Franchising

Small businesses scammed out of $2.2 million

Michael Schaper, deputy chair of the ACCC says the watchdog is targeting conduct which is detrimental to small business.

Cara Waters   The competition watchdog has received almost 5,000 complaints from small businesses with concerns about misleading conduct the biggest issue.

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The four contract clauses which show you're getting screwed

Kelly O'Dwyer, Minister for Small Business, has secured the passage of the unfair contracts legislation.

Cara Waters   Competition watchdog says businesses need to start reviewing contracts in light of the new protection for small businesses against unfair contract terms.

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What's Australia's weirdest franchise?

Geoff Reid, Dean Reid, employee Peter Schulz, and Casey Reid (L to R) run the Leather Doctor, one of Australia's more ...

Christopher Niesche   It might look niche but its outlets are all over the country and it's looking for new partners.

Is gourmet schnitzel the next Big Mac?

Hot Food : Jill Dupleix
Good Food:
Duck schnitzel
4th September.
Photo: Steven Siewert

Caroline James   This franchise expects to turnover $70m this year and has its sights set on the major fast food chains.

How's that breakdancing thing working out?

Moving on up: Zachary Rook has developed a very successful business in Queensland.

Louis White   When Zachary Rook's dance dream failed to materialise he turned his attention to something more lucrative.

BUSINESS INSIDER

Sensitive people make more money

Emotion

Drake Baer   The better you recognise emotions, the more you'll get paid.

The entrepreneurs overcoming adversity

Have skills, will travel: Leather worker Sima Mahboobifard was not allowed to start a business in her native land.

Kate Jones   Starting a start-up is hard, and these business owners have done it tougher than most.

Five things to look for in a franchise

Briony Vince advises to seek a smart franchisor who is going to be making intelligent decisions,

Louis White   Not all franchises are created equal. Here are the essential ingredients of the best ones.

How I raised $35 million

Mass appeal: Emma and Denis Merkas, owners of Melt: Massage for Couples, a business that became an instant winner.

Christine Long   It was Chris Strode's major achievement for the year. What's yours?

The Iconic's inside running

The Iconic's Adam Jacobs says it's fairly obvious what's selling now – active wear.

Adam Courtenay   No one knows better what's hot this Christmas than the man who runs Australia's top fashion e-tailer.

The two signs you're a workaholic

Workaholic

What are the two traits that sets those addicted to work apart from the rest of us?

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Is this Australia's best mechanic?

Mechanic

It’s entirely possible I have the best grease monkey in the country, if not the world.

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The sky's the limit for NEXTDC

Data driven: NEXTDC chief executive Craig Scroggie backs a culture of innovation.

Alexandra Cain   How did this data centre generate revenue growth of 3626 per cent? That's not a typo.

COMMENT

Is a boom this summer a threat?

Fraud

Leo Tutt   If you're hiringstaff to cope with summer trade, make sure they're trustworthy.

Help! I have no staff for Christmas

Kate Jones   This is what you should do if you've reached the pointy end of the year and don't have enough elves.

I built a business in 30 hours

start-up

Will Gibbons   I had the help of 30 strangers. This is what I learned.

Boob job prices plummet

Boobs

Caroline James   This preschool drop-out has built a $15m breast enlargement business by slashing the cost of surgery.

Too many 'thought leaders'

Genius

Sylvia Pennington   These days everyone purports to be an expert - but are they really?

The rise of Generation Z

Teenager

Adam Courtenay   You've met Alex from Target, now get ready for the rest of his cohort.

This is the AirBNB of car parks

Nick Austin

Gayle Bryant   New concept an ingenious idea that will disrupt traditional car parks.

Can we ban work Christmas parties?

Christmas party

They are deadly dull time-wasters at a point in the year when few could be bothered.

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Always wanted to learn an instrument?

Sing

Claire Dunn   Then you need to check out this start-up that's revolutionising music lessons.

COMMENT

Is your reputation at risk?

Reputation

Harvey Christophers   It can vanish in an instant, unless you protect it properly.

Ten business etiquette mistakes

Egg

Ilya Pozin   If you're guilty of these clangers, you're holding yourself back.

So you want to be a personal trainer?

Torso

Claire Dunn   With obesity levels rising and the fitness fad yet to reach its peak, there are plenty of opportunities for talented PTs.

How to cope with abusive customers

Abuse

Christine Long   Unfortunately, every business owner needs to know what to do when things get nasty.

COMMENT

So you want to start a start-up?

Start-up

Nicolette Maury   Make 2015 the year your dream of owning your own business comes true.

COMMENT

How to sell your business tax-free

Lottery windfall

Anna Carrabs   Did you know you can sell your business without paying a cent to the ATO?

Five things that make us click

Caroline James   What are the secrets to making people enter your web site, read your ads and open your emails?

Make the most of LinkedIn groups

Tom Willis from LawPath.

Sylvia Pennington   They are the key to making the most of the social business platform. So how can you join in?