http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/ Dun and Bradstreet Small Business News items en-AU http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australian_consumers_among_the_most_financially_insecure/indexdl_8604.aspx?from=RSS Australian consumers are among the most financially insecure in the developed world, according to the Boston Consulting Group's April global consumer sentiment survey. 2012-05-18T13:19+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australian_consumers_among_the_most_financially_insecure/indexdl_8604.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Manufacturing_innovation_to_shore_up_troubled_sector/indexdl_8594.aspx?from=RSS Manufacturers are set to receive funding in the 2012-13 Federal Budget, aimed at promoting growth through innovation, as the industry struggles under the continued high dollar. 2012-05-17T10:41+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Manufacturing_innovation_to_shore_up_troubled_sector/indexdl_8594.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Government_extends_small_business_support_services/indexdl_8570.aspx?from=RSS Small business advisory and support services are set to receive additional funding under the new federal budget, with plans to spend more than $30 million on existing services over the next four years. 2012-05-17T10:22+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Government_extends_small_business_support_services/indexdl_8570.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Federal_Budget_to_boost_small_business/indexdl_8562.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses will receive some much-needed support from this year's Federal Budget, with a number of tax concessions aimed at improving business cash flow to be introduced as of 1 July. Read on to find out what these benefits are. 2012-05-17T18:01+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Federal_Budget_to_boost_small_business/indexdl_8562.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/2012_Victorian_and_NT_Budgets_How_can_your_business_benefit/indexdl_8557.aspx?from=RSS The Victorian and the Northern Territory state budgets were handed down on Tuesday, 1 May 2012. Read on to find out what the benefits are to your small business. 2012-05-17T10:20+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/2012_Victorian_and_NT_Budgets_How_can_your_business_benefit/indexdl_8557.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Tax_breaks_needed_for_small_business/indexdl_8549.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses will be watching Treasurer Wayne Swan very closely next week, when the Federal Budget is released on 8 May. Mr Swan is facing additional calls from the business community and parliamentary members to give small businesses a break in the upcoming Budget. 2012-05-17T10:15+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Tax_breaks_needed_for_small_business/indexdl_8549.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Reserve_Bank_cuts_interest_rate/indexdl_8545.aspx?from=RSS The Reserve Bank announced today it has cut the official cash rate amid moderate inflation figures and a weaker than anticipated economic environment. 2012-05-02T16:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Reserve_Bank_cuts_interest_rate/indexdl_8545.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Personal_fraud_costs_Australians_more_than_one_billion_dollars/indexdl_8560.aspx?from=RSS Personal fraud costs Australians more than one billion dollars in 2010-11 and given more than 60 per cent of small businesses are unincorporated entities, this is a real and costly threat to a significant proportion of the small business community. 2012-05-08T10:28+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Personal_fraud_costs_Australians_more_than_one_billion_dollars/indexdl_8560.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_optimism_plummets/indexdl_8536.aspx?from=RSS Uncertainty over interest rates and continued pressure from the high Australian dollar are weighing on businesses, with D&B's latest Business Expectations Survey revealing that executive expectations for the September quarter 2012 have plummeted. 2012-05-03T14:51+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_optimism_plummets/indexdl_8536.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_call_for_universal_definition_of_small_business/indexdl_8518.aspx?from=RSS SMEs are calling for a universal definition of a 'small business' in light of varying interpretations across government departments, to be discussed at an upcoming roundtable by COSBOA and The Tax Institute. 2012-05-08T10:24+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_call_for_universal_definition_of_small_business/indexdl_8518.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_get_riskier/indexdl_8383.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses are getting riskier in 2012, with tens of thousands of firms now more likely to experience financial stress over the next 12 months. According to the D&B Dynamic Risk Score, one in ten businesses with one to 19 employees are now a higher risk of entering insolvency. 2012-04-19T15:17+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_get_riskier/indexdl_8383.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Recent_improvements_fail_to_bring_payment_days_to_pre-GFC_levels/indexdl_8427.aspx?from=RSS The cash flow of Australian firms is improving, with businesses paying their bills more than three days faster than 12 months ago. However, payment days remain substantially above pre-GFC levels according to the latest D&B Trade Payments Analysis. 2012-04-20T15:45+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Recent_improvements_fail_to_bring_payment_days_to_pre-GFC_levels/indexdl_8427.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_leaves_interest_rates_unchanged_at_4.25_per_cent/indexdl_8369.aspx?from=RSS The Reserve Bank's decision to leave the cash rate unchanged at 4.25 percent yesteday, for the third consecutive meeting this year, has attracted a number of criticisms from small business bodies and government officials alike. 2012-04-19T13:17+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_leaves_interest_rates_unchanged_at_4.25_per_cent/indexdl_8369.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Retail_concern_grows/indexdl_8372.aspx?from=RSS Retailers are increasingly concerned over the pressure staffing costs are placing on their business, saying this will have the biggest influence over their operations in the June quarter according to the latest D&B National Business Expectations Survey. 2012-04-05T10:14+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Retail_concern_grows/indexdl_8372.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/DandB_catches_up_with_COSBOAs_Peter_Strong/indexdl_8343.aspx?from=RSS Dun & Bradstreet talks to Peter Strong, the Executive Director of the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia, on what stands in the way of small businesses accessing credit. 2012-03-30T12:56+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/DandB_catches_up_with_COSBOAs_Peter_Strong/indexdl_8343.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_gain_a_new_voice/indexdl_8341.aspx?from=RSS SMEs have recently gained a greater voice in the Federal Government, with the recent announcement of a Small Business Minister and Small Business Commissioner to benefit the 2.7 million small businesses in Australia 2012-03-29T17:13+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_gain_a_new_voice/indexdl_8341.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Families_struggling_to_manage_debt/indexdl_8231.aspx?from=RSS Families and low income earners are increasingly struggling to meet their financial obligations, relying more on credit to pay the bills in the coming months. According to the latest D&B Consumer Credit Expectations Survey, 41 per cent of Australian households with children will be forced to rely on a credit card to cover living expenses. 2012-03-22T10:58+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Families_struggling_to_manage_debt/indexdl_8231.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/400000_small_businesses_missing_out_on_mainstream_finance/indexdl_8212.aspx?from=RSS Nearly 400,000 small businesses are missing out on access to mainstream finance largely because credit providers are unable to adequately assess and price small business risk, according to a recent report by Dun & Bradstreet, 'Giving Small Business Credit'. 2012-03-14T17:06+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/400000_small_businesses_missing_out_on_mainstream_finance/indexdl_8212.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Tourism_grants_to_boost_visitor_numbers/indexdl_8178.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses may be able to take advantage of the increase in visitor numbers last month with the tourism grants that are currently available from the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. Read on for more information on the TQUAL grants and China 2020 Strategic Plan. 2012-03-08T15:54+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Tourism_grants_to_boost_visitor_numbers/indexdl_8178.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_hit_by_floods_to_receive_assistance/indexdl_8174.aspx?from=RSS Businesses are once again inundated by heavy flooding across New South Wales and other parts of Australia but not all is lost - new disaster relief grants are available for firms to help lighten the load. 2012-03-07T16:34+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_hit_by_floods_to_receive_assistance/indexdl_8174.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Fear_grows_over_Aussie_dollar/indexdl_8172.aspx?from=RSS Concern over the consistently high Australian dollar has risen significantly among local businesses, particularly those in retail and manufacturing, according to the latest Dun & Bradstreet National Business Expectations Survey. 2012-03-08T15:59+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Fear_grows_over_Aussie_dollar/indexdl_8172.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_failures_up_48_per_cent/indexdl_8157.aspx?from=RSS The number of small businesses going bankrupt jumped by 48 per cent over the last 12 months, while small business start-ups fell by 95 per cent over the same period. According to D&B's latest analysis, failures were up more than 40 per cent nationwide in the past year. 2012-02-24T11:49+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_failures_up_48_per_cent/indexdl_8157.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_return_to_pre-GFC_levels/indexdl_8119.aspx?from=RSS Australian firms recorded a dramatic lift in expectations for the June quarter, with the outlook for sales hitting its highest level in almost a decade. Sales expectations are now at their strongest level since the December quarter 2003, well before the onset of the global financial crisis. 2012-02-09T17:12+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_return_to_pre-GFC_levels/indexdl_8119.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Severely_delinquent_bills_at_12_month_high/indexdl_8099.aspx?from=RSS Australian businesses are increasingly neglecting their bills with the number of severely delinquent payments jumping 28 percent over the Christmas period. According to D&B's Trade Payments Analysis, the number of bills left unpaid for 90 days or more grew 20 per cent compared with 12 months ago. 2012-01-30T11:21+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Severely_delinquent_bills_at_12_month_high/indexdl_8099.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Over_half_of_retailers_fear_online_competition/indexdl_7985.aspx?from=RSS Over half of retailers expect online sellers to have an adverse effect on bricks and mortar retailers, according to D&B's latest Business Expectations Survey. With increasing competition from e-commerce stores, this situation is likely to deteriorate for retailers unwilling or unable to adapt to changing consumer behaviour. 2012-01-12T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Over_half_of_retailers_fear_online_competition/indexdl_7985.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_retailers_may_face_another_challenging_Christmas/indexdl_7969.aspx?from=RSS The Christmas period is usually the most important time of the year for many retailers, and industry experts and commentators believe that this Christmas period will be 'make or break' for many Australian businesses. 2011-12-14T17:06+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_retailers_may_face_another_challenging_Christmas/indexdl_7969.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_sentiment_falls_amid_global_uncertainty/indexdl_7951.aspx?from=RSS Australian firms have registered a sharp decline in confidence off the back of continued global uncertainty and financial instability. According to D&B's latest Business Expectations Survey, sales expectations fell five points and profit expectations remain flat based on results recorded last month. The drop in sentiment was particularly evident among manufacturers and wholesalers, where sales expectations plummeted more than 15 points since October. 2011-12-06T14:54+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_sentiment_falls_amid_global_uncertainty/indexdl_7951.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_and_spending_cuts/indexdl_7931.aspx?from=RSS The Federal Government has unveiled new spending cuts in a bid to achieve a budget surplus next year and turnaround its $37 billion deficit, but small businesses need not worry unnecessarily as most of these cuts apply to public service and do not directly affect SMEs. 2011-11-30T15:07+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_and_spending_cuts/indexdl_7931.