Small Business

Business confidence appears to be improving if the increase in the number of business startups is anything to go by.

More than 850 small businesses across Western Australia have been surveyed to gauge the current state of small businesses, with positive statistics showing that 55 per cent have plans to grow and improve in the future.

Jolimont-based Roxby Architects has won the George Temple Poole award at the WA architecture awards for its design of Toyota's Western Australian head office.

Audio-visual company AVPartners is increasing its dominance in the conference market with an expanded contract at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

A Perth cafe must pay thousands of dollars in compensation and penalties for illegally deducting money from the wages of its employees over minor errors.

From Irish backpacker to managing a national construction services business in just six years, 30 year old Declan White’s Monford Group was named the 2014 Telstra Western Australia business of the year.

Dean Gallagher was neither a businessman nor a coffee aficionado when he launched Five Senses coffee 14 years ago.

AVPartners has been appointed the in-house audiovisual service provider for Crown Perth, replacing incumbent provider Staging Connections.

A Perth-based liquidator has failed to adequately carry out its duties and been ordered to improve its procedures following an investigation by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.

Business conditions among small and medium-sized firms in Western Australia have declined despite the national average jumping to a four-year high.

More small-to-medium Western Australian business owners are delaying plans to sell as market conditions convince them to hang in longer in the hope they can increase revenue.

Independent bookshops are responding to changes in demand through fewer, but better stores and smarter selling strategies.

Small business owners are more satisfied with the federal government than they have been in recent years, but a new survey has found there are still a lot of changes the sector would like to see implemented to help run their businesses efficiently.

Having a ‘Eureka moment’ was a long way down the list of reasons why some of WA’s best-known entrepreneurs started their businesses.

With stock options being taxed immediately, start-ups are being held back.

Businesses are hopeful that better times are ahead, but at the moment small firms in particular are facing an upward struggle.

Australia’s largest full-service fitness chain is planning big changes after admitting to major problems in the way the private equity-backed business has been run.

Some parts of the economy might be in cost-cutting mode, but coffee franchising is still a growth sector.

Snorkel tour and boat charter operator Charter 1 has locked horns with the Rottnest Island Authority, claiming it was squeezed out of the popular holiday island in favour of another operator, forcing it to restructure its business.

Leederville jeweller Rohan Milne is moving in esteemed circles, having joined two other Perth jewellers and 17 nationally as members of the exclusive diamond association, Diamond Guild Australia.

A leading business group is hopeful that tax benefits aimed at small firms and tied to Labor's mining tax will be retained in the May budget.

Small businesses are still struggling and may yet need further support through another cut in interest rates, a leading business group warns.

Sometimes it can be better to go as far as you can before using other people's money.

Federal Small Business Minister Bruce Billson has rejected a suggestion that the government should guarantee loans for small businesses to foster growth in the sector.

Trade exchange business Bartercard has taken control of its Western Australia franchise in the hope it can rekindle enthusiasm among members.

Perth is well behind world-leading cities when it comes to supporting tech start-ups.

The head of a Perth tax return franchise says plans to introduce automatic tax returns could see thousands of WA workers miss out on their full entitlements.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA has appointed former University of Western Australia Business School dean Tracey Horton as president of its general council.

Small businesses are being gouged by bank fees while big business gets off lightly, Reserve Bank data shows.

Small businesses in Australia spend up to five hours per week on compliance with government regulatory requirements, according to a new report by the Productivity Commission.

In the space of a year, Nicolle Jenkins has grown her agency, The Hub Marketing Communications, from seven staff to 10, written a book about mothers and daughters, joined two boards and lobbied for small business at the recent state and federal elections.

Western Australia’s peak industry body has called on the state government to commit to comprehensive tax and regulatory reforms to get the state’s economy back on track.