Are you looking for a business opportunity in Australia? This might be the one for you, an established and thriving beauty salon in Brisbane, Queensland for just $129,000.

The business is described as “locally renowned”, being ideally placed to cater for the majority of the local market as there is not a similar business for approximately 10km. It has enjoyed sales growth over the past year despite the business only being open four and a half days a week and the owner only dedicating 35 hours a week to the running of it.

The salon has 5 treatment rooms and offers a wide range of services including laser treatments, microdermabrasion and slimming treatments using valuable good quality equipment and trusted, highly trained staff.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone with either management experience or a passion for beauty to take the next step and own their own business. All the hard work has been done; the reputation is strong and staff and equipment are in place. All the business needs is for someone to take over and expand the operation and the profit margins.

To contact the seller go to www.mercury5sky.com.

Purple Sage is up for sale

Here is your chance to purchase a growing health food shop and natural health clinic called Purple Sage in central Victoria which could become extremely lucrative with some effort and investment. The shop stocks a range of supplements, beauty products, cleaning products, packaged foods and gifts. The clinic offers a range of services by professional practitioners.

The shop, which is unique to the town, has been established for three years during which time it has developed a loyal customer base in the local area. It is in a prime location in a bustling town with plenty of passing trade.

The business would benefit from an experienced owner streamlining the product range and expanding the business to take advantage of the booming global health market. The shop needs a refurbishment to use the space effectively and steer away from the current hippie image that seems to be lagging behind similar retailers in the UK but has a strong core business to remodel around.

The business is for sale for $70,000 (£46,000) and has annual revenue of $275,000 (£180,000) with low overheads and a long lease available.

After you have made the life changing decision to move to Australia you will need to organise and move your possessions, which means using one of the UK’s many international removals companies, unless of course you want to leave everything behind and start afresh. So here is a quick guide to a few of the best who will do all they can to make your move as quick and stress free as possible.

John Mason

John Mason International is one of the UK’s leading International Removal companies. The company, established in 1884 are specialists in international shipping to Australia facilitating thousands of overseas removals to Australia every year.

Shipping times vary depending on whether

Clark and Rose

Clark and Rose is one the UK’s best international removals and storage companies which provides an unparalleled international service. From wrapping your most treasured belongings to getting them through your new door Clark and Rose will assist and oversee your move down to the last detail, taking the stress out of relocating.

If you are moving to Australia Clark and Rose will get your belongings to you in 6-8 weeks if you choose to use a whole container or alternatively a cheaper option is to share a container which means that your possessions will be stored in wooden boxes alongside many other peoples’ possessions, in this case your belongings will be with you in 10-12 weeks.

Air Freight is the most common and cost effective method which sees your possessions transported wherever the aircraft is going until they reach your door however if you require your belongings immediately you can pay for direct freight which will cost considerably more.

You can move any items such as household goods and personal items you have owned for more than a year duty free. All items being imported into Australia are inspected by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) which can take up to 14 days. AQIS look for items which may have come into contact with soil or vegetation as the Australian customs are always concerned contamination.

If AQIS find anything which does not pass their inspection it may suggest further cleaning which you will have to meet the cost for.

Clark and Rose can offer two different packages for international moving; door to door which includes all costs or door to port which only includes getting to your destination port and will not include any costs after unloading such as AQIS clearance and transportation to your new home.

Move Me International Removals

Sea Freight is the most cost effective way of moving

Move Me is a subsidiary of 1^st Move International and has been operating for 20 years.

Unlike most other removals companies, Move Me uses shrink wrapping on pallet bases instead of boxes to make the most efficient use of space. For example, if you do not urgently need it, leave your clothes in your chest of drawers and it will be shrink-wrapped to a pallet as it is.

After collection all of your possessions will be ready for shipping within three days and Move Me makes weekly shipments to Australia, making it one of the fastest ways to transport your things.

Anglo Pacific

Another top removals company is Anglo Pacific which handles 20,000 international movers every year and has been an industry leader for the last 30 years.

Anglo Pacific’s international shipping service includes a free, no obligation quote. Your quote will typically include packing, transportation to your destination country including port charges, dealing with customs and other relevant authorities at both ends, delivery to your new home and unpacking at any residence on first floor or lower.

The quote will not include any taxes or other charges such as any extra cleaning ordered by AQIS.

For removals to Australia from the UK Anglo Pacific charge around £5-£6 per cubic foot based on a shipment of 200 cubic feet by sea however if you choose air freight which is advised for items that are needed more urgently price is calculated by weight and is considerably more.

Anglo Pacific suggests contents insurance based on the cost of replacing any lost or damaged items at your destination country.