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SME_tourism_sector_suffers_amid_falling_visitor_rates/indexdl_7930.aspx?from=RSS The tourism industry, which relies largely on small to medium enterprises to survive, has been hit in recent months with falling visitor numbers and the poor economic climate. However, tourist numbers from China and India have grown strongly, indicating a large and extremely tappable market that SMEs should be focusing on. 2011-11-30T12:05+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SME_tourism_sector_suffers_amid_falling_visitor_rates/indexdl_7930.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_stand_to_gain_from_Fair_Work_review/indexdl_7917.aspx?from=RSS SMEs may benefit from a review of the Fair Work Act, particularly after recent industrial action across the nursing and aviation industries have raised questions about the effectiveness of workplace laws and their impact on small businesses. 2011-11-23T11:02+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_stand_to_gain_from_Fair_Work_review/indexdl_7917.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Businesses_taking_nearly_two_months_to_pay_their_bills/indexdl_7871.aspx?from=RSS Australian businesses are taking almost a full month longer than average to pay their bills, with national payment terms reaching 53 days during the September quarter 2011. According to Dun & Bradstreet's latest Trade Payments Analysis, two-thirds of businesses took longer than the standard 30 day period to pay their accounts. 2011-11-17T15:03+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Businesses_taking_nearly_two_months_to_pay_their_bills/indexdl_7871.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_and_the_carbon_tax/indexdl_7838.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses will incur increased electricity costs after 1 July next year when the carbon tax is slated to come into effect. While large corporations will no doubt be the hardest hit, they will likely pass on increased energy costs to consumers and customers including the two million SMEs in Australia. 2011-11-09T15:54+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_and_the_carbon_tax/indexdl_7838.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_experiencing_soft_credit_growth/indexdl_7831.aspx?from=RSS High borrowing rates and the pessimistic economic sentiment has deterred small businesses from obtaining credit, despite the SME lending market becoming more and more competitive. Read on to find out why SMEs are experiencing negative conditions. 2011-11-17T15:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_experiencing_soft_credit_growth/indexdl_7831.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expecting_pick-up_in_New_Year/indexdl_7828.aspx?from=RSS Businesses are showing renewed optimism about trading conditions in the New Year off the back of better than expected results in the September quarter and an anticipated cut in interest rates. Dun & Bradstreet's latest Business Expectations Survey found that firms were anticipating improved performance across sales, profits, employment, and investment for the first quarter of 2012, with a 25 per cent fall in the number of firms anticipating being impacted by interest rates. 2011-11-02T11:56+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expecting_pick-up_in_New_Year/indexdl_7828.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Consumers_cautious_heading_into_Christmas/indexdl_7798.aspx?from=RSS The latest Dun & Bradstreet Consumer Credit Expectations survey found the number of consumers applying for a credit limit increase has halved since the beginning of last year. This correlates with findings that many consumers will avoid holiday spending altogether, with more than half saying they had no plans to make a major purchase over the next three months. Nearly two thirds of consumers will use their own savings to pay for additional expenses in the December quarter. 2011-10-18T14:28+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Consumers_cautious_heading_into_Christmas/indexdl_7798.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expecting_soft_Christmas/indexdl_7771.aspx?from=RSS Australian businesses remain cautious about the outlook for Christmas amid expectations of slowing demand and greater economic uncertainty, according to the latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey for the December quarter. 2011-10-06T16:14+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expecting_soft_Christmas/indexdl_7771.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Workplace_productivity_stifled_by_governmental_regulations/indexdl_7764.aspx?from=RSS Governmental regulations such as superannuation compliance, workers compensation schemes and payroll tax are proving to be extremely costly for businesses, particularly for smaller firms that do not have the extra manpower or resources to spend on compliance. 2011-11-17T15:16+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Workplace_productivity_stifled_by_governmental_regulations/indexdl_7764.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Payroll_tax_hurting_SMEs/indexdl_7736.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses may finally get a break if state governments move to abolish payroll tax, which is significantly affecting how many people SMEs employ and hindering business growth. COSBOA's Peter Strong gives D&B his opinion as we examine the negatives of payroll tax. 2011-11-17T15:19+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Payroll_tax_hurting_SMEs/indexdl_7736.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_failures_spike_against_global_trend/indexdl_7728.aspx?from=RSS Australia has joined Europe as the only markets to record a significant increase in June quarter business failures, according to a report by credit agency Dun & Bradstreet. According to the D&B Global Business Failures Report, Australia recorded a 12 per cent increase in business failures in the June quarter, despite insolvencies around the world falling to their lowest levels in nearly four years. 2011-09-13T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_failures_spike_against_global_trend/indexdl_7728.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_wary_of_rate_rise/indexdl_7695.aspx?from=RSS Australian companies have cited a possible interest rate rise as a key risk factor according to Dun & Bradstreet's Business Expectations Survey for the December quarter, with employment and profit expectations remaining negative. 2011-09-07T11:45+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_wary_of_rate_rise/indexdl_7695.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Manufacturers_finding_it_difficult_to_pay_their_bills/indexdl_7678.aspx?from=RSS Australian manufacturers are nearly five times more likely to be unable to pay their bills according to a recent analysis by credit agency Dun & Bradstreet. Over the four months to June 2011, the likelihood of severely delinquent payments in manufacturing increased by nearly 10 per cent, compared with a rise of just over 2 per cent in the non-manufacturing sector. 2011-08-30T16:45+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Manufacturers_finding_it_difficult_to_pay_their_bills/indexdl_7678.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_failures_jump_25_percent/indexdl_7674.aspx?from=RSS Business failures rose 25 percent during the June quarter to reach their highest level in 12 months. Smaller businesses and those in the retail, finance and service sectors recorded the highest failure rates, indicating firms in troubled sectors of the economy are struggling to stay afloat during periods of reduced cash flow. 2011-08-25T17:27+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_failures_jump_25_percent/indexdl_7674.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_balk_at_EFTPOS_changes/indexdl_7672.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses and consumers alike will be negatively impacted by EFTPOS fee changes come October, with merchants' banks to be charged the five cent transaction fee instead of customers' banks. Given the poor retail climate, costs may be passed on from banks to businesses to customers. 2011-08-25T13:44+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_balk_at_EFTPOS_changes/indexdl_7672.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_slump_amid_interest_rate_fears/indexdl_7591.aspx?from=RSS The latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey reveals negative employment expectations in the December quarter as firms negate rising wages by reducing staff numbers, with 24 percent of executives expecting wages growth to be the primary influence on their operations. 2011-08-03T12:59+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_slump_amid_interest_rate_fears/indexdl_7591.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Two-thirds_of_businesses_fail_to_pay_bills_on_time/indexdl_7588.aspx?from=RSS Australian businesses are taking almost a full month longer than average to pay their bills, with national payment terms reaching 53.4 days during the June quarter 2011. While business to business payment times improved marginally during the June quarter, two-thirds of businesses took longer than the standard 30 day period to pay company accounts. This is according to the latest Dun & Bradstreet Trade Payment Analysis, which examines business to business payment terms for the June quarter 2011. 2011-07-28T13:58+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Two-thirds_of_businesses_fail_to_pay_bills_on_time/indexdl_7588.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Increasing_loan_write-offs_signal_SME_distress/indexdl_7559.aspx?from=RSS High debt levels and bad loans plaguing SMEs have resulted in more and more loans being written off by banks. Write-offs have increased to nearly three percent for secured line credit loans in the past year and at the same time, small businesses are taking five days longer to pay their bills when compared with last year's data. 2011-07-21T16:47+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Increasing_loan_write-offs_signal_SME_distress/indexdl_7559.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Consumers_struggle_to_manage_debt_burden/indexdl_7548.aspx?from=RSS Almost one third of Australians will struggle to meet their credit commitments in the next three months, and 37 percent intend to use their credit card to purchase something they could otherwise not afford. These are some of the findings from the latest Dun & Bradstreet Consumer Credit Expectations Survey for the September quarter 2011. 2011-07-15T10:59+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Consumers_struggle_to_manage_debt_burden/indexdl_7548.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_hit_two-year_low/indexdl_7528.aspx?from=RSS The findings from Dun & Bradstreet's latest Business Expectations Survey, which examines expectations for the September quarter, return key indices to levels seen just before the worst of the GFC and signals executives are uncertain about the start to the new financial year. 2011-07-05T10:43+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_hit_two-year_low/indexdl_7528.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Abbott_proposal_could_cut_small_business_red_tape/indexdl_7523.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses may get a break if the coalition government pushes through initiatives to reduce red tape surrounding business laws, particularly superannuation payments. However, the proposed changes currently hinge on approval from the ALP. 2011-06-30T18:49+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Abbott_proposal_could_cut_small_business_red_tape/indexdl_7523.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Paid_parental_leave_scheme_frustrates_SMEs/indexdl_7520.aspx?from=RSS It has been just over six months since the first national paid parental leave scheme was implemented in Australia. However, while parents-to-be are rejoicing, small business owners are at best perplexed and at worst angry about what they perceive to be more unnecessary red tape. 2011-06-30T17:49+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Paid_parental_leave_scheme_frustrates_SMEs/indexdl_7520.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_suffer_from_lower_household_fees/indexdl_7506.aspx?from=RSS The already struggling small business sector has taken the fall for a reduction in household fees paid to banks, a Reserve Bank study revealed. While small businesses benefited from the elimination in exception fees, they suffered from a lack of negotiation power. 2011-06-27T14:22+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_suffer_from_lower_household_fees/indexdl_7506.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Transport_sector_on_a_hard_road/indexdl_7501.aspx?from=RSS The transport industry is suffering under some of the worst conditions in recent memory. Higher fuel costs, lower turnover in the retail industry and the Queensland floods have seen companies large and small struggling to stay afloat.But the SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List for the transport industry reveals there are some smaller companies succeeding, particularly those associated with the mining boom. 2011-06-23T16:21+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Transport_sector_on_a_hard_road/indexdl_7501.