Minority rule would be a disaster, say CEOs
The role of the Greens and teals in the 2025 federal election is striking fear into the hearts of some business leaders. Others just want to get on with governing.
Small Business
Crossbench fury over instant asset write-off
Laws enshrining an instant asset write-off of up to $20,000 for small businesses were set to pass the Senate after the Coalition and independents ramped up pressure on Labor.
Small power relief gives pub cold comfort
Publican Simone Douglas says another $150 in power bill relief is cold comfort for small businesses like hers that are grappling with a perfect storm of skyrocketing energy costs and a cost of living crisis.
Local mask makers close up as governments order cheaper imports
Over 50 Australian firms that pivoted to making masks during the pandemic are on the brink after missing out on contracts, leaving us exposed to future shortages industry leaders say.
Aussie invoice payments a likely casualty of Trump tariff war
US President Donald Trump’s tariff regime will put more Australian business behind in invoice payments, sending many into insolvency, says CreditorWatch.
Sweet treats slug leaves a sour taste
Love a little booze in your sweet treat, be it tiramisu, liqueur chocolates or rum and raisin ice-cream? There’s bad news from a recent tariff decision, say angry importers.
Price rise brewing: $7 for a cup of coffee
Would Australians pay $7 for a cup of coffee? It seems we’re about to find out.
Australian food exports racing towards $100bn
Two years ago, billionaire Anthony Pratt said Australia should set a short-term goal of $100bn in food exports and thanks to free-trade agreements and global supply disruptions we’re on the way.
How the spreadsheet is killing your productivity
An Atlassian survey of 12,000 workers across six countries has concluded they lose almost 10 hours a week hunting information buried in email threads, Slack channels and siloed systems.
‘Dark clouds have been lifted’: On the ground in Whyalla
Around Whyalla, some businesses with links to the steelworks had been down to their last few thousand dollars in the bank but government intervention has put a pep back in their step.
Trio of factors keeps lid on personal bankruptcies
Despite the cost-of-living crisis, it has been a trio of factors that has kept personal bankruptcies from blowing out – but that may soon change.
Rate cuts to drive growth for SMEs
Despite rising business failures and financial challenges, Australian SMEs are starting to stabilise and MYOB says February’s interest rate cut will drive growth.
Return of Aussie wine to China fires up exports in sluggish market
Australian winemakers are sitting on a glut of mainly red but the reopening of the post-tariff Chinese market has helped ease the pressure by lifting exports 34 per cent in 2024.
NAB has rails run in HSBC’s great Aussie bank sale
With everyone else too big or distracted, HSBC is NAB’s for the taking if the global giant decides to walk away from the local retail banking market.
Over a quarter of small business owners not paying themselves
Business owners struggling in an uncertain economy have been resorting to withholding their own salary or using personal savings to help prop up their ventures, a survey shows.
Housing crisis scares mid-tier businesses
Mid-tier businesses fear that in years to come, the national housing crisis will worsen their ability to find and employ workers living close enough, the results of a survey shows.
The changes needed to bring relief for small businesses
Small businesses are struggling and ACCI’s July small business survey demonstrated this beyond doubt whereby 45 per cent of respondents said they considered closing in the past 12 months.
AI, inflation, cyber threats keep CEOs awake at night
Artificial intelligence, cyber security risks and high inflation are the red flag issues keeping Australian business leaders awake at night, according to KPMG.
Scandals, takeovers, Swiftenomics: 2024 was a year to remember
The good, the bad and the ugly – 2024 was an eventful year for investors. We look back on the stories which made headlines and broke hearts.
Why business will drive the economic recovery
It’s time governments abandon the well-trodden path of company bashing for political point scoring and talk up the role of business in our economy.
Nation’s banks must do much more for small businesses
Running a small business in Australia is tough, fraught with risk and close to half of them fail within the first three years. So what can be done to help them?
Losing one client can send us to the wall, say SMEs
A twice yearly survey of Australian small businesses has painted a disturbing picture in which almost 30 per cent say they are at risk of insolvency.
Bosses to cut rights on unfair dismissal
Unions slam employer push to change small business legal definition from 15 to 50 employees.
Rate cuts to fire starter’s gun on 2025 retail rebound
Deloitte says recent strong retail trade and improving sconsumer sentiment should unleash a substantial rise in household spending in the new year.
Blanket surcharging bans are not the answer
At Zeller we want to see immediate action against excessive surcharging on payments. But blanket bans risk doing more harm than good.
Why women find small business funding not much fun
Almost three quarters of female small business owners believe there are gender biases when trying to get a loan. Here’s why.
Migrants to millionaires: why it’s good for the country
Migration has become a controversial topic in recent years, but new Australians who start businesses add innovation to the nation.
Rising costs, belt tightening drives surge in cafe failures
Business failures in the hospitality sector have almost doubled over the past year and are tipped to climb further as costs mount, tax debts grow and consumers tighten their belts.
The little solar maker who wants to take on the world
To call Tindo Solar a small player would be an overstatement but the Adelaide firm is Australia’s only locally made solar panel maker and chief Richard Petterson has grand plans.
Forests fury threatens to upend PM’s Tassie poll plans
A carbon credit scheme quietly backed by the federal government could succeed where decades of greenie campaigns have failed – and end native forest logging. But not without a fight.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/small-business