Friday 3 February

According to new figures, the number of new Australian start-ups fell to a record low in the last financial year.

While economic jitters may make this dip understandable, it is disappointing that so many budding entrepreneurs have been put off.

But is their trepidation justified? Today, we go through the five reasons why you should consider starting a business this year – as well as identify five things that should make you pause for thought.

Elsewhere, social media guru Craig Hodges explains how to structure your business’ Twitter activity and we round up the week’s best entrepreneurial reading in Weekend Reads.