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Big_retailers_edge_out_small_business/indexdl_7494.aspx?from=RSS It's a tough time for small businesses in the retail industry. High overhead costs, wage rises and competition from major retailers have been among the most prevalent factors putting a strain on small retailers' margins. In today's economy, large retailers such as Myer, David Jones, JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman take the lion's share of revenue. 2011-06-17T10:21+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Big_retailers_edge_out_small_business/indexdl_7494.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Online_boom_affects_bricks_and_mortar_businesses/indexdl_7474.aspx?from=RSS Small to medium-sized businesses are feeling the pinch as more and more customers choose to shop from the comfort of their own home, a factor that has contributed to the lowest sales and profit expectations in two years. 2011-06-09T13:45+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Online_boom_affects_bricks_and_mortar_businesses/indexdl_7474.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Wage_increases_to_hit_smaller_retailers/indexdl_7472.aspx?from=RSS The retail, manufacturing and wholesale sector is set to take a hit from Fair Work Australia's decision to raise the minimum wage after 1 July this year. This represents a 3.4 percent increase for the 1.4 million Australians on the minimum wage; primarily women and those from non-English speaking backgrounds. 2011-06-09T15:18+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Wage_increases_to_hit_smaller_retailers/indexdl_7472.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_continue_to_fall/indexdl_7468.aspx?from=RSS Executives are increasingly pessimistic about the outlook for the new financial year, despite selling prices remaining steady and the majority of firms experiencing sales growth during the March quarter. Those in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail sectors will allocate less capital to fixed assets and take on less staff in the coming quarter, as profit expectations from key decision makers falls well below the 10-year average. These are the results of the latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey that examines expectations for the September quarter of 2011. 2011-06-07T13:22+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_continue_to_fall/indexdl_7468.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_failure_and_start-up_analysis_March_quarter_2011/indexdl_7450.aspx?from=RSS Both business start-up and failure numbers are maintaining their 2010 highs signalling that, while the macro-economic environment is enticing entrepreneurs into the marketplace poor management of business fundamentals is causing financial distress. These are the findings from Dun & Bradstreet's business failure and start-up analysis for the March quarter 2011. 2011-06-03T17:58+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_failure_and_start-up_analysis_March_quarter_2011/indexdl_7450.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Federal_Budget_2011_Whats_in_it_for_SMEs/indexdl_7374.aspx?from=RSS Despite talk that the 2011 budget would contain severe cuts driven by the Federal Government's desire for a 2012-13 surplus, the overall outcome has been a positive one for small business. 2011-05-26T16:33+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Federal_Budget_2011_Whats_in_it_for_SMEs/indexdl_7374.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_head_into_negative_territory/indexdl_7326.aspx?from=RSS Executives are increasingly pessimistic about the business outlook heading into the new financial year with expectations for sales now at a two year low and a number of key indices entering negative territory. These are the results of the latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey that examines expectations for the September quarter of 2011. 2011-05-11T14:23+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_head_into_negative_territory/indexdl_7326.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Industry_change_on_the_line_for_telcos/indexdl_7321.aspx?from=RSS Australia's telcos are optimistic about the future as Australia's hunger for data grows, but the SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List reveals many are still grappling with how the industry will be transformed by the National Broadband Network. 2011-05-05T11:19+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Industry_change_on_the_line_for_telcos/indexdl_7321.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_payment_terms_reach_three_year_highs/indexdl_7320.aspx?from=RSS Business to business payment terms have reached three year highs and the number of firms now paying their bills in a severely delinquent manner has risen dramatically with the deterioration most pronounced among smaller firms who have historically been among the best payers. 2011-05-03T11:17+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_payment_terms_reach_three_year_highs/indexdl_7320.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Tourism_grant_up_for_grabs/indexdl_7313.aspx?from=RSS Talk show superstar Oprah Winfrey's recent visit to Australia not only highlighted the importance of tourism to our economy, but represented an opportunity to turn Australia's 13-year long decline in market share of global tourism into a positive upswing. As one in 12 Australians is directly employed by the tourism industry, attracting visitors is crucial for the country's continued growth. 2011-11-24T16:42+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Tourism_grant_up_for_grabs/indexdl_7313.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Credit_proving_a_challenge_for_consumers/indexdl_7310.aspx?from=RSS One third of Australians expect to experience difficulties meeting their credit commitments over the next three months and nearly 40 percent anticipate having to use their credit card to cover otherwise unaffordable expenses. At the same time one in four Australians are planning to apply for a new credit product, although the greatest product demand is for non-bank credit such as mobile phone plans. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Credit_proving_a_challenge_for_consumers/indexdl_7310.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Group-buying_websites_on_the_rise/indexdl_7284.aspx?from=RSS The new economy is becoming more and more web-driven, thanks to the rapid rise in online shopping and e-commerce in recent years. In a study conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, it was found that nearly 90 percent of household Internet users shopped online, with 69 percent of users having purchased one or more products online within the past six months. 2011-06-09T13:51+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Group-buying_websites_on_the_rise/indexdl_7284.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Population_decline_threatens_small_business/indexdl_7280.aspx?from=RSS The forecasted dip in Australia's population is expected to detrimentally affect small businesses, as baby boomers near retirement age and migration flows are stemmed. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Population_decline_threatens_small_business/indexdl_7280.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/EFTPOS_fee_hike_given_go-ahead/indexdl_7270.aspx?from=RSS Fees for EFTPOS transactions are set to increase as of October 1, in a move expected to place further strain on the small business sector. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/EFTPOS_fee_hike_given_go-ahead/indexdl_7270.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_decline/indexdl_7258.aspx?from=RSS Business expectations have continued to decline as firms grapple with weak consumer spending and the fear of rising fuel prices, according to the latest D&B Business Expectations Survey. The survey, which examines expectations for the June quarter, reveals significant declines in the outlook across most indices after record highs just six months ago. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_decline/indexdl_7258.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_owners_call_for_ombudsman/indexdl_7251.aspx?from=RSS An overwhelming number of small business owners say a dedicated ombudsman is desperately needed, according to a recent business survey. Research conducted in February found that 75 per cent of small businesses saw an ombudsman as necessary, amid a turbulent 2010 for many SMEs. A Telstra Back to Business survey of 325 businesses, conducted together with the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA), found unstable market conditions were undermining business owner confidence. Few of those surveyed believed conditions would improve within the next six months. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_owners_call_for_ombudsman/indexdl_7251.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_to_business_lending_declines_as_payment_terms_deteriorate/indexdl_7242.aspx?from=RSS Business to business lending has declined following a spike during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) as deteriorating payment terms make executives nervous about extending credit to their customers. The trend is likely to act as a drag on Australia's economic performance and present as a considerable headwind for the global recovery according to an analysis of trade credit trends by Dun & Bradstreet. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_to_business_lending_declines_as_payment_terms_deteriorate/indexdl_7242.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Lending_institutions_find_solace_in_wealth_super_and_funds_management/indexdl_7189.aspx?from=RSS The banking and finance industry has suffered through some tough years but the latest SmartCompany-Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List for the finance sector reveals major lending institutions are finding solace in wealth, superannuation and funds management. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Lending_institutions_find_solace_in_wealth_super_and_funds_management/indexdl_7189.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_decline_as_consumers_continue_to_pay_down_debt/indexdl_7187.aspx?from=RSS Business expectations have declined dramatically as consumer deleveraging weighs down retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers according to the latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey. The impact of consumer deleveraging is most evident in sales and profit expectations but is also flowing through to other key indices. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_expectations_decline_as_consumers_continue_to_pay_down_debt/indexdl_7187.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Beacon_lights_the_way_again/indexdl_7167.aspx?from=RSS DOWNTURN? What downturn Beacon Lighting has brushed aside the retail doomsayers with a performance that has enabled the company to triumph yet again in The Age l D&B Victorian Business Awards. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Beacon_lights_the_way_again/indexdl_7167.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_failures_on_the_rise/indexdl_7079.aspx?from=RSS Business failures jumped nearly 25 percent in 2010 as cash flow pressures made their presence felt even as the Australian economy continued to be one of the better performers in the developed world. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_failures_on_the_rise/indexdl_7079.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Now_Big_G_takes_building_seriously/indexdl_7165.aspx?from=RSS When Wodonga-based home building business, Southern Vale Homes, first opened its doors, owner Graham ''Big G'' Searle set a goal to build 10-20 houses a year. Seventeen years later the company's turnover has rocketed, with its profit increasing 63 per cent in the past two years.It is this impressive result that helped Southern Vale Homes win the 2011 The Age l D&B Business Awards building and allied industries category. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Now_Big_G_takes_building_seriously/indexdl_7165.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/IT_firms_hope_to_dodge_human_errors/indexdl_7074.aspx?from=RSS The thriving Australian economy is a double-edged sword for the IT sector - companies are growing, gaining new customers and enjoying new hardware, but the skills shortage is looming on the horizon. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/IT_firms_hope_to_dodge_human_errors/indexdl_7074.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Wages_expected_to_rise_as_labour_market_tightens/indexdl_7073.aspx?from=RSS Competition for labour and the potential impact on wages are the issues most likely to affect business conditions heading into the middle of the year. Executives report an overall easing in expectations for sales, profits, inventories and capital investment after recent highs. These are the findings from the latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey, which examines the expectations of executives for the June quarter 2011. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Wages_expected_to_rise_as_labour_market_tightens/indexdl_7073.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Beacon_of_light_in_the_economic_gloom/indexdl_7163.aspx?from=RSS To say the past few years haven't been kind to retailers is an understatement. Many struggled to keep their moorings in the world financial storm and lately more copped another whack as shoppers tightened their purse strings in the wake of successive interest rate rises. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Beacon_of_light_in_the_economic_gloom/indexdl_7163.