Preparation is the key, while all removals companies employ experts it is important to have everything organised before they arrive, particularly personal items so that there is no cause for staff to unintentionally invade your privacy.

PSS International Removals

PSS International Removals is a family run company which has been specialising in international removals for the past 29 years.

Following a free no obligation quote PSS will assign you two moving coordinators who will take care of the whole process and keep you informed as PSS handles your whole move from packing in the UK to unpacking in Australia.

As with all of the big removals companies PSS uses highly skilled and experienced packers who will make sure that all of your belongings are made safe and secure.

A Word of Warning

Here are a few items that cannot be transported by any company and will be seized and destroyed by the Australian authorities. Some items may also carry fines or other penalties.

• Fireworks or any other explosives including pressurised containers
• Food and drink
• Cash and jewellery
• Pornography of any kind
• Firearms (unless you have contacted Australian Customs and have been granted permission by the Territory Police Registry in the form of a permit B709a prior to moving.)

Whichever removals company you decide to use make sure that you know what you want to take, what you don’t and how fast you need it as once your belongings are in transit there is nothing you can do if you change your mind.

Sydney could be your home if you take advantage of this business opportunity

Looking for a small business opportunity in Australia? Consider this, a small commercial and residential window cleaning business based around Sydney’s Upper and Lower North Shore.

The business which has been established for 16 years is currently run by a husband and wife team who only work 3 or 4 days a week so would be perfect for an industrious entrepreneur to take the reins and embark on an aggressive program of expansion throughout the Sydney area.

The business has grown primarily through word of mouth and has a strong repeat customer base. It would definitely benefit from a coordinated and sustained advertising campaign to move the business to another level.

The business is easily scalable with few overheads, a high profit margin and the price includes all the equipment necessary to get going. It currently generates under 50k a year but has a healthy profit margin and with a little work the turnover could be doubled.

For more information and to contact the owners check their website www.brightview.biz

Introduction

Australia draws people from around the globe with its relatively stable economy, high standards of living and equally high life expectancy. The land Down Under has good education and health care, not to mention a wealth of outdoor space, natural wonders and unrivalled sunshine.

So whether you’re looking to quit the UK in favour of a better climate and a better way of life or invest in a market that has managed to avoid the worst of the global financial crisis. While property prices in the UK (with the exception of central London) have dropped considerably and are likely to fall further, those in Australia have not been affected.

Many believe that the Australian housing market is impervious to the crisis which has gripped most of the rest of the world while others say that house prices are and have been artificially inflated for some time and the cyclical nature of all housing markets means that Australia is due a downturn. Only time will tell how stable the market is but the simple fact is that house Prices in Sydney are soaring and those in Perth, Melbourne and Canberra are showing signs of following suit.

Overview

Unlike the UK, Australia’s property is primarily single story but like the UK the easiest way to make a profit is to find something under market value and to renovate or choose an area undergoing regeneration.

There are estimated to be 131,000 new dwellings being built in 2010/2011; 50,000 less than is required to even keep the housing shortfall at a steady level. This lack of housing is pushing property prices up and in many areas out pricing first time buyers according PK Property.

Due to high property values out pricing most first time buyers now is the opportune moment to invest in buy-to-let properties. Rental vacancies in Sydney are at a record low of 1 percent meaning that the area is crying out for rental properties.

When looking to purchase a buy-to-let property the foreign investor should be aware that the government has a number of restrictions on such business. The general rule is that to invest you must be living in Australia either temporarily or full time whether this is through a Temporary Entry Visa, a student visa or someone being granted a Permanent Residence Visa.

No matter how many properties you buy, where or when or how long you own them for, if you leave Australia and do not have a valid bridging visa you must sell all real estate even if it will be at a loss.

There is an exception to the rule however; if you apply to the FIRB (Foreign Investment Review Board) permission may be granted to purchase vacant land or an existing property for investment purposes if the investment can be proved to assist the local community and its housing needs.

Projections

Sydney property has a long term trend of doubling every 7-10 years and BIS Shrapnel, a leading economic forecaster has predicted a 21 percent rise over the next three years based on the estimation of a shortfall of 308,000 dwellings. In the long term the gap between supply and demand will only increase due to restrictions on building and the ageing population.   

Looking to make the move down under but don’t have a job on the skilled immigration list? Why not buy a business in Australia, as long as you have the money to invest you are almost guaranteed a visa.

