Business Advice | SmartCompany

Selling your business starts long before it goes on the market

Rebel Wylie — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 06:08:27 +0000

Private equity firms are no longer the only buyers in the market. As more investors look to acquire Australian businesses, founders need to understand what makes a business truly sale-ready.

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First-of-its-kind RBA paper outlines which businesses are most likely to be acquired

David Adams — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 01:30:15 +0000

New data, previously unexplored at scale, gives entrepreneurs a clear insight into what acquirers want to see.

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Albanese grabs Australia’s AI agenda, parks copyright and data centre decisions

Tegan Jones — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 01:40:22 +0000

Albanese is centralising AI in his own office, but his announcement speech leaves Australia’s copyright and data centre rules unresolved.

The post Albanese grabs Australia’s AI agenda, parks copyright and data centre decisions appeared first on SmartCompany.

The compliance crunch facing small businesses this July

Natalie Lennon — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:51:22 +0000

Small businesses face a busy July as BAS, quarterly super and new payday super rules create a major compliance and cash flow challenge.

The post The compliance crunch facing small businesses this July appeared first on SmartCompany.

Toasting a legend: Sam Neill remembered as an acclaimed actor and small business owner

Eloise Keating — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 01:48:37 +0000

Sam Neill was a legend of the film industry, known for his roles in Jurrassic Park and The Piano, but he was a small business owner, too.

The post Toasting a legend: Sam Neill remembered as an acclaimed actor and small business owner appeared first on SmartCompany.

The smartest hires aren’t always specialists: Qualifications that help small businesses grow

Jon Glavinas — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 04:32:07 +0000

Small businesses rarely have the luxury of hiring for a single function. Here's why graduates with broad, transferable skills can often make the biggest impact as your team grows.

The post The smartest hires aren’t always specialists: Qualifications that help small businesses grow appeared first on SmartCompany.

Export Market Development Grant review calls to end ‘first in, first served’ model, add AI checks

David Adams — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 01:43:49 +0000

The Export Market Development Grant should adopt new judging criteria and consider AI for assessments, according to a new review.

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Repeat after me: AI is not your business adviser

Natalie Lennon — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:08:24 +0000

AI adoption among Australian SMEs continues to rise, but many business owners are confusing AI with expert advice and overlooking serious privacy risks.

The post Repeat after me: AI is not your business adviser appeared first on SmartCompany.

Mark Bouris wants Business Connect replacement to embrace AI

Tegan Jones — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 02:22:51 +0000

Mark Bouris called for NSW's Business Connect replacement to be digital and AI-powered after completing the government's small business review.

The post Mark Bouris wants Business Connect replacement to embrace AI appeared first on SmartCompany.

Subscription traps and unfair trading practices ban passes Parliament

David Adams — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:55:33 +0000

Subscription 'traps' making it unnecessarily difficult to cancel a contract will become unlawful, thanks to a new crackdown on unfair trading practices that passed through Parliament this week.

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