Business Advice | SmartCompany

Could your business lose its .com.au? Domain name rule change sparks fears

Simon Thompson — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 02:24:50 +0000

Businesses have built brands around .com.au domains they legitimately registered years ago. Proposed new rules have raised questions about whether they will still be able to keep them.

The post Could your business lose its .com.au? Domain name rule change sparks fears appeared first on SmartCompany.

“Pay us or the reviews stay”: The extortion scam targeting Australian small businesses

Simon Thompson — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:36:22 +0000

Australian small businesses are being extorted by scammers who flood their Google profiles with fake one-star reviews before demanding payment to remove them.

The post “Pay us or the reviews stay”: The extortion scam targeting Australian small businesses appeared first on SmartCompany.

Bluesfest touring arm enters liquidation six months after festival collapse

Simon Thompson — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 05:56:44 +0000

Bluesfest Tours booked artists for the festival as well as other gigs, with acts including Erykah Badu and The Wailers secured for Australian dates.

The post Bluesfest touring arm enters liquidation six months after festival collapse appeared first on SmartCompany.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a… ceiling fan: Dubbo small business in super-sized dispute with DC Comics over Fanman character

David Adams — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 02:03:48 +0000

Dubbo Lighting Centre's Matthew McKay has defended his Fanman character after DC Comics claimed it shares unfair similarities to Superman.

The post It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a… ceiling fan: Dubbo small business in super-sized dispute with DC Comics over Fanman character appeared first on SmartCompany.

Could your family business be Australia’s favourite?

Business Builders — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 01:04:37 +0000

The search is now underway for Australia's Favourite Family Business. Enter today!

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ACCC urges Canberra to consider EU-style blacklist for unfair business practices

Simon Thompson — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:47:04 +0000

The competition watchdog is urging Canberra to consider elements of European and Japanese trading rules to protect small businesses.

The post ACCC urges Canberra to consider EU-style blacklist for unfair business practices appeared first on SmartCompany.

What the $983 million Hyrox strategy can teach small businesses

Jaime Almond — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 02:25:11 +0000

The Beijing controversy is what people will remember this month, but its latest multi-million dollar deal is what's really interesting.

The post What the $983 million Hyrox strategy can teach small businesses appeared first on SmartCompany.

Backpacker visa ballot, student crackdown could “tear through” hospo sector

David Adams — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 06:11:31 +0000

Hospitality operators fear tighter working holiday and student visa rules will choke a key source of workers, while the construction sector stands to benefit from changes to skilled migration.

The post Backpacker visa ballot, student crackdown could “tear through” hospo sector appeared first on SmartCompany.

The $14 million recipe: How meal delivery platform Délidoor grew fivefold

Simon Thompson — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 02:00:03 +0000

Repeat customers, disciplined spending and keeping key capabilities in-house have helped Délidoor scale while reaching profitability.

The post The $14 million recipe: How meal delivery platform Délidoor grew fivefold appeared first on SmartCompany.

The Victorian Opposition wants to end the state’s $2 billion VC fund

Simon Thomsen — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 01:23:08 +0000

The Victorian Opposition says winding up Breakthrough Victoria and selling off its investments will “save” taxpayers $1.27 billion over the next decade.

The post The Victorian Opposition wants to end the state’s $2 billion VC fund appeared first on SmartCompany.