There are pubs, clubs and hotels for sale right across Australia from as little as $200,000 to as much as $16.5 million. For $1.2 million you can get your hands on Villa Paradiso Beachfront Apartments, a complex of 19 self contained apartments on the tropical Queensland Coast. This business opportunity has an estimated turnover of $140,000 and is the ideal opportunity for an ambitious landlord to make the move down under.

If you don’t have quite so much to invest don’t worry. Take a look at any number of cafes, restaurants and bed and breakfasts that are much more affordable. Take Dudley House bed and breakfast in Daylesford Victoria which is up for sale for just $199,000, less than the average three bed house in the UK. This 10 bed business has the potential to earn you as much as $80,000 a year and that’s on the conservative side.

So if the state of the UK economy is getting you down, just take a look at Australia, if you are investing in the country’s economy there are fewer restrictions than if you are looking for an employer out there.

Doctors Down Under are happier than ever

The Medical Journal of Australia (published by the Australian Medical Association) has investigated levels of job satisfaction among doctors in Australia, and found that 98% rated themselves ‘content’ or ‘very content’ in their jobs – an increase on previous studies.

Specialists tended to be the most satisfied, followed by GPs, trainees and hospital doctors. On-call work and hours worked did not differ across doctor types, but having a professional support network was strongly associated with job satisfaction, especially in rural areas – which is Australia can be quite isolated.

The Association did, however, follow up the study with a call for better support for newly qualified doctors arriving from overseas to rural areas of Australia. Under current policy, most overseas-trained doctors must work in rural areas for the first 10 years after their arrival. This is because it is these areas most in need of qualified doctors.

The AMA reports that almost 50 per cent of doctors in rural Australia are from overseas. As such, doctors who are least familiar with the Australian health system are being placed into the most difficult locations.

Nonetheless, doctors Down Under remain for the most part very happy with their lot – good news for patients and of course good news for migrating medics. With doctors being among the most wanted skill sets in Australia, this is an opportunity for qualified doctors from overseas to make a move to career happiness.

If you have an in demand skill then Australia needs you

A new survey of 1200 business owners and chief executives across all industry sectors, conducted by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) has revealed that employment expectations have reached a seven year peak at a net index of 11 points.

The survey found that the booming Australian economy is putting pressure of the already tight labour market and may force wages higher, a factor that twenty seven percent of companies considered to be a primary influence on their business over the next two quarters.

Expectations for sales and growth have been easing following recent peaks however D&B chief executive Christine Christian said that “Overall, the signs are positive for the economy.”

“Policy makers will need to ensure the supply of skilled labour can keep up with demand in order to avoid wages growth adding to the inflationary pressure,”

The already low unemployment rate, five percent in December 2010, is expected to fall even further over the next twelve months, a large factor being the labour required to rebuild Queensland infrastructure while maintaining a growing economy.

“However, the increasing demand for labour and the expected impact on wages does point to some capacity constraints and if this continues it is likely to eventually show up in inflation.”

Economic consultant for D&B, Duncan Ironmonger has reiterated Australia’s increasing need for labour saying that the country is expecting strong employment growth over the next two quarters.  

“Although consumers are saving a higher proportion of disposable income, strong employment and income growth is continuing with only modest inflation pressure,” Dr Ironmonger said.

One way of filling gaps in the labour market is through immigration. For those thinking of making the move down under, check out the Skilled Occupations List which is constantly updated to find out if you qualify and apply for a visa.

Tom Furnivall volunteered to help clean up Queensland

It’s all very well travelling around a country, enjoying its sights, tastes and experiences and generally having a blast. Australia is exceptionally generous in its offering. But it’s a depressingly rare thing for travellers and holidaymakers to actually go out of their way to give something back.

So let’s applaud the example set by Scottish backpacker Tom Furnivall, who was in Queensland during the catastrophic weather conditions that have seen flash floods, rising waters and angry summer storms hurling torrential rain and 2cm hailstones onto the region, as well as leaving two-thirds of the state an official disaster zone, towns devastated and 20 people dead.

Tom, staying at the Brisbane YHA youth hostel, saw the devastation around him and volunteered to help with the clean-up. He was promptly put to work at the University of Queensland, sorting and clearing water-damaged furniture. As he points out: “It’s the least we can do, considering we travellers have an easy life, and there are people here who’ve had their whole lives washed away.”

Mind you, even holidaymakers continuing to visit the East Coast are doing their bit for the clean-up, as the traditional Sydney to Cairns route remains open for business. All contributions to the economy are helping the clean-up, so keep on trucking, and don’t cancel your travel plans.

If you’re in Australia and can volunteer to help, visit www.qld.gov.au/floods or call 1800 994 100.

If not, you can donate towards disaster relief here.

Who’s the funniest? You decide!