SmartCompany https://www.smartcompany.com.au/ Business news, business advice and information for Australian SMEs, startups and entrepreneurs Wed, 22 Jul 2026 05:25:04 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.6 https://assets.smartcompany.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/01/cropped-android-chrome-512x512-1.png?quality=70&w=32 SmartCompany https://www.smartcompany.com.au/ 32 32 202088525 Small businesses aren’t banks: Why Australia’s 60-day payment cycle needs a reset https://www.smartcompany.com.au/opinion/small-businesses-arent-banks-australia-60-day-payment-cycle-reset/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/opinion/small-businesses-arent-banks-australia-60-day-payment-cycle-reset/#respond Wed, 22 Jul 2026 05:24:53 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341607 ASIC data reveals insolvencies among Australian businesses have surged, with small businesses bearing the brunt of rising cashflow pressures.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/opinion/small-businesses-arent-banks-australia-60-day-payment-cycle-reset/feed/ 0 341607 QLD offers $16,000 cash bonus for businesses to hire apprentices https://www.smartcompany.com.au/construction-engineering/qld-offers-16000-cash-bonus-businesses-to-hire-apprentices/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/construction-engineering/qld-offers-16000-cash-bonus-businesses-to-hire-apprentices/#respond Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:32:44 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341603 The Queensland government says it is "delivering the help businesses need to get more hands on the tools".

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/construction-engineering/qld-offers-16000-cash-bonus-businesses-to-hire-apprentices/feed/ 0 341603 Why the viral Two Franks cafe closure has other businesses speaking out https://www.smartcompany.com.au/hospitality/two-franks-cafe-closure-announcement-cost-of-business/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/hospitality/two-franks-cafe-closure-announcement-cost-of-business/#respond Wed, 22 Jul 2026 02:08:03 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341581 The closure of beloved Melbourne cafe Two Franks has inspired messages from fellow hospitality operators anxious about the future.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/hospitality/two-franks-cafe-closure-announcement-cost-of-business/feed/ 0 341581 Jack Dorsey takes on Slack and GitHub with new AI workplace platform Buzz https://www.smartcompany.com.au/technology/jack-dorsey-buzz-ai-slack-github-rival/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/technology/jack-dorsey-buzz-ai-slack-github-rival/#respond Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:52:54 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341562 Jack Dorsey has launched Buzz, an open-source workplace platform designed for teams of humans and AI agents, taking aim at Slack and GitHub.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/technology/jack-dorsey-buzz-ai-slack-github-rival/feed/ 0 341562 Selling your business starts long before it goes on the market https://www.smartcompany.com.au/business-advice/selling-your-business-australia-advice/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/business-advice/selling-your-business-australia-advice/#respond Tue, 21 Jul 2026 06:08:27 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341494 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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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/business-advice/selling-your-business-australia-advice/feed/ 0 341494 Revolut becomes Australia’s newest bank after securing deposit licence https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/revolut-becomes-australias-newest-bank-securing-deposit-licence/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/revolut-becomes-australias-newest-bank-securing-deposit-licence/#respond Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:50:56 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341536 Revolut has moved quickly, launching business accounts with variable interest rates up to 4.25% and integrations with its existing features.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/revolut-becomes-australias-newest-bank-securing-deposit-licence/feed/ 0 341536 Books Kinokuniya heads to Melbourne as retailers double down on in-store experiences https://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/books-kinokuniya-melbourne-central-store-location/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/books-kinokuniya-melbourne-central-store-location/#respond Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:48:02 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341510 Books Kinokuniya is bringing its cult-favourite bookstore to Melbourne for the first time, with experts saying the move highlights the growing importance of experience-led retail.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/books-kinokuniya-melbourne-central-store-location/feed/ 0 341510 Oz Hair & Beauty snaps up Beauty Works to grow service-led retail strategy https://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/oz-hair-beauty-snaps-up-beauty-works-grow-service-led-retail-strategy/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/oz-hair-beauty-snaps-up-beauty-works-grow-service-led-retail-strategy/#respond Tue, 21 Jul 2026 01:11:20 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341489 Oz Hair & Beauty has acquired Melbourne retailer Beauty Works in a deal that expands its national footprint and deepens its push into service-led retail.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/oz-hair-beauty-snaps-up-beauty-works-grow-service-led-retail-strategy/feed/ 0 341489 Former Smart50 winner Cover Genius valued over $2 billion after new deal https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/covergenius-valuation-2-billion-smart50-funding-deal/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/covergenius-valuation-2-billion-smart50-funding-deal/#respond Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:49:29 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341456 Insurance technology platform and former Smart50 winner Cover Genius has secured a new $143 million funding deal, tipping it into double-unicorn status.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/covergenius-valuation-2-billion-smart50-funding-deal/feed/ 0 341456 ‘The start, not the finish line’: Harris Farm Markets joins growing list of B Corp certified businesses https://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/harris-farm-markets-joins-growing-list-b-corp-certified-businesses/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/harris-farm-markets-joins-growing-list-b-corp-certified-businesses/#respond Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:30:39 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341459 Harris Farm Markets has become a certified B Corp after a year-long process, saying the accreditation reflects its longstanding commitment to sustainability, transparency and supporting suppliers.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/harris-farm-markets-joins-growing-list-b-corp-certified-businesses/feed/ 0 341459