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News.com.au
12 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Shock': Traveller reveals everything wrong with Australia
If you're like me and you've returned from Ho Chi Minh City after weeks of seeing 'Open 24 hours' signs plastered on every establishment and you're now wondering why you can't get a late-night feed that's not a McDonald's burger – you're not alone. After spending a year soaking up the fast-paced, late-night energy of some of Asia's busiest cities, Sydney woman Fiona Wang thought she'd feel comforted coming home. Instead, she found herself wandering empty footpaths after 5.30pm and not being able to get in to see the doctor on a weekend. 'How do Australians do this?' she said in a social media clip. The 29-year-old business owner and self-proclaimed 'travel-addict' recently returned to Australia after living in Bali, and says the adjustment back to Aussie life has been a culture shock in ways she didn't expect. 'If you're working 9-5, everything is closed by 5.30pm and doctors aren't open on Sundays. 'In Asia you can still contact the banks after 5pm, you can go to the mall 'till 10pm – you can do anything you need to,' she said. Like Fiona, I too had grown used to the 24-hour pharmacies, late-night bar spots and restaurants buzzing well into the early hours. But even mundane errands have now become a mission. 'Back here, I can't even send things by post unless I go during lunchtime,' she added. Amen, Fiona. Though she still loves to call Australia home, the 29-year-old admits she 'needs half-half.' A quick Google search returns results of like-minded night-owls all in pursuit of the answer to this very same question. 'Why does everything in Australia close so early?' In a very brutal Reddit take, one user questioned: 'Does no one like making money in Australia? Or do they just close early to go home and complain about the cost of living? Trying to get food after 9pm is impossible, and don't even get me started on AusPost opening hours.' 'Cafes closing at 1pm needs to be studied,' replied one user. Tim Bennett, insurance expert at Finder told 'We need to be more than a nation of coffee shops at 2pm to deserve the label of a top cultural destination.' 'There's a clear tension between the desire for a vibrant, attractive night-life that draws tourists and boosts local economies, and concerns about public safety and noise,' he said. 'Australian cities absolutely can have both safe and peaceful, while vibrant and world famous entertainment districts, but it requires genuine financial support for venues to make accommodations, protections from noise complaints, and good city planning to get people home safely. 'It also requires an acceptance from residents, especially in existing entertainment districts, that this is part and parcel of living in the inner cities.' Whether Australia is a nation with a rumbling night-life underbelly that's waiting to emerge or one that's permanently transfixed by early morning run clubs and matcha is yet to be seen – but until then, Ho Chi Minh is always ready for a good time.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Opening of new daycare in North Vancouver delayed by months due to park permit issue
The owner of a North Vancouver daycare says red tape has cost her thousands of dollars and has delayed the opening of her business by months. Now, she's warning others about the bureaucratic back-and-forth. Amelia John has more on the questions being raised over licensing requirements for public parks.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Be The Most Loved In Your Community
About a dozen years ago, I interviewed an Ace Hardware owner who was forced to make big changes in how he did business to survive a new competitor that was moving in next door. His small store of about 12,000 square feet, packed with merchandise, had been thriving for years. All of that was about to potentially change when a Home Depot chose to build out a 150,000-square-foot store—more than 10 times his size—directly next door. In addition, once the store was built, Home Depot spent more than 30 times what Ace spent on advertising. This savvy Ace Hardware owner realized that to survive, he had to make some changes. He couldn't compete on size. He couldn't compete on selection—a store more than 10 times larger obviously had more merchandise for customers to choose from. And even though his store had competitive prices, 'big box' stores had a reputation for lower prices. So, what did he choose to do? He set out to become the most loved business in his community. He started by eliminating most of the store's traditional advertising. With his competition spending 30 times more, he recognized that his ads might go unnoticed. He shifted those dollars to the community. He started sponsoring local programs such as school dances, church functions and kids' sports teams. While he was already established and known in the community, he took it to the next level with participation in his customers' important events. The strategy for becoming the most loved business in the community isn't just a feel-good or ego-driven approach to name recognition. It's smart business. When the Ace Hardware owner shifted his resources from traditional advertising to community involvement, he created something powerful and special: genuine local relationships and goodwill. This strategy can work for any business (B2C and B2B), not just Ace Hardware. Ten years ago, I had the honor of being a keynote speaker for the United Franchise Group. Back then, they had four franchise concepts. Today, they have 10, plus a consulting company that helps entrepreneurs become franchisors. Their concepts vary from marketing companies to business consulting practices to restaurants. I recently spoke with Ray Titus, UFG's CEO, and he shared one of his favorite marketing strategies: to be the most loved person in your community. It turns out that this strategy was akin to the one used by the Ace Hardware owner. There are many similarities between Ace Hardware and UFG's franchise concepts. While UFG may be an international brand, they are still local businesses. Depending on the message, traditional advertising and marketing can create awareness and even some emotional connection. However, according to Titus, nothing beats the connection you can make by becoming beloved by the community where you work. Even large companies like Home Depot (a direct competitor to Ace Hardware) have recognized the value of community engagement. Many national and international companies have community programs, foundations and local store partnerships that allow them to connect meaningfully with the communities they serve. The key is to be authentic. Simply throwing money at a cause as a donation is nice, but active community involvement is another level. The idea of 'giving back' to the community is important to customers. My annual CX research found that 62% of customers in the U.S. said they prefer to do business with a company or brand that has a social cause that is important to them, and a local/community cause may not only be important, it's also 'close to home.' Furthermore, 51% of customers are willing to pay more if the company or brand supports a cause that is important to them. For businesses large and small, the lesson Ace Hardware and United Franchise Group have embraced is clear: community engagement isn't just a corporate social responsibility, it's a strategic advantage. Companies that authentically connect with the communities in which they reside create a competitive edge that transcends size, price and selection. The most successful organizations recognize that becoming loved and appreciated in their communities is good for business.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The tax benefits of leasing vs. buying a car for your business
