Matt Nash forewent his dream of a corporate career to deliver an innovative solution and fill a gap in the market for quality stone care. The post QA: A new standard in stone care appeared first on Inside Small Business ..read more

Risks to business today aren’t what they used to be, and so navigating the complex field of insurance has become daunting for many small businesses. That’s where insurance brokers, who are licensed professionals, come in. They get to understand what kind of risks are facing your business and help you manage those risks and find the right insurance, with the right cover at the right price. There’s never been a higher need for insurance brokers in Australia. Why? For three main reasons. Money’s tight It’s tough times in the Australian economy, and small businesses often bear the brunt of that. R ..read more

Twelve companies involved Queensland’s mining equipment, technology, and services (METS) sector have been picked to take part in the QuantumTX 2024 Queensland METS Technology Incubator Program. The companies were chosen after making their pitch for their products and services to industry reps, venture capitalists and government officials at the annual QuantumTX Accelerator Showcase in collaboration with the Queensland State Government, showcasing cost-effective technologies and services it has developed to meet the diverse needs of mining and resource companies both in Australia and internatio ..read more

Banjo Loans has reported a 40 per cent decline in SME loan applications compared to last year. Loan applications fell for a fifth consecutive quarter in the three months to June, which saw a borrowing drop of 20 per cent. The quarter also saw a 14 per cent drop in loan values, as well as an 11 per cent rise in loans being declined. Banjo Loans reported an inability to service new loans, ATO debt, and adverse existing credit as key reasons for the drop in acceptance rates. The SME loan application decline occurs in what is usually a strong period for borrowing, suggesting that weak economic con ..read more

Global small business platform Xero has unveiled its latest quarterly Xero Small Business Insights report. The report shows overall SME performance improvements throughout the 2024 June quarter.  Sales this quarter averaged 3.9 per cent year-on-year (YoY), up 0.1 per cent from the previous quarter. However, a decline in sales in June marked the first sales decline since January 2021, suggesting complex operating conditions for SMEs in coming months. Jobs growth remained strong, with June seeing the largest rise in small business hiring since October 2022 at 5 per cent. Xero recorded signi ..read more

After starting my small business in a post-pandemic professional environment, the role of a meaningful and strong professional network was, ashamedly, underestimated by me. The past 18 months has taught me that a well-curated network of connections can serve as a powerful tool for accelerating the growth of a small business. Following are the reasons building and maintaining a robust professional network is vital for anyone running a small business. Access to expert advice One of the most immediate benefits of a professional network is the accessibility of diverse expertise. Start-ups and smal ..read more

In the most recent Federal Budget announcement, the government pledged $18.6 million for a Digital Solutions program aimed at small businesses. The program will provide affordable, high-calibre advisory services in five crucial areas of digitalisation: establishing an online presence, websites and online sales, social media and digital marketing, business software proficiency, and online security and data privacy. For those small businesses who are venturing into the digital world and building their online presence for the first time, fear not! Here are four tips on how to compete and connect ..read more

Australian retailers are calling for stricter laws and deterrents for retail crime, emphasising its negative impacts in the industry and the economy. At the 2024 Retail Crime Symposium in Melbourne, the soon-to-merge Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and the National Retail Association (NRA) highlighted opportunities for further collaboration in the sector to help businesses. “Good progress has been made to provide legislative protections for frontline workers, but the coverage is not yet universal across Australia,” Paul Zahra, ARA CEO, said. “We need to continue pushing for these laws b ..read more

Committed sustainable living practices and holistic land management advocate, Ross O’Reilly has announced the launch of sustainable ‘tiny house’ accommodation at High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm, offering travelers an eco-friendly, comfortable retreat. Each of the four mini houses has been designed for maximum efficiency to accommodate up to four guests, with a queen bedroom and a single bed equipped with a trundle in the living room area. O’Reilly, the farm’s owner, is a regenerative leader and environmental steward who is committed to minimising the venture’s environmental impact, and to t ..read more

The facts are indisputable. 2023 was the hottest year on record and the first half of 2024 has seen a catastrophic increase of extreme weather events across the globe. The only way we are going to stop the world overheating is if businesses of all sizes take effective climate action now. Transitioning to a zero emissions future is happening already, and every business will need to get there – whether you achieve it by 2030 or not. Why? As governments around the world are committing to net zero targets, there will be increasing regulation and legislation to ensure it happens. Unfortunately, the ..read more