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Lumen_boss_allows_staff_to_make_dreams_come_true/indexdl_7161.aspx?from=RSS KEITH Evans makes no secret of how to succeed in business. The chief executive of car spare-parts maker Lumen boasts that he has never made a mistake but, it would be foolish to think he has idle hands. Lumen's success has secured them The Age D&B Business Award for the country and rural category. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Lumen_boss_allows_staff_to_make_dreams_come_true/indexdl_7161.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Engineered_answer_gives_right_vibe_to_skills_shortage/indexdl_7158.aspx?from=RSS MENTION the good vibrations to James Embelton and chances are he is thinking about more than the Beach Boys' 1966 hit song.To him those vibrations are at the core of his business in Melbourne's inner northern suburbs and more importantly giving graduates employment opportunities. Mr Embelton has followed in his grandfather and father's footsteps in assuming the managing director role at flooring and engineering company Embelton Group - the winner of The Age D&B Awards export and wholesale category. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Engineered_answer_gives_right_vibe_to_skills_shortage/indexdl_7158.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Having_passion_it_is_easy_being_green/indexdl_7155.aspx?from=RSS IT'S NOT easy being green, or so the song goes. But a Melbourne company has managed to post strong growth in an increasingly competitive market. Justin Dowel, the managing director of personal care and cleaning products company Natures Organics, says he would happily bow out of the business if competitors took his lead. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Having_passion_it_is_easy_being_green/indexdl_7155.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/HR_software_company_cracks_the_US_market/indexdl_7152.aspx?from=RSS A HOME-GROWN Melbourne company has broken into the US market. How? The secret is simpler than you think. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/HR_software_company_cracks_the_US_market/indexdl_7152.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Outstanding_accounts_on_the_rise/indexdl_7034.aspx?from=RSS The cash flow of Australian businesses is expected to remain under pressure during 2011, with new research revealing that the number of firms with outstanding debts increased during the December quarter 2010. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Outstanding_accounts_on_the_rise/indexdl_7034.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_outlook_robust_despite_consumer_apathy/indexdl_7005.aspx?from=RSS The latest Business Expectations Survey shows near record expectations for sales, profits, capital investment, employment and inventories even while retailers report difficult circumstances. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_outlook_robust_despite_consumer_apathy/indexdl_7005.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Sales_profits_and_employment_expectations_hit_seven_year_high/indexdl_6926.aspx?from=RSS The New Year looks set to bring a surge in sales and profits, with Australia's executives indicating they will deliver solid results in these areas during the first quarter. The strength of expectations in these key areas is also driving expectations for inventories and employment as firms anticipate a need to replenish stocks and take on new staff to meet the expected demand in sales. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Sales_profits_and_employment_expectations_hit_seven_year_high/indexdl_6926.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_ignoring_mediation_as_a_means_of_rectifying_disputes/indexdl_6883.aspx?from=RSS A new government report has revealed that around one in five small businesses has experienced a dispute of some kind with another business in the past five years. However, only a third of these small businesses believed their dispute was serious enough to warrant further action by a third party and just 6.5 percent took legal or third party action. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_ignoring_mediation_as_a_means_of_rectifying_disputes/indexdl_6883.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/More_than_2700_firms_hit_the_wall/indexdl_6851.aspx?from=RSS The local economy continues to gather strength but despite positive macro-economic signs, thousands of firms are hitting the wall each quarter. A new report from Dun & Bradstreet reveals that more than 2,700 firms failed during the September quarter 2010, a figure which is 73 percent higher than pre-GFC levels. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/More_than_2700_firms_hit_the_wall/indexdl_6851.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australian_firms_expect_strong_performances_in_2011/indexdl_6846.aspx?from=RSS Australian executives are anticipating that strengthening local economic conditions will flow through to business results in the New Year. An expected surge in sales is also buoying profits, inventories and employment expectations, with all four indexes rising since the previous quarter. However, falls of five and three points respectively in the capital investment and selling prices indexes reveal that firms are less confident about these key measures of business strength. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australian_firms_expect_strong_performances_in_2011/indexdl_6846.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Private_companies_bounce_back/indexdl_6824.aspx?from=RSS Welcome to the big bounce back. The SmartCompany-Dun & Bradstreet Fastest Growing Private Companies List underlines Australia's resurgent economy, with companies from a wide range of industries - lead by wholesaling and manufacturing - shrugging off the tail end of the downturn and hurtling towards 2011. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Private_companies_bounce_back/indexdl_6824.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Tougher_action_on_tax_debts/indexdl_6794.aspx?from=RSS Small business tax debts increased by ten percent during the global financial crisis and the Australian Tax Office (ATO) is reversing its soft touch approach to tackle the problem. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Tougher_action_on_tax_debts/indexdl_6794.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australian_franchising_sector_emerges_from_downturn_in_good_shape/indexdl_6764.aspx?from=RSS Australia's $128 billion franchising sector has emerged from the global economic downturn in relatively good shape, with the number of operating franchises dropping only two percent since 2008 according to the findings of the Franchising Australia 2010 study. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australian_franchising_sector_emerges_from_downturn_in_good_shape/indexdl_6764.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Aussie_firms_suffer_set-back_as_payment_terms_rise/indexdl_6763.aspx?from=RSS Australian firms have suffered a set back on the path to recovery, with business-to-business payment terms deteriorating compared to the previous year. Australian firms took 53.2 days to settle their accounts during the September quarter, a result which represents a deterioration of 1.1 days compared to the previous year. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Aussie_firms_suffer_set-back_as_payment_terms_rise/indexdl_6763.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Coalition_paid_parental_leave_scheme_more_red_tape_for_SMEs/indexdl_6749.aspx?from=RSS Opposition small business spokesman Bruce Billson is seeking to shift the responsibility for administering the government's paid parental leave scheme (PPL) from small businesses to Centrelink's Family Assistance Office. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Coalition_paid_parental_leave_scheme_more_red_tape_for_SMEs/indexdl_6749.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_decides_not_to_increase_rates/indexdl_6721.aspx?from=RSS Despite widespread anticipation throughout the banking community that Tuesday's meeting of the Reserve Bank board would deliver an interest rate rise, the RBA decided to leave the official interest rate unchanged at 4.5 percent. 2011-04-27T12:11+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_decides_not_to_increase_rates/indexdl_6721.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Christmas_trading_to_drive_growth_-_Australian_executives_confident_about_sales_profits_and_employment/indexdl_6709.aspx?from=RSS The Christmas trading period looks set to provide the stimulus Australian businesses need to generate strong growth, with the latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey revealing that executives are confident they will deliver on six key indicators of business strength. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Christmas_trading_to_drive_growth_-_Australian_executives_confident_about_sales_profits_and_employment/indexdl_6709.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Worlds_richest_man_opposes_SME_friendly_NBN/indexdl_6707.aspx?from=RSS The federal government's controversial $43 billion NBN is continuing to stir debate after the world's richest man, Mexican telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim Helu, said the cost of building the network was too high and that the government should be looking at multi-pronged broadband policy that includes mobile, wireless, cable and copper networks. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Worlds_richest_man_opposes_SME_friendly_NBN/indexdl_6707.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australians_working_less_hours_at_the_office/indexdl_6696.aspx?from=RSS Australians are working less hours at the office than they did ten years ago, according to a new survey released by Bank West. The report, titled 'Working Times', also challenges the widely-held belief that young people, supposedly eager to carve out a career path, are working the longest hours of anyone in the workforce. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australians_working_less_hours_at_the_office/indexdl_6696.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Franchise_sector_enjoys_stellar_year/indexdl_6692.aspx?from=RSS The 2009-10 financial year was a successful one for franchises, with the sector reporting double-digit revenue and profit growth, according to the 2010 PriceWaterhouseCoopers Private Clients Franchise Sector Indicator. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Franchise_sector_enjoys_stellar_year/indexdl_6692.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_lag_behind_in_creating_digital_strategies/indexdl_6680.aspx?from=RSS The proportion of Australian SMEs with an online presence continues to grow, however less than one in five SMEs has some form of strategy for their digital activities, according to the new eBusiness survey from Sensis. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_lag_behind_in_creating_digital_strategies/indexdl_6680.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_confidence_levels_bounce_back/indexdl_6673.aspx?from=RSS Business confidence levels have bounced back following three consecutive months of reduced confidence, according to the National Australia Banks' business survey for the month of August. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_confidence_levels_bounce_back/indexdl_6673.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_lead_the_way_on_exporting/indexdl_6672.aspx?from=RSS Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are regular players in Australia's export market and there is real potential for the sector to grow its export operations, according to new research released by Austrade and Sensis. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_lead_the_way_on_exporting/indexdl_6672.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SME_reaction_to_Labor_minority_government/indexdl_6628.aspx?from=RSS With Julia Gillard scraping her way back into office, various stakeholders in the SME community are evaluating what the new minority Labor government might mean for them. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SME_reaction_to_Labor_minority_government/indexdl_6628.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Inflation_rising_according_to_survey/indexdl_6607.aspx?from=RSS Inflation is nearing the upper end of the RBA's target band according to the TD Securities Melbourne Institute monthly inflation gauge. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Inflation_rising_according_to_survey/indexdl_6607.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Confidence_rising_-_five_of_six_key_indicators_show_signs_of_improvement/indexdl_6598.aspx?from=RSS The confidence of Australia's executives is showing clear signs of improvement, with expectations for five of six key indicators of business strength rising significantly. The latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey reveals solid expectations for growth in sales, profits, inventories, capital investment and selling prices during the December quarter however, firms remain subdued on hiring intentions. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Confidence_rising_-_five_of_six_key_indicators_show_signs_of_improvement/indexdl_6598.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/ATO_continues_to_show_leniency_on_SME_tax_bills_despite_mounting_debts/indexdl_6596.aspx?from=RSS Tax debts owed by SMEs to the ATO have ballooned in the last 12-18 months and a number of commentators have suggested this trend is the result of the publicly stated leniency of the ATO towards businesses still feeling the effects of the economic slowdown. