When we need a job done or have to ask someone for help, the most common response is “I know a guy!’’ Growing your business through word of mouth is the Australian way. However, times are changing. With more and more businesses investing in digital advertising and brand collaborations, it can be hard for people to notice your brand. Whether you’re a new business or have been in the game for a while, if you are wanting to reach a [...]
Small business owners need to know how to sell online. In today’s world, customers expect you to have some sort of online offering. Using the internet to shop around, read reviews and compare prices is natural to the modern-day consumer. If you don’t have some form of presence, then you won’t be an option and you’ll miss out on a great opportunity. According to the Auspost eCommerce report, in 2018 online purchases in Australia grew by more 13% with 73% of households shopping online, spending over $27.5bn. How to sell online in 4 steps Setting yourself up doesn’t have to be a difficult task. To get started, create [...]
On average, we spend 90,000 hours at work in our lifetime. So, as a business owner, making sure your workplace has a positive culture, is the best thing you can do for your company. Culture, as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary is “the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time”. So, what makes the culture in a workplace positive? Atmosphere Culture in the workplace can make or break an organisation. Without a positive culture, employees will struggle to find value in their work. In turn, this can lead to low productivity, stress, and poor morale, which will [...]
As a small business owner, knowing how to hire is a key step in expanding your business. Hiring a new employee is both exciting and scary. Finding the right candidate based on culture, outlook, and expectation is essential for success. What does this mean? Culture: will their personality and working style fit within the organisation? Note, this is not somebody you would love to have a beer with down the pub. All sorts of personalities can get a job done, so it’s about finding the best match. Outlook: what do they want to achieve? What [...]
This month, Cashflow Manager CEO Tim Millar and National Manager of Commercial Business, Melanie Miller received a warm, hearty reception from Mount Gambier’s business community. With beautiful landscapes, great food, and thriving business culture, we experienced what makes Mount Gambier unique: a dedicated, supportive people that care for one another – both in business and community. Boasting the Blue Lake, Umpherston Sinkhole, and Cave Garden, the region has fantastic must-see attractions. But Mount Gambier is more than that. Its heart [...]
Whether you are opening a new business or running an existing one, finding a niche in your market is essential for success. If you’re an existing business, one of the best methods to find a niche is to listen to the requests of your existing customer base. When a customer asks for a product or service, note it down and if it’s not offered by competitors, consider the possibility of including it within your offering. If you’ve not yet started [...]
We’re into the second half of June already and the race is most definitely on to the end of the financial year, but are you primed and ready to go, or scratching your head wondering what you need to do? This time of year can be quite stressful for small business owners particularly if organising is not your strong point. To help you get ahead of the curve, here are 5 quick wins to get your books into shape [...]
The marketing and sales section of your business plan should cover the basics; your target market and competition, defining your product messaging, pricing, and other marketing strategies to maximise sales. Marketing is not just advertising; marketing is an investment in the growth of your business. Like any other investment, money spent on marketing must generate a return. With that in mind, the aim of the Marketing and Sales chapter of your business plan is to answer the question “How will [...]
Over the past few weeks, we have been covering the different sections needed for a successful business plan; goals and objectives, your competition, the executive summary and now, finances. Starting a business is a huge investment for yourself, for investors, partners and for banks. Preparing a financial plan for your business is not only going to show you the costs involved, it will also provide you with an insight to how your business will profit in the future. What you should [...]
As each Australian state begins to relax lockdown restrictions, reopening the workplace and getting back to work in COVID-19 is on everyone’s mind. The feeling of freedom and the sense that we are moving closer to normality is exciting. However, it’s important to remember that COVID-19 has not gone away. So, to ensure we move through these difficult times in a healthy way, small business owners must create a safe environment for customers and employees. Developing safe work practices and [...]
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