Business Loans Weekly News Wrap for Australian Business Owners
Each week, we sift Australian business headlines, policy shifts, tax and compliance changes, market trends, technology updates, and practical insights for small and medium businesses. Get a clear, no-fuss wrap, context you can trust, and takeaways to help plan the week ahead. Designed for owners, managers and founders across every state, it keeps you informed in minutes without the noise.
This Week:
This week: the RBAs card surcharge ban starts 1 October, so review merchant fees, enable least‑cost routing and reprice to protect margins. NSW launches new exporter support with workshops, peer programs and 30+ trade missions — secure working capital early to seize opportunities. The ATO warns against relying on AI or “finfluencers” for tax advice; prefill is live and contractor TPAR income will prefill from late August; accurate lodgements help speed lender decisions. Global retailers are opening Australian flagships despite softer spending; consider finance for fit‑outs and equipment to compete. Visit business‑loans.au for tools, comparisons and a free eligibility check.
EPISODE 2557 | Business Loans Weekly News Wrap for Australian Business Owners | Tue, 4th Aug 2026
8 Aug 2026 | Paige Estritori
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Read Full Transcript:
Hello and welcome to Business Loans Weekly News Wrap for Australian Business Owners, Im Paige Estritori, and its Tuesday, 4 August 2026.
First, payments. From 1 October, surcharging on Visa, Mastercard and Eftpos will be banned. The Reserve Bank of Australia, or RBA, says consumers could save about one and a half billion dollars a year, but the merchant service fees dont vanish — they shift back to you. Nows the time to review your payment provider, enable least‑cost routing where possible, and reprice if needed so margins hold up. If cash flow gets tight in the changeover, use our fast online eligibility check to see funding options without obligation.
Next up, help for exporters. New South Wales has unveiled refreshed export support, including 13 capability workshops, a Communities of Practice program linking newcomers with seasoned exporters, and more than 30 Going Global programs and trade missions this financial year. Its practical help to diversify markets while trade settings shift. If youre eyeing new orders, line up working capital and logistics finance early so you can say yes when the opportunity lands.
Meanwhile, at tax time the Australian Taxation Office, or ATO, is warning businesses not to rely on AI tools or social media “finfluencers” for advice. Most prefill data is now available, and from late August the ATO will start pre‑filling contractor incomes reported through the Taxable Payments Annual Report. The touted $1,000 standard deduction doesnt apply until 2027, and self‑lodgers have until 31 October. Clean, accurate lodgements speed up lender assessments — reconcile now so your financials are funding‑ready.
And finally, retail investment is still turning up. Global brands are opening flagship stores here despite soft spending, taking a measured “flagship first, expand later” approach in prime centres. That means more foot traffic and competition. If youre planning a fit‑out or equipment upgrade to keep pace, compare options and stage costs with tools and calculators on our site, then tap our nation‑wide broker support for a transparent comparison of lenders and terms.
Thats the wrap. For calculators, no‑obligation quotes and a free eligibility assessment, head to business‑loans.au. Im Paige Estritori — thanks for listening and Ill catch you next week.
The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.
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Knowledgebase
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The total value of all goods and services produced within a countrys borders in a specific time period.