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/ATO_continues_to_show_leniency_on_SME_tax_bills_despite_mounting_debts/indexdl_6596.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Three_quarters_of_businesses_report_revenue_levels_the_same_or_higher_than_a_year_ago/indexdl_6595.aspx?from=RSS The climate for small to medium-sized business in Australia is showing tentative signs of recovery, according to MYOB's 2010 business monitor survey. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Three_quarters_of_businesses_report_revenue_levels_the_same_or_higher_than_a_year_ago/indexdl_6595.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Sharp_turn_around_in_sales_and_profits_expectations/indexdl_6490.aspx?from=RSS Australia's executives are expecting a sharp turn around in sales and profits during the December quarter but their employment and capital investment expectations remain subdued. The latest Business Expectations Survey reveals that sales and profits expectations - two key indicators of business strength - have risen substantially since the previous quarter, demonstrating that business confidence is improving as year end approaches. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Sharp_turn_around_in_sales_and_profits_expectations/indexdl_6490.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Lagging_payments_hurting_half_of_Aussie_firms/indexdl_6389.aspx?from=RSS More than half of Australian executives are being negatively impacted by late payments even though payment behaviours improved slightly during the June quarter. This equates to a 17 percent increase in the number of firms negatively impacted by lagging payments since April. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Lagging_payments_hurting_half_of_Aussie_firms/indexdl_6389.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Protect_your_IP/indexdl_6366.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses can now use a free online tool to help manage their patents, trade marks and other valuable intellectual property (IP) assets. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Protect_your_IP/indexdl_6366.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Get_your_business_online/indexdl_6364.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses can access a free online training program to help them use the internet to increase sales, reduce costs and simplify running their business. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Get_your_business_online/indexdl_6364.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_warned_to_beware_of_tax_related_phishing_scams/indexdl_6329.aspx?from=RSS Sophisticated phishing attacks which promise to increase the value of tax returns are hitting Australian businesses. Security firm Symantec is warning SMEs that these scams appear to come from the Australian Tax Office and that they should be vigilant when checking emails. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_warned_to_beware_of_tax_related_phishing_scams/indexdl_6329.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Executive_confidence_for_the_New_Financial_Year_wanes/indexdl_6320.aspx?from=RSS Australian executives are indicating that the New Financial Year won't be as buoyant as previously anticipated, with expectations for six key indicators of business strength declining since the previous quarter. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Executive_confidence_for_the_New_Financial_Year_wanes/indexdl_6320.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_to_receive_assistance_navigating_the_web/indexdl_6308.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses will now have a new vehicle to help them navigate the web to cut costs and capture new markets. Small Business Minister Craig Emerson has announced the launch of the Winning Business Online project, a partnership between BEC Australia, Pinstripe Media and the University of Western Sydney. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_to_receive_assistance_navigating_the_web/indexdl_6308.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Government_aims_to_cut_red_tape_for_business/indexdl_6279.aspx?from=RSS Small Business Minister Craig Emerson has announced the appointment of the nine members of the Small Business Advisory Committee - the Committee will be independent of Government. The Committee members will assess proposed legislation or regulation which might impact heavily on small businesses and they will provide advice to Cabinet. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Government_aims_to_cut_red_tape_for_business/indexdl_6279.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_spend_too_much_time_on_tax_experts_say/indexdl_6252.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses need to embrace technology so they can reduce the amount of time they spend preparing their quarterly and end-of-year tax statements experts have warned. A survey commissioned by American Express has found a majority of SMEs spend one Sunday per month devoted to looking over their tax. In addition, over 40 percent of small business owners spend their nights fulfilling financial reporting obligations, with a majority losing 60 hours per year to tax issues. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_spend_too_much_time_on_tax_experts_say/indexdl_6252.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_at_risk_of_cyber_crime/indexdl_6212.aspx?from=RSS IT budgets are dwindling and internet security threats are growing, leaving an increasing number of small and medium firms at risk of cyber crimes. These are the findings of a new study conducted by internet security firm Symantec. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_at_risk_of_cyber_crime/indexdl_6212.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_Expectation_Survey_-_June/indexdl_6208.aspx?from=RSS Access to business credit is critical to continuing Australia's resurgence, with signs the impact of tighter lending conditions are being felt by many firms. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_Expectation_Survey_-_June/indexdl_6208.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/South_Australia_to_go_with_own_franchising_legislation/indexdl_6206.aspx?from=RSS South Australia is planning to go ahead with its own reforms to franchising legislation following negative feedback from Federal initiatives announced this week. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/South_Australia_to_go_with_own_franchising_legislation/indexdl_6206.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Search_on_for_workers/indexdl_6204.aspx?from=RSS Few industries were hit harder by the downturn than the recruitment sector, but it is amazing how quickly the wheel turns. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Search_on_for_workers/indexdl_6204.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Interest_rates_remain_unchanged/indexdl_6200.aspx?from=RSS The Reserve Bank has left interest rates unchanged amid renewed signs of global economic weakness. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Interest_rates_remain_unchanged/indexdl_6200.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_and_the_Resources_Super_Profits_Tax/indexdl_6196.aspx?from=RSS The Resources Super Profits Tax (RSPT) was announced by the Federal Government as part of their response to the Henry Tax Review earlier this month. The very public debate that has ensued since has centred on the impact of the tax to the mining industry. But what exactly is the Tax and what impact will it have on small business 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_and_the_Resources_Super_Profits_Tax/indexdl_6196.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_boosting_staff_salaries_to_stay_competitive/indexdl_6194.aspx?from=RSS According to a recent survey by the Australian Institute of Management small business have increased salaries more than their larger counterparts to stay competitive in a tightening labour market. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_boosting_staff_salaries_to_stay_competitive/indexdl_6194.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Is_perception_worse_than_reality_for_SME_lending/indexdl_6190.aspx?from=RSS Federal Small Business Minister Craig Emerson believes that the perception of SME lending is far worse than the reality of the market situation. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Is_perception_worse_than_reality_for_SME_lending/indexdl_6190.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/500_Anti_Money_Laundering_Levy_to_start_next_year/indexdl_6179.aspx?from=RSS In a low key change in the recent Federal Budget, Australian businesses will be forced to pay the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) a flat fee levy of $500 each per year. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/500_Anti_Money_Laundering_Levy_to_start_next_year/indexdl_6179.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_and_the_Federal_Budget/indexdl_6145.aspx?from=RSS While the Budget papers describe Australia's 2.4 million small businesses as the "backbone" of the economy, most pundits believe that there is very little that is new in the Federal Budget for small business 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_and_the_Federal_Budget/indexdl_6145.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Inflationary_pressures_ease_as_interest_rates_bite/indexdl_6142.aspx?from=RSS There are signs monetary tightening by the Reserve Bank and the end of the Government'sstimulus package are having the desired effect on inflation with Australian executives reportinglower expectations across a range of indices for the start of the new financial year. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Inflationary_pressures_ease_as_interest_rates_bite/indexdl_6142.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_raises_interest_rates_again/indexdl_6134.aspx?from=RSS The Reserve Bank of Australia has raised the official interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.5 percent. Governor Glenn Stevens said in a statement that the decision was based on forecasts for world GDP growth, which have been lately revised upwards, and strength in financial sectors. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_raises_interest_rates_again/indexdl_6134.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Mixed_reviews_for_Henry_Tax_Review_Reforms/indexdl_6132.aspx?from=RSS The long awaited Henry Tax Review reforms have received mixed reviews from relevant stakeholders since their release on Sunday. Responses to the Rudd Government announcements have ranged from strong opposition to enthusiastic support each supported by various proof points. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Mixed_reviews_for_Henry_Tax_Review_Reforms/indexdl_6132.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Competition_fierce_between_telcos/indexdl_6130.aspx?from=RSS Telcos both large and small are benefiting from the transformation of internet access from a luxury purchase into a commodity. The increased adoption rate of new technology such as wireless connections are also driving growth, along with increased demand for mobile data plans as internet-enabled smartphones flood the market. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Competition_fierce_between_telcos/indexdl_6130.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/ETS_delayed_by_Government/indexdl_6124.aspx?from=RSS The Federal Government decision to delay the carbon pollution reduction scheme until 2013 has been positively viewed by business groups around the country. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/ETS_delayed_by_Government/indexdl_6124.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_payment_behaviours_could_de-rail_recovery/indexdl_6114.aspx?from=RSS The payment behaviours of Australian firms could de-rail the economic recovery, with terms deteriorating for the third consecutive quarter despite improving business conditions. These are the findings of the latest business-to-business trade payments figures released today by credit reporting agency Dun & Bradstreet. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_payment_behaviours_could_de-rail_recovery/indexdl_6114.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Get_up_to_speed_on_the_new_National_Business_Names_registration_system/indexdl_6109.aspx?from=RSS The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research is conducting a series of briefings on the new National Business Names registration system. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Get_up_to_speed_on_the_new_National_Business_Names_registration_system/indexdl_6109.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/ATO_ramps_up_activity_on_the_small_business_cash_economy/indexdl_6067.aspx?from=RSS The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has expanded its data matching program to detect businesses operating in the cash economy, particularly in industries where cash payments are common practice. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/ATO_ramps_up_activity_on_the_small_business_cash_economy/indexdl_6067.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Sixteen_countries_downgraded_since_the_start_of_2010/indexdl_6066.aspx?from=RSS Sixteen countries around the globe have had their country ratings downgraded since the start of 2010, demonstrating that economic and commercial risk are still prevalent despite the global recovery. However, the continuing improvement in the local macroeconomic environment has resulted in Australia's risk trend being upgraded - the nation has also been rated one of the safest countries in which to invest globally. