AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS NEWS

• News and features
  The latest news, announcements & related links...

HOW TO GUIDES

• Thinking of starting a business
  Are you ready? Need help with planning, raising finance or writing your business plan? These guides and templates can help.
• Starting a business
  Ready to start? Here's information on starting a new business, a home-based business and buying a business or franchise.
• Exiting a business
  Closing or selling your business? Find out about succession planning, bankruptcy, deregistering your business and employee payments.

BUSINESS RESOURCES

• business.gov.au checklists (link coming soon)
  The business.gov.au Starting your business checklist and Growing your business checklist will guide you through the various stages of your business, whether you're just starting or ready to grow.
• Desktop business assistant
  The Desktop business assistant is a simple tool that 'hovers' on your desktop. It's your own entry point to the business.gov.au website. From tool you can access current news and features, quick links to business.gov.au services and our business.gov.au search.
• Government and business associations directory
  Contains details for federal, state, territory and local governments and business associations. You can search either by the name of an organisation or by key words, or browse an alphabetical list.
• Starting your business checklist
  The checklist contains a series of questions to guide you through the various stages of your business including before you start, when you start, when you buy and when you run your business.
• Growing your business checklist (link coming soon)
• Business consultation website
  Register. Be consulted. Have your say.

BUSINESS TOPICS

• Employing people
  Good employees can be your greatest asset, so recruiting and retaining the right person is very important. Find out your obligations...
• Environmental management
  As a business you could have some impact on the environment, whether large or small...
• Importing and exporting
  If you import goods into Australia, you will be affected by certain government regulations. Expanding your market can bring enormous benefits to your business, but successful exporting doesn't happen by accident...
• Fair trading
  In Australia federal and state laws protect you, your business and your customers from unfair trading practices...
• Franchising
  Franchising allows one business to operate under the name of another business' established brand and sell a prescribed product or service. Franchising can seem like an easy way of starting or expanding your business, but it's not something you should rush into without the proper knowledge. Whether you are buying a franchise or franchising your own business, it requires a significant investment of your time and money.
• Grants and assistance
  Grants and other funding programs are available from the federal, state and territory governments and in some cases from local councils...
• Home-based business
  If you're running a home-based business there are a wide range of government requirements that may apply to you...
• Independent contractors
  As a basic definition, independent contractors run their own business, and hire out their time to businesses and other organisations as a service.
• Insurance
  Insurance is an essential part of running any business. If you are operating a small business you need more than just property insurance...
• Intellectual property
  Intellectual property covers a range of laws that give individuals and businesses exclusive rights over their creative and inventive projects.
• Market research and statistics
  To run a successful business you need to know all about your potential and existing customers and the marketplace you operate in...
• Occupational health and safety
  Safety in the workplace is critical to the success of running a business, no matter what size it is...
• Online business
  Are you interested in starting an online business? By trading online you can save time and money, reduce your overheads and reach a much wider market...
• Registration and licences
  When you're starting up a new business it's important to find out what registration and licences apply to you...
• Taxation
  Understanding taxes and meeting your taxation obligations can save you money...
• Tenders and contracts
  Selling goods and services to government is an important opportunity for all businesses. Find out about tender opportunities...

This information is brought to you by business.gov.au, your business gateway to government information and services