Plain-English guides to starting and running a business, finding customers and building your career, plus news on the changes that affect you. Each one is checked against official sources.
The ACCC is checking Black Friday sale claims, and scammers are borrowing real business names. Two checks to make before the sales start.
ABS figures show 2,814,778 actively trading businesses at 30 June 2026, up 3.1% in a year, with 460,461 new businesses and 375,331 closures. Companies, sole traders and health care businesses grew fastest.
The Australian Signals Directorate's Annual Cyber Threat Report 2025-26 puts the average self-reported cybercrime cost at $93,500 per business report, up 16%, and $141,300 for medium businesses, up 45%. Here's what small businesses should do.
Since 30 May 2025, Australian businesses with annual turnover of $3 million or more must report any ransomware or cyber extortion payment to the Government within 72 hours. The education-first period ended on 31 December 2025.
A practical guide to starting a managed service provider (MSP) business in Australia - the market opportunity, AI-enabled threats and compliance, choosing a niche and services, building a tech stack with an all-in-one platform such as Acronis Cyber Platform, pricing, contracts, winning clients and growing margins.
A practical guide to starting a 3D architectural rendering business in Australia - who buys renders, skills, software and hardware, setting up the business, quoting without scope creep, and growing from freelancer to studio.
How to choose a business name and build a simple brand in Australia - what makes a good name, checking business names, trade marks and domains, the difference between a business name and a trade mark, creating a logo and brand basics, and using AI tools to brainstorm.
How to find the right help for your small business - the difference between mentors, coaches, consultants and professional advisers, free and low-cost support in Australia, how to choose someone, what to ask, and warning signs to avoid.
General information on starting a pet business in Australia - choosing a niche such as dog walking, grooming, pet sitting, boarding or training, council registration and state codes of practice, animal welfare, safety, pricing and finding customers.
Why lenders assess a business owner's income differently from turnover - profit versus sales, how two lenders can read the same accounts differently, tax deductions and add-backs, company directors' income, the serviceability buffer, one good year, and what to prepare before looking at property.
General information on earning loyalty and rewards points from business spending in Australia - business travel programs, supermarket and supplier programs, card payments, paying bills through payment platforms, working out whether points are worth it, and setting a points policy for your business.
General information on planning your exit from a small business in Australia - your options, succession planning, preparing the business, valuation, finding buyers, the sale process, employees, and getting professional advice.
Why regular social media posting may not lead to enquiries, and how a small business can check its audience, profile, content, trust signals, call to action, landing page and measurement to find the first thing to fix.
Why customers go quiet after receiving a quote, and how small businesses can write clearer quotes, explain what is uncertain, understand where the customer is in their decision, follow up usefully and track what happens to their quotes.
A quick overview of how a small business can use AI tools across social media marketing - strategy and planning, content ideas, captions, images and video, scheduling and replies, ads, and reporting - with examples of AI tools and the rules to follow.
A leadership coach's lesson from swapping fresh milk for long-life milk to save $15,000 a year, with five questions small business owners can ask before digging in on a decision that meets resistance.
General information on cyber security compliance for Australian small businesses - whether the Privacy Act applies to you, data breach notification, the 1 July 2026 AML/CTF changes for accountants, lawyers and real estate agents, the Essential Eight and SMB1001 certification, what insurers ask, and a practical checklist.
How to choose between a ute canopy and a service body - the actual difference, matching storage to your work, access, open space, weight and load restraint, security and weather protection, which suits different trades, cost, and five things to check before deciding.
General information on careers in Australian mining and resources - common jobs, where the work is, fly-in fly-out (FIFO) life, getting your first role, training and tickets, safety, and avoiding job and training scams.
General information on freelancing as a career in Australia - whether it suits you, setting up as a sole trader with an ABN, finding clients, pricing, contracts, getting paid, managing irregular income, and the difference between a contractor and an employee.
How to become an electrician, plumber, carpenter or other tradesperson in Australia - how apprenticeships work, finding an employer, free support from Apprentice Connect Australia Providers, licences, and paths into running your own trade business.
