Tag: Banking

With recent interest rate rises, much talk has centred on how the increases are likely to affect families and mortgage repayments. However, the impact on small business owners and their cashflow shouldn’t be ignored.

Funding and cashflow are the seemingly ever elusive crucial components to running a small business. With the banks being the most obvious source to approach, business owners often find this a frustrating and generally ‘closed-door’ option. David Hechtor looks at the alternatives.

In this 'rap off' between two of the history's most influential economic minds, you'll find John Meynard Keynes throwing back Cosmopolitans in an effort to explain the value of stimulus spending. If only K Rudd had tried to articulate this important economic theory from the VIP section of a Manhattan 'gentlemen's club', he wouldn't have encountered nearly so much opposition.

Running a small business inevitably means becoming a jack of all trades, most notably of which is ‘doing the books’. This in turn requires getting to grips with tricky accounting packages, an understanding of spreadsheets and becoming conversant with accounting jargon. The result is waving goodbye to your evenings, weekends and regular sleep.

Take this "Face Bank", which gobbles down each coin with ghoulish realism. The original model had eyes, but (perhaps moved by reports that it was inspiring night terrors in children) the makers updated it last year, removing the eyes and adding a nose, Easter Island style.

Take this "Face Bank", which gobbles down each coin with ghoulish realism. The original model had eyes, but (perhaps moved by reports that it was inspiring night terrors in children) the makers updated it last year, removing the eyes and adding a nose, Easter Island style.

During this evening networking event, attendees will learn from successful Australian business builders who have "been there, done that" and employed grant assistance as an instrumental part of their ongoing commercial success.

Two weeks ago, we asked our readers to help us assemble our annual Dumb Report, a selection of Australian goofs, gaffs and groaners from...

Two weeks ago, we asked our readers to help us assemble our annual Dumb Report, a selection of Australian goofs, gaffs and groaners from...

This week I've been attempting to work out the value of our company, which means I've been taking the business world's equivalent of a Dark Arts class at Hogwarts.

The Commonwealth Bank is currently running an advertisement that irks me. Beyond all the arty-farty advertiser speak and debate over the campaign’s merits in the industry media, it contains a terminology flaw that sticks out like dogs balls. When the kid says, “Can’t we just promise to fix it?” my hackles go up.

March is consistently the worst month of the year for company insolvencies. Why? Because businesses don’t plan for the inevitable drop in cashflow over the holiday period. Tim Lea offers some great advice on how to keep all the balls in the air while you and your customers are enjoying the summer break.

Oodles.com founder Steve Sherlock has set himself the goal of raising a multimillion dollar Series A funding round by the end of January 2010. He is documenting his trials and tribulations and seeking feedback from readers on AnthillOnline.com. This is the third post in his series.

The news yesterday that the Federal Government has unveiled details of its $196 million Commercialisation Australia (CA) initiative has been welcomed by many entrepreneurs and innovation consultants. These same intended beneficiaries might also be forgiven for wondering whether it is an improvement on the $1 billion Commercial Ready Scheme it is designed to replace.

The news yesterday that the Federal Government has unveiled details of its $196 million Commercialisation Australia (CA) initiative has been welcomed by many entrepreneurs and innovation consultants. These same intended beneficiaries might also be forgiven for wondering whether it is an improvement on the $1 billion Commercial Ready Scheme it is designed to replace.

After a sustained period of near-frozen activity, the Australiasian mergers and acquisition (M&A) market is gaining momentum. Steve Anderson looks at what this means for business opportunities in the region.

After a sustained period of near-frozen activity, the Australiasian mergers and acquisition (M&A) market is gaining momentum. Steve Anderson looks at what this means for business opportunities in the region.

The upcoming Myer float is largely being viewed as a positive sign for the Australian sharemarket. It is clearly a win for the Texas Pacific Group-led investors, who put up the money, and Bernie Brookes for delivering the rebirth. It could even be considered a win for the Myer family who could pocket $200 million. But despite the almost blanket glossy coverage, the effervescent smile of Jennifer Hawkins and the broader appeal of owning a small parcel of an Australian retail institution, I have my concerns.

Australian fund managers believe the worst of the global financial crisis is over and are strongly backing prospects for Australian equities over the coming year, according to Russell Investments' latest Investment Manager Outlook (IMO). The outlook for almost all sectors has strengthened, with the sentiment towards Australian equities at its highest level since the manager survey began in 2005.

Close to 38,000 Australian firms are a high risk of distress this financial year, despite signs the Australian economy is on the mend. New data from Dun & Bradstreet (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.