Retail back in the black
The retail sector has bounced back with a point four per cent rise in sales in April.
According to the National Retail Association, the rise came despite a sluggish start to the year and after a flat month in March which saw consumers keeping their wallets closed.
The numbers show strong sales for cafes, restaurants and takeaways which can be put down to the unseasonably warm weather many states experienced throughout autumn.
Ombudsman calls for dispute resolution
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman is asking for feedback from small businesses to better understand business-related disputes.
Ombudsman Kate Carnell says the online survey will assist with helping to resolve business-related disputes, such as unfair contracts or late payments, even if they occurred up to five years ago.
“Even if your dispute occurred as long ago as five years, we still want to hear from you and learn from your experience," Carnell says.
“Chasing disputes is expensive and time-consuming, so anything we can do to improve access to justice for small businesses is extremely important.”
Tips for the end of financial year
And the month of June signals the end of financial year, which can add pressure to already time-strapped businesses.
But there are some handy hints to help with keeping your business on track, according to cloud accounting software company Xero.
Using tools like Receipt Bank or Expensify can be a big timesaver and help SME owners stay on top of business activities and keep records in order.
Small businesses should also be aware of legislative changes. Useful resources include the Australian Tax office’s YouTube channel.
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