a credit card and invest it in something that would dramatically change his career trajectory. That £10,000 wasn’t spent on a tangible product or a startup. ... Read more

A proposal to crack down on hidden charges for online consumers has been put forward by the Government as it says new research shows the practice is widespread. And Business and trade minister Kevin Hollinrake has also pledged to target fake website reviews which he warned be confusing for online shoppers. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said it will consult on plans to improve transparency around how prices are displayed in an effort to root out so-called drip pricing, where only part of a product’s price is originally advertised but with hidden obligatory fees pushing up the final cost. ... Read more

Savers grew used to getting little or nothing on their money when interest rates were slashed almost to zero after the financial crisis. That dramatically changed, with the Bank of England hiking base rates from just 0.1 percent in December 2021 to today’s five percent. The BoE is expected to hike rates again at its next meeting on August 3, possibly to 5.5 percent as it continues its losing battle against inflation. Markets now expect bank rate to peak at 5.75 percent. Despite this, today’s six percent-plus deals are living on borrowed time. By the spring, the BoE could be ... Read more

It’s a rebel with a cause and a must-see for the dazzling beauty on show – art exhibition REJECTS has opened in central London showcasing works submitted, but then rejected by the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Not making the grade has never looked so good and the exhibition is running now until Thursday August 3 in a pop-up art gallery in the heart of Bermondsey just south of the Thames. The works, affordable, for sale and perfect to enhance any interior, are a selection from the 13,000 submissions that didn’t make it. The outlier show is the brainchild of female ... Read more