Tax deductions for business vehicles are numerous, whether you lease or buy. Leasing can be less expensive upfront and monthly, but leasing means you will never own the vehicle and build equity from the vehicle. In general, buying is a better move if you put a lot of miles on the vehicle, as leases can come with mileage limitations. As a business owner, you need to put more thought into whether you buy or lease than the average driver. All the standard questions come into play, of course. But there's more to consider, like what are the tax benefits of leasing vs. buying a car? First, start by deciding whether buying or leasing makes the most sense for your business. Ultimately, a vehicle purchase or lease is a big expense for your business. Look at the problem from all angles before committing. How much you drive: Lease contracts typically limit the number of miles the car can be driven to 12,000 or 15,000 miles per year. Once you exceed that limit, you may be penalized 10 to 30 cents per additional mile. Buying may be better if you drive a great deal for your business. Wear you'll put on the car: Lease agreements also require that the vehicle be kept in good condition. There could be additional charges if there's excess wear on your vehicle. If your industry beats cars up, consider buying. Perpetual monthly payments: If you continually lease one car after another, you will always have monthly car payments. But when you purchase a vehicle, you'll eventually own the car outright. On the upside, leasing gives you access to the newest car models with the latest technology features available. Leases allow you to access a new car every three years or so. In addition, because lease payments are generally less expensive than a traditional car loan, you may be able to afford a higher-end car. When you use a vehicle for business purposes, the IRS gives you two options for deducting associated expenses. You may use what's known as the standard mileage rate deduction, or you can opt to use the actual expenses deduction. You can swap from standard to actual expense from year to year for a purchased vehicle. However, you must stay with what you first pick when leasing. The standard mileage approach allows you to claim miles driven for your business on your federal taxes. The IRS announces the standard mileage rate that can be used to calculate the deductible cost of operating a car for business purposes every year. How much can you write off on a leased vehicle? For 2025, the rate is 70 cents per mile driven for business purposes. This means if you drive 15,000 miles for your business, you can deduct a total of $10,500. You can deduct state and local sales tax whether you buy or lease a vehicle. The way your business calculates it will differ. Sales tax is paid upfront for purchases and in monthly increments for leases. If you choose to itemize your deductions, you can deduct sales tax instead of income tax. Your business must choose one or the other. As with other deductions, there is an upper limit to the amount you can claim. For 2018 to 2025, that amount is $10,000. You may deduct the cost of monthly lease payments by using the actual expense deduction on your federal tax returns. The specific amount of the lease payment you can deduct depends on how much you drive the car exclusively for business. For example, imagine your monthly lease payment is $400 and you use the vehicle 50 percent of the time for business. You can deduct $200 per month as an expense. These benefits are only available if you sign on to a standard lease. You cannot claim this federal tax deduction if you take on a lease-to-own contract. Self-employed people and business owners can deduct interest on auto loans from their taxes. You must record every business trip, odometer reading and car loan payment to verify the amount of interest you pay. Like other deductions, car loan interest can only be included in your taxes if you opt for an actual expense deduction. Only purchased vehicles qualify for the depreciation deduction — and only when the actual expense deduction is used. The method of determining how much your car depreciated over the year is usually Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS). Like the mileage deduction, the depreciation deduction changes every year. For the 2025 tax year, the maximum depreciation you could deduct is $12,200 for standard depreciation. If you choose the special depreciation allowance, it is up to $20,200. It varies widely based on when the vehicle was placed in service. Review Publication 946 by the IRS to learn about the ways you can depreciate your vehicles and other property as a business owner. Actual expense rules also include the deduction of other expenses for your leased or purchased vehicle, including: Gas Oil changes. Vehicle repairs. Tire purchases. If your vehicle needs extensive maintenance or repairs because of business-related use, keep a careful record of it. This way, you'll know exactly how much you spent — and how much your business can save during tax season. The up-front and monthly costs for leasing a vehicle of the same make, model and year are often less than when buying it. Those savings can be redirected to other business needs and investments. But, leases have to end eventually — and your business is left without equity. With purchasing, you will someday own the vehicle and could sell it to recoup some funds. Leasing costs can also include early termination expenses if you need to end the contract early and excess mileage fees. Both options come with interest and other fees. The choice depends on your business's cash flow and how your business will need to use the vehicle. As with many aspects of running your business, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to whether leasing or buying has more tax advantages. Before investing in a car for your business, consider: How the vehicle will be used. Whether you can afford the upfront and long-term costs. The potential added fees. The tax benefits of leasing a car vs buying a car for business. You can use the auto lease calculator to see if it makes financial sense for you to lease. Alternatively, you can take a look at current auto loan rates. It's always wise to talk with a tax professional if your situation is complicated. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unique memorial honoring long-time Ross Township business owner built along McKnight Road
A unique memorial has been set up in Ross Township to honor a long-time business owner who died. Click here for photos of the memorial. Bob Colosimo died last year. He owned a trucking company. A tri-axle flat-bed truck made completely of stone has been assembled along McKnight Road to honor him. The stone was provided by The Barn Landscape Supply, a business Colosimo started with his son David. The Barn Landscape Supply said they hope the model will stand the test of time for years to come. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