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Sixteen_countries_downgraded_since_the_start_of_2010/indexdl_6066.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Rough_seas_ahead_for_Aussie_exporters/indexdl_6025.aspx?from=RSS Australia's exporters face rough seas ahead as the cash flow which is critical to survival during an economic recovery comes under pressure from poor payment behaviours. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Rough_seas_ahead_for_Aussie_exporters/indexdl_6025.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_raises_interest_rates_again/indexdl_6019.aspx?from=RSS In a board meeting yesterday the Reserve Bank raised interest rates again by another 25 basis points. This was the fifth increase in its past six meetings and experts are warning there are more rate rises on the way. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_raises_interest_rates_again/indexdl_6019.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_Expectations_Survey_-_April/indexdl_6015.aspx?from=RSS Australian executives are looking to finish the financial year strongly however strong expectations for employment growth and increased selling prices and concerns about wage increases point to capacity constraints in the economy. These are the findings from the latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey which examines business expectations for the June 2010 quarter. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_Expectations_Survey_-_April/indexdl_6015.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_tells_senate_inquiry_-_access_to_credit_still_steady_for_SMEs/indexdl_6013.aspx?from=RSS The RBA says access to credit for SMEs has not fallen as a result of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). The claim, which forms the basis of the RBA's submission into a Senate inquiry into small business lending, has angered some small business groups. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_tells_senate_inquiry_-_access_to_credit_still_steady_for_SMEs/indexdl_6013.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Paper_profits_hide_negative_cash_flow/indexdl_5990.aspx?from=RSS The strong economic recovery and positive company reporting season is hiding a deep structural weakness for many Australian firms as new data reveals nearly half of all companies operated with negative cash flow throughout the last financial year. A concern for shareholders and creditors is that the failure rate for firms with negative cash flow is 213 percent higher than for those operating with a positive cash position. These are just two findings from new research conducted by Dun & Bradstreet. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Paper_profits_hide_negative_cash_flow/indexdl_5990.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/The_six_myths_of_SME_credit/indexdl_5981.aspx?from=RSS SME credit is a hot topic. The Sentate is currently conducting an inquiry into SMEs ability to access finance, an issue which is considered critical to supporting SME growth as the Australian economy recovers from the financial crisis. However, according to Dun & Bradstreet's most recent Business Expectations Survey, more than one third of firms are experiencing difficulties as a result of tighter lending standards and 28 percent said they had less access to credit in the December quarter than the quarter prior. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/The_six_myths_of_SME_credit/indexdl_5981.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australian_unions_launch_new_wage_claim/indexdl_5979.aspx?from=RSS Unions have launched their second-biggest pay claim in recent years, asking for $27 a week. However several employer groups have been quick to argue that a pay rise of that size would put jobs at risk. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australian_unions_launch_new_wage_claim/indexdl_5979.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Tourisms_Tenacity/indexdl_5987.aspx?from=RSS The tourism industry has been severely hurt by the downturn but companies are managing to survive by watching their bottom lines closely and communicating openly with staff, the latest results of the SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List reveal. 2011-04-27T12:10+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Tourisms_Tenacity/indexdl_5987.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/The_risks_of_a_double_dip_recession_in_China/indexdl_5976.aspx?from=RSS The Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao sent more than a few ripples through global markets over the weekend when he spoke of the risk of a double-dip recession in China. His words echoed throughout global stock markets with the Australian ASX 200 dropping 34 points to 4,784. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/The_risks_of_a_double_dip_recession_in_China/indexdl_5976.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Paid_maternity_leave_plans_announced/indexdl_5973.aspx?from=RSS This week has seen the release of the alternative paid maternity leave plan by Opposition leader, Tony Abbott. In addition to the existing plan released by the Government for 18-week paid maternity leave at minimum wage the Opposition leader, Tony Abbott has promised more money and for 26 weeks after the birth of the baby. However a levy on business to fund the scheme has proved to be the most contentious decision. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Paid_maternity_leave_plans_announced/indexdl_5973.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_are_becoming_more_confident_as_the_economy_improves/indexdl_5968.aspx?from=RSS The latest Sensis Business Index reveals that improving economic conditions are bolstering the confidence of Australia's small business executives however, it showed that firms are continuing to face difficulties accessing credit from major banks. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_are_becoming_more_confident_as_the_economy_improves/indexdl_5968.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Government_announces_reform_of_the_Franchising_Code_of_Conduct/indexdl_5967.aspx?from=RSS The Federal Government has announced reforms to the Franchising Code of Conduct which will require franchisors to produce plain English disclosure guides covering issues such as unilateral contract variations, unforeseen capital expenditure and end-of-term arrangements. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Government_announces_reform_of_the_Franchising_Code_of_Conduct/indexdl_5967.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Sales_and_profit_expectations_rise/indexdl_5970.aspx?from=RSS The confidence levels of Australians executives are continuing their upward trend for 2010 with sales, profits and capital investment indices all improving. The capital investment and sales index have both reached their highest points in six years and the profits index its highest point in five years. These findings from the latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey for the June quarter indicate a dramatic turnaround in the expectations of Australian business as compared to the lows of June 2009. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Sales_and_profit_expectations_rise/indexdl_5970.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Bankruptcy_law_reform/indexdl_5972.aspx?from=RSS The Australian economy has weathered the global financial crisis better than most other developed nations. The OECD estimates that the Australian economy grew by one percent in 2009, compared with an OECD average of minus 3.5 percent. However, even though Australia has avoided the worst of the crisis, it is important to acknowledge that many Australians are still doing it tough. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Bankruptcy_law_reform/indexdl_5972.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Keeping_an_eye_out_for_online_scams_in_2010/indexdl_5951.aspx?from=RSS The deputy chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has warned small and medium businesses to be on the lookout for false billing scams after the number of these frauds rose by nearly 60 percent during 2009. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Keeping_an_eye_out_for_online_scams_in_2010/indexdl_5951.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_lifts_interest_rates_to_4_percent/indexdl_5950.aspx?from=RSS The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has lifted the official interest rate by 25 basis points to 4 percent today. This is the first rise in the New Year after three consecutive rate rises in the last three months of 2009. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_lifts_interest_rates_to_4_percent/indexdl_5950.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Almost_80_percent_of_small_business_to_increase_employee_salaries/indexdl_5928.aspx?from=RSS Almost eighty percent (78 percent) of small and medium businesses are planning to increase salaries over the next 12 months as the Australian economy continues to improve, a new Grant Thornton International business report has revealed. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Almost_80_percent_of_small_business_to_increase_employee_salaries/indexdl_5928.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_beware_-_fraud_cases_double/indexdl_5927.aspx?from=RSS Fraud cases have doubled in the last six months, according to new figures from KPMG. The research reveals the total value of fraud cases during the 2009 calendar year reached $317 million, up from $221 million in 2008. The average case involved $216 million. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_beware_-_fraud_cases_double/indexdl_5927.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Tony_Abbott_promises_to_turn_back_the_clock_on_unfair_dismissal_laws/indexdl_5923.aspx?from=RSS In a speech to the Queensland Chamber of Commerce, opposition leader Tony Abbot this week promised to remove the "unfair dismissal monkey" off the back of small business. In an extensive speech Abbot vowed to reintroduce the concept of individual work contracts. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Tony_Abbott_promises_to_turn_back_the_clock_on_unfair_dismissal_laws/indexdl_5923.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/More_than_2_in_3_firms_dont_have_a_social_media_policy/indexdl_5910.aspx?from=RSS Two in three firms don't have a social media policy in place and some are making a mistake by outlawing social media completely, a new survey has warned. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/More_than_2_in_3_firms_dont_have_a_social_media_policy/indexdl_5910.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_turning_to_social_networking/indexdl_5908.aspx?from=RSS SMEs are turning to social networking sites to push their products and services, according to a recent poll from MSI Global Alliance. The poll revealed that 43 percent of SMEs use social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Linkedin. In addition, SMEs are using blogs and twitters however, these tools are being utilised to a lesser extent. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_turning_to_social_networking/indexdl_5908.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Green_SMEs_concerned_by_audit_plans/indexdl_5905.aspx?from=RSS SMEs who have been conducting energy assessments under the Government's Green Loans scheme may need to reduce the scale of their operations after a major audit of the project was announced in Federal Parliament this week. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Green_SMEs_concerned_by_audit_plans/indexdl_5905.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australian_firms_expect_wage_increase/indexdl_5897.aspx?from=RSS Australian firms anticipate they will have to increase wages over the next 12 months as the economic recovery continues to gather momentum. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australian_firms_expect_wage_increase/indexdl_5897.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_borrowers_get_a_better_deal/indexdl_5896.aspx?from=RSS Businesses may be set to get a better deal from their banks than home owners, with the increases in interest rates for home owners outpacing those for businesses. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_borrowers_get_a_better_deal/indexdl_5896.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Bankruptcies_rising/indexdl_5888.aspx?from=RSS The number of businesses and individuals getting into financial strife rose in the first nine months of 2009 however, business related personal bankruptcies declined over this period. Business failures rose by 12 percent on 2008 and 28 percent on 2007 figures, while personal bankruptcies increased by seven and ten percent respectively. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Bankruptcies_rising/indexdl_5888.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_maintain_status_quo_on_interest_rates/indexdl_5875.aspx?from=RSS The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has left the cash rate unchanged at 3.75 per cent after its first board meeting of the year. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_maintain_status_quo_on_interest_rates/indexdl_5875.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Fee_cuts_welcomed_by_SMEs/indexdl_5873.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses have been thrown a lifeline, with a reduction in some bank fees set to help business cash flow in the months ahead. The National Australia Bank has abolished business fees for dishonoured cheques, dishonoured electronic payments, deferred periodic payments due to insufficient funds and cash-handling fees for over the counter withdrawals or deposits. