Agent
A person or business entity that you authorise to act on your behalf in your business dealings.
AusIndustry
An area of the federal government that aims to help the Australia business and research community become more innovative and internationally competitive.
Austrade
The Australian Trade Commission is the Federal Government agency that helps Australian companies win overseas business for the products and services.
Australian Business Number (ABN)
A single identifier for all business dealings with the Australian Taxation Office.
Australian Business Register
A register of information provided to the ATO by businesses and other entities when they register for an ABN that can be accessed by the internet. Some of this information is available publicly from ABRpublic.
Australian Company Number (CAN)
The number allocated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) when you register a company under Corporations Law.
ACCC
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
ASIC
Australian Securities and Investments Commission
ATO
Australian Taxation Office
Brand
Can be a name, term, design, symbol or a combination of any of those things that differentiate one producer’s products or services from another.
Business Activity Statement (BAS)
A form for businesses registered for GST to use to report their business tax entitlements and obligations.
Benchmark
A set of conditions against which a product or system is measured.
Business Plan
A written document detailing all the aspects of the business. It covers the industry overview, financial situation and forecasts, market research, competition analysis and strategies of how the business will succeed in that particular market.
BLIS
Business Licensing Information Service – a site that allows you to find out the licensing requirements of your business in your state.
Cash flow
The change in the cash balance in a business on a monthly basis, it generally changes from one month to another depending on income and expenditure.
Channels of distribution
Made up of wholesalers, retailers, or direct to the customer – how the business gets the products or services to the consumer.
Consultant
An individual, partnership or corporation engaged to provide professional independent and expert advice on services.
Contractor
Someone who contracts to provide supplies or perform work at a certain price or rate.
Cost of Goods Sold
The cost of the materials that go into the manufacture of the product or service that is sold.
Current Assets
Cash and receivables that a business owns.
Current Debt
Short-term debt and short-term liabilities.
Depreciation
An accounting tool that estimates the loss of value of an item over a period of time.
Differentiation
Where a business offers a product or service that is different in some way from its competitors to achieve a Strategic Competitive Advantage.
Due Diligence
An investigation or audit of a potential investment. Due diligence serves to confirm all material facts in regards to a sale. Generally, due diligence refers to the care a reasonable person should take before entering into an agreement or a transaction with another party.
Equity
Calculated by the difference between assets and liabilities.
Factoring
Involves a business using its debtors to obtain quick cash (working capital). Factoring is provided by the majority of banks and specialist factoring businesses.
Focus Group
A small group of 8-12 people from the same target market that are brought together to discuss a topic, product or service that is targeted to that particular segment. Used to gather qualitative market research information.