News · Rules & costs
From Thursday, eftpos, Mastercard and Visa rules stop businesses adding card surcharges, online and in store. What's covered, what isn't and what to do this week.
Read the storyAlert · Scams & security
Fake ATO emails about a 'payment update' lead to a download that can give scammers access to your device. How to spot them, and what to do if you clicked.
News · Marketing
GA4 can now discard web events from hostnames not on your approved list. It helps with spam, but a missed domain means data lost for good. Test it first.
News · Marketing
Google is upgrading Search campaigns that use campaign-level broad match or automatically created assets to AI Max this month. What changes and what to check.
News · Marketing
Google's September 2026 spam update may take up to two weeks. What small businesses should check in Search Console, plus new visual search data.
Explainer · Rules & costs
Super must now reach the fund within seven business days of payday. The rules, the ATO's first-year compliance approach and the 28 October date to watch.
Explainer · Rules & costs
Most small businesses are still exempt, but not all, and some laws apply to everyone. What's in force, what starts 10 December and what the draft bill proposes.
The weekly quiz
Question 1 of 5
From 1 October, which cards will businesses no longer be able to surcharge?
Answer: A. eftpos, Mastercard and Visa debit, credit and prepaid cards
Card network rules stop surcharges on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa debit, credit and prepaid cards, online and in person. American Express and UnionPay are removing surcharging from the same date.
Read the story: Card surcharges end on 1 October. Here's what businesses need to do this week
Question 2 of 5
How many reports of ATO impersonation scams did the ATO receive in August 2026?
Answer: C. 3,265
The ATO received 3,265 reports in August, up 36% on July, and almost all arrived by email. The latest emails link to a download that installs remote desktop software.
Read the story: ATO warns of fake emails that install remote-access software
Question 3 of 5
What happens to a branded text sent from a sender ID that isn't on the ACMA register?
Answer: B. It's relabelled 'Unverified'
Unregistered sender IDs are relabelled 'Unverified'. Texts sent from an ordinary phone number aren't affected, and there's no cut-off date to register.
Question 4 of 5
From 29 September, Google Meet's AI note-taking is switched on by default for which Google Workspace plans?
Answer: D. Business Standard and Business Plus
It applies to Business Standard and Business Plus, in scheduled meetings the organiser hosts with three or more people, including the organiser. Business Starter doesn't include Gemini note-taking in Meet.
Question 5 of 5
What's the starting price of the new Mac mini in Australia?
Answer: B. A$1,449
It starts at A$1,449 with the M6 chip. For most office desks, our pick is the M6 with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage, at A$1,749.
Read the story: Should your business buy the new Mac mini? The M6 and M5 Pro compared
A new quiz comes out every Friday with the briefing. Get the Friday briefing by email
Reader poll of the week
Reader polls aren't scientific: they show how readers who chose to vote answered. One vote per reader. Background: Card surcharges end on 1 October. Here's what businesses need to do this week
Guide · Rules & costs
Which small businesses must have a privacy policy under the Privacy Act, what it must cover, where to publish it, and the penalties for getting it wrong.
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Guide · Marketing
What the ACCC and Google each ban when you ask for reviews, what Google allows, and a simple asking routine for Australian service businesses.
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Guide · Websites
Google's site-move advice in plain English: hosting-only moves, URL changes, 301 redirects and Change of Address, plus how to keep email running.
Read articleComparison · Software & systems
Published Australian card fees, hardware, monthly costs and payouts for Square and Stripe, what changes on 1 October, and what we couldn't check for Tyro.
Guide · Scams & security
Business email hacked? The first-hour steps for Australian small businesses: lock the attacker out, check rules, warn your bank and customers, report.
Guide · Websites
A quiet inbox doesn't always mean the website has failed. Four checks separate a visibility, clarity, usability or follow-up problem before you pay to rebuild.
Guide · AI at work
When an AI draft misses the mark, the brief is often the problem. A five-part structure (purpose, context, output, boundaries, review) and a free template.