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Fee_cuts_welcomed_by_SMEs/indexdl_5873.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_rate_their_banks_a_4.44_out_of_ten/indexdl_5871.aspx?from=RSS Small businesses rate their banks a 4.44 out of ten, according to the latest monthly Busines Banking Customer Satisfaction Monitor. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_businesses_rate_their_banks_a_4.44_out_of_ten/indexdl_5871.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Paid_parental_leave_scheme_to_be_introduced_in_2011/indexdl_5857.aspx?from=RSS The Federal Government's Paid Parental Leave Scheme (PPL) will come into play from January 2011, allowing parents for births and adoptions to receive paid leave for 18 weeks. While the legislation for the PPL scheme is yet to be introduced into parliament, it is evident the scheme will have implications for SMEs. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Paid_parental_leave_scheme_to_be_introduced_in_2011/indexdl_5857.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Cash_flow_to_come_under_pressure_as_business_payments_rise/indexdl_5846.aspx?from=RSS Australian firms face the prospect of renewed cash flow pressures in the months ahead, according to the latest business-to-business trade payments figures released today by credit reporting agency Dun & Bradstreet. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Cash_flow_to_come_under_pressure_as_business_payments_rise/indexdl_5846.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Internet_boost_for_small_business/indexdl_5842.aspx?from=RSS Thousands of small businesses are set to benefit from Government funding which is designed to help them go online or upgrade their business website. The funding is being provided from the Government's Small Business Online program. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Internet_boost_for_small_business/indexdl_5842.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Global_upturn_bumpy_as_Governments_withdraw_stimulus/indexdl_5811.aspx?from=RSS The risk of sluggish and weak growth this year is becoming increasingly apparent despite the healthy pace of expansion that is occurring in the global economy entering 2010. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Global_upturn_bumpy_as_Governments_withdraw_stimulus/indexdl_5811.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Relationship_matters_small_business_and_banks/indexdl_5810.aspx?from=RSS Business bank customers, in particular small business people, are less impressed with their bank at the end of 2009, than at the end of 2008. This is according to research released by banking advisory firm, East & Partners. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Relationship_matters_small_business_and_banks/indexdl_5810.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_Expectations_Survey_-_January/indexdl_5805.aspx?from=RSS Expectations for growth in inventories are at the highest level in more than four years up one point to an index of five. Selling price expectations have fallen to the lowest level ever recorded in the survey reaching an index of nine. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_Expectations_Survey_-_January/indexdl_5805.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Henry_tax_review_recommends_overhaul_of_CGT_concessions_for_small_business/indexdl_5804.aspx?from=RSS It has been recommended that the Federal Government considers overhauling capital gains tax (CGT) concessions for small businesses to simplify the tax system and encourage long-term investment decisions. The Henry report, which follows a review of Australia's tax system, is being considered by Treasurer Wayne Swan. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Henry_tax_review_recommends_overhaul_of_CGT_concessions_for_small_business/indexdl_5804.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/National_Employment_Standards_Begin_January_1st/indexdl_5801.aspx?from=RSS When businesses return in the New Year the Federal Government's new National Employment Standards come into place replacing WorkChoices. What will this mean for your business? 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/National_Employment_Standards_Begin_January_1st/indexdl_5801.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_credit_declines/indexdl_5795.aspx?from=RSS Business borrowing has fallen as Australian firms cut back their debt and hold off on investment. Figures released by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) show that business credit declined by 1.3 percent over October 2009, following a decline of 1.3 percent over September. Meanwhile, over the year to October business credit declined by 6.8 percent. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_credit_declines/indexdl_5795.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Global_economic_outlook_shaky_as_world_shifts_from_government_to_private_demand/indexdl_5798.aspx?from=RSS More than 60 countries around the world are expected to record lower output in real terms in 2010 than in 2008 and even Australia, which is expected to experience a relatively robust rebound in domestic demand, will face challenges as 37,500 firms face potential financial stress in the New Year. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Global_economic_outlook_shaky_as_world_shifts_from_government_to_private_demand/indexdl_5798.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_set_to_be_big_winners_from_the_National_Broadband_Network/indexdl_5794.aspx?from=RSS The National Broadband Network presents Australian small businesses with an opportunity to grasp a global long-term advantage, according to the Council of Small Business of Australia. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/SMEs_set_to_be_big_winners_from_the_National_Broadband_Network/indexdl_5794.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Fewer_disclosures_required_by_private_companies/indexdl_5793.aspx?from=RSS The Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) has proposed changes which would allow private companies to prepare financial statements with far fewer disclosures. The proposals aim to cut reporting costs for small and medium sized companies, nor-profit groups and governments. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Fewer_disclosures_required_by_private_companies/indexdl_5793.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Real_Estate_companies_feel_the_pain/indexdl_5788.aspx?from=RSS Real estate companies have seen their industry hit hard by the downturn, with major sales in the commercial and industrial sectors all but disappearing. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Real_Estate_companies_feel_the_pain/indexdl_5788.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Supply_chain_risk_prominent_despite_evidence_of_a_global_recovery/indexdl_5787.aspx?from=RSS Supply chain risk remains prominent for Australian firms despite evidence that a global economic recovery is underway. Research conducted by leading business intelligence firm, Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) reveals a somewhat gloomy risk outlook for major suppliers, with a large number of them exposed to the fortunes of related parties based in some of the economies hit hardest by the global credit crisis. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Supply_chain_risk_prominent_despite_evidence_of_a_global_recovery/indexdl_5787.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Unemployment_rate_falls_to_5.7_percent/indexdl_5786.aspx?from=RSS The latest unemployment figures, which were released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, reveal that the unemployment rate fell from 5.8 percent to 5.7 percent in October. Unemployment numbers decreased by 13,300 to 653,100, with the male unemployment rate decreasing to 5.8 percent and the female unemployment rate falling to 5.5 percent. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Unemployment_rate_falls_to_5.7_percent/indexdl_5786.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Full_time_jobs_ads_surge/indexdl_5737.aspx?from=RSS Full time job ads have surged, rising by 5.9 percent in November and 7.84 percent in the past three months, according to the Olivier Job Index. The latest rise reverses last month's fall of 1.67 percent, confirming the resilience of the comeback in Australian job ads. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Full_time_jobs_ads_surge/indexdl_5737.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_Expectations_Survey_-_December/indexdl_5785.aspx?from=RSS The risk of rising inflation impacting the Australian economy appears to be declining with only anet seven percent of Australian firms expecting to raise their prices in the March quarter of 2010. In other positive signs for the business outlook expectations for sales and profits alsoimproved. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Business_Expectations_Survey_-_December/indexdl_5785.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/More_SMEs_using_the_internet_to_sell_goods_and_services/indexdl_5736.aspx?from=RSS The number of SMEs using e-commerce to sell goods and services has risen as compared to last year, according to the latest Sensis e-Business Report. The findings of the study also reveal a rise in the number of SMEs which receive payments online. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/More_SMEs_using_the_internet_to_sell_goods_and_services/indexdl_5736.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Fraud_season_begins_for_Australian_businesses/indexdl_5731.aspx?from=RSS The period of greatest risk for application fraud and non payment for Australian businesses is about to begin. The Christmas period and corresponding post Christmas sales are the main drivers behind this risk with young adults (aged between 18-22) the highest risk category, almost twice (1.8 times) as likely than any other age group to commit application fraud. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Fraud_season_begins_for_Australian_businesses/indexdl_5731.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/More_advisory_services_for_Australian_SMEs/indexdl_5701.aspx?from=RSS Government bodies in both the Northern Territory and Western Australia have announced further investments into their respective small business advisory services. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/More_advisory_services_for_Australian_SMEs/indexdl_5701.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Treasury_proposes_changes_to_the_Trade_Practices_Act_to_protect_SMEs/indexdl_5704.aspx?from=RSS Proposed changes to the Trade Practices Act (TPA), which are aimed at shielding small business and franchisees from unscrupulous conduct, will not be the panacea to unfair dealings, according to the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Treasury_proposes_changes_to_the_Trade_Practices_Act_to_protect_SMEs/indexdl_5704.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_lifts_rates_by_25_basis_points_to_3.75/indexdl_5697.aspx?from=RSS The Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted the official interest rate for a third consecutive month. A 25 basis point increase has taken the cash rate to 3.25 percent. The Reserve Bank has explained the rate rise by saying that the downturn in Australia was relatively mild and measures of confidence and business conditions suggest the economy is in a gradual recovery. 2011-04-27T12:09+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_lifts_rates_by_25_basis_points_to_3.75/indexdl_5697.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Consumers_to_cut_back_on_spending_this_Christmas/indexdl_5671.aspx?from=RSS Australian retailers are likely to be hit by a drop in spending this Christmas, with consumer confidence slowly returning to pre-crisis levels. A recent Westpac Banking Corporation survey has found that consumers are not willing to spend as much on Christmas as they did a year ago, with spending expected to fall by as much as 35 percent. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Consumers_to_cut_back_on_spending_this_Christmas/indexdl_5671.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/The_more_things_change_the_more_they_stay_the_same/indexdl_5688.aspx?from=RSS A YEAR ago, The Age|D&B Awards were conducted in a period of unprecedented crisis and uncertainty. Most of the developed world had entered or was entering recession, credit markets had frozen and equity markets were in free fall. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/The_more_things_change_the_more_they_stay_the_same/indexdl_5688.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Technology_exporter_is_business_of_the_year/indexdl_5682.aspx?from=RSS HIGH-TECHNOLOGY company QSR International, which exports to 150 countries, has won The Age I D&B Victorian Business of the Year Award. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Technology_exporter_is_business_of_the_year/indexdl_5682.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/ATO_puts_SMEs_on_notice/indexdl_5670.aspx?from=RSS The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has warned small and medium firms that tax loss claims will be closely scrutinised, following $100 million dollars in false claims last year. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/ATO_puts_SMEs_on_notice/indexdl_5670.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Pay_equity_push_could_result_in_SMEs_being_audited/indexdl_5667.aspx?from=RSS A Parliamentary Inquiry on pay equity has handed down 63 recommendations, including calls for the establishment of a Pay Equity Unit within the Government's Fair Work Australia agency. If the recommendations are accepted, the Pay Equity Unit would be given the power to audit SMEs to discover how female workers are being paid. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Pay_equity_push_could_result_in_SMEs_being_audited/indexdl_5667.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/What_does_the_debate_about_the_ETS_mean_for_small_business/indexdl_5669.aspx?from=RSS While the debates rage in both Federal Parliament and the respective party rooms about the future of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the consequent Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) what will it mean for your business if the impending legislation is passed through parliament? We have heard about big business and the invidual but what concessions, if any, are intended for smaller firms? 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/What_does_the_debate_about_the_ETS_mean_for_small_business/indexdl_5669.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Fair_work_website_makes_it_easy_for_small_business_to_understand_new_IR_laws/indexdl_5666.aspx?from=RSS Australia's SMEs can now access free information which will enable them to better understand their rights under the Fair Work Act. The Fair Work for Small Business website incorporate quick and easy-to-understand information to assist SMEs to navigate the new laws. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Fair_work_website_makes_it_easy_for_small_business_to_understand_new_IR_laws/indexdl_5666.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_owners_not_the_happiest_customers_of_the_big_four_banks/indexdl_5648.aspx?from=RSS A recent survey of 3,500 Australian small businesses by the Roy Morgan research group has found that small business owners are less satisfied with their banks than other Australians. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_owners_not_the_happiest_customers_of_the_big_four_banks/indexdl_5648.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Number_of_firms_at_risk_falls_as_economic_recovery_kicks_into_gear/indexdl_5647.aspx?from=RSS The number of Australian firms facing potential distress in the year ahead has fallen by around 500 in recent months, in a demonstration that the economic recovery is kicking into gear in Australia. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Number_of_firms_at_risk_falls_as_economic_recovery_kicks_into_gear/indexdl_5647.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_support_line_is_helping_Australias_SMEs/indexdl_5658.aspx?from=RSS A free service offering small business advice and support over the phone has been given a tick of approval by callers. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_support_line_is_helping_Australias_SMEs/indexdl_5658.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Lightbulb_moment_turning_into_thecentury_of_the_light-emitting_diode/indexdl_5644.aspx?from=RSS CUTTER Electronics has caught the crest of a wave that doesn't look like subsiding. Just when the world was looking for lighting that lasts longer, uses less power and generates fewer greenhouse emissions, Cutter was there to supply it. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Lightbulb_moment_turning_into_thecentury_of_the_light-emitting_diode/indexdl_5644.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Information_software_withserious_international_clout/indexdl_5631.aspx?from=RSS POLICE forces around the worlduse it to track fraudsters andmanage intelligence on terrorists.Market researchers use it todevelop communication programsto help Australian farmersmanage climate variability. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Information_software_withserious_international_clout/indexdl_5631.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/As_fluctuating_dollar_bites_Beacon_still_a_leading_light/indexdl_5605.aspx?from=RSS THE roller-coaster Australian dollar has been wreaking havoc on the plans and performance of many Australian companies. Beacon Lighting is no exception. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/As_fluctuating_dollar_bites_Beacon_still_a_leading_light/indexdl_5605.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Two_of_the_four_big_banks_pass_on_the_rate_rise_to_SMEs/indexdl_5606.aspx?from=RSS The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised the official interest rate by 0.25 basis points to 3.50 percent at yesterday's meeting, the second consecutive monthly rise, and two of the four big banks have followed suit, passing the rate rise on to small and medium business. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Two_of_the_four_big_banks_pass_on_the_rate_rise_to_SMEs/indexdl_5606.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australian_businesses_to_face_further_difficulties_accessing_credit/indexdl_5593.aspx?from=RSS Australian firms are hurting each other and setting themselves up to be locked out of the credit market or to face action from the tax office as a result of the way they are prioritising payments. A new study released today by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) reveals that 66 percent of firms are prepared to miss supplier payments if they are unable to pay all their accounts and a further 15 percent are prepared to a miss a tax payment. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australian_businesses_to_face_further_difficulties_accessing_credit/indexdl_5593.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Road_to_recovery_presents_dangers_for_SMEs/indexdl_5585.aspx?from=RSS Australia's improving economic conditions present a new challenge for small businesses, with data showing that SMEs remain vulnerable to financial stress and failure in the early years of economic recovery following a downturn. These findings come from new research by Dun & Bradstreet. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Road_to_recovery_presents_dangers_for_SMEs/indexdl_5585.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Woods_chips_away_with_niche_furniture/indexdl_5546.aspx?from=RSS The average grade 6 kid is much bigger than in the past, said Rod Massey, managing director of Woods Furniture. That means they need larger school furniture. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Woods_chips_away_with_niche_furniture/indexdl_5546.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Pay_your_tax_before_building_your_business/indexdl_5537.aspx?from=RSS With many Australian companies taking advantage of the ATO's tax relief measures - including deferral of tax payments and interest-free payment arrangements there is a concern that this will negatively impact the SME sector and hinder growth. Businesses with an annual turnover of less than $2 million and an activity statement debt can apply for a general interest charge (GIC)-free payment arrangement from now until 30 June 2010. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Pay_your_tax_before_building_your_business/indexdl_5537.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australias_employment_expectations_rising/indexdl_5535.aspx?from=RSS The likelihood of Australia's unemployment levels continuing to rise appears to be diminishing with fourteen percent of Australian firms planning to take on staff in the lead up to Christmas. Firms are also positive about the sales and profits outlook and have the confidence to increase inventory levels and capital investment in the quarter ahead. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australias_employment_expectations_rising/indexdl_5535.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_lifts_official_interest_rates_by_0.25_basis_points/indexdl_5532.aspx?from=RSS The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has today raised the official interest rates by 0.25 basis points to 3.25 percent. This is the first rise in official interest rates since March 2008. Reserve Bank officials had described the three per cent official cash rate target as an 'emergency setting', after rates were slashed in response to the global financial crisis from a peak of 7.25 per cent. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/RBA_lifts_official_interest_rates_by_0.25_basis_points/indexdl_5532.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/1.69_million_in_family_friendly_grants_announced/indexdl_5540.aspx?from=RSS The Government's $12 million Fresh Ideas for Work and Family program follows a commitment by the Government to improve work and family options for Australians after winning office in 2007. The program is designed to encourage and support small businesses in developing innovative solutions to the work and family and work/life balance challenges faced by working parents. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/1.69_million_in_family_friendly_grants_announced/indexdl_5540.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Fair_work_road-show_to_help_Australian_business_better_understand_new_Fair_Work_Act/indexdl_5542.aspx?from=RSS The Australian Government is delivering seminars and workshops around the country to ensure that Australians can access the information they need to better understand the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Fair_work_road-show_to_help_Australian_business_better_understand_new_Fair_Work_Act/indexdl_5542.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/38000_firms_a_high_risk_of_distress_this_financial_year/indexdl_5490.aspx?from=RSS Close to 38,000 Australian firms are a high risk of distress this financial year, despite signs the Australian economy is on the mend. The latest data from D&B shows that the number of firms at risk has continued to rise over the past fifteen months, from around 34,000 in Q2 2008 to almost 38,000 in the June quarter of 2009. This increase leaves one in ten (10.2 percent) firms at risk of financial distress in the 12 months to the end of June 2010. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/38000_firms_a_high_risk_of_distress_this_financial_year/indexdl_5490.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australia_offers_extra_support_for_small_exporters/indexdl_5355.aspx?from=RSS Trade Minister Simon Crean today announced that the Federal Government will make it easier for Australian exporters and overseas investors to obtain financial assistance. The Federal Government will simplify and expand the powers of the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) to enable it to more effectively provide financial support. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australia_offers_extra_support_for_small_exporters/indexdl_5355.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_advisory_service_helping_Australian_small_businesses/indexdl_5428.aspx?from=RSS The Small Business Advisory Services Program is a $46 million program from Commonwealth Government to help Australia's small businesses meet their potential. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Small_business_advisory_service_helping_Australian_small_businesses/indexdl_5428.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Drag_on_Australias_growth_coming_to_an_end/indexdl_5234.aspx?from=RSS The drag on growth from the drawdown in inventories appears to be coming to an end, with Australian firms planning a significant re-stocking of inventories and expecting a boost in sales in the months ahead. However despite this promising outlook, the improvement comes off a low comparative base, with expectations measured against the December 2008 quarter, Australia's first quarter of negative economic growth in eight years. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Drag_on_Australias_growth_coming_to_an_end/indexdl_5234.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Government_opens_small_business_support_line/indexdl_5426.aspx?from=RSS The Commonwealth Government has opened a Small Business Support Line to provide a point of contact to information and referral services that assist small businesses. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Government_opens_small_business_support_line/indexdl_5426.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Government_launches_10_million_Small_Business_Online_program/indexdl_5427.aspx?from=RSS Internet training service providers can apply for grants between $50, 000 to $500, 000 to deliver training and mentoring services to help Australia's small businesses become more internet savvy. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Government_launches_10_million_Small_Business_Online_program/indexdl_5427.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australia_a_safe_haven_for_business_investment/indexdl_5233.aspx?from=RSS Australia is considered one of the world's safest countries in which to invest, due to the relatively mild economic slowdown experienced as a result of the global credit crisis. Dun & Bradstreet's Global Risk Indicator places Australia in the top four countries, with a ranking in line with Canada, Norway and Switzerland. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Australia_a_safe_haven_for_business_investment/indexdl_5233.aspx http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Sharp_turnaround_in_business_expectations/indexdl_5232.aspx?from=RSS The expectations of Australian firms have improved substantially since the previous quarter, with expectations for sales, profits, employment, inventories and capital investment all back in positive territory, and some indices making the greatest one-quarter change since the survey began in 1988. 2011-04-27T12:08+10:00 http://www.dnbsmallbusiness.com.au/News/Sharp_turnaround_in_business_expectations/indexdl_5232.aspx