Standard operating procedures (or SOPs) are about making things simpler at work and saving time. The work day is full of so many tasks and it makes sense to keep things as easy as possible. SOPs help you organise and streamline your activities to make the best use of your time. This is especially important […]
We assume accuracy is beneficial all of the time, but perhaps not always necessary. You can think of situations where accuracy might be sacrificed for speed perhaps, creativity, or just to get the ball moving on a project. Remember the saying by Catherine Carrigan, ‘Perfect is the enemy of done.’ But when is accuracy essential in business? Accuracy […]
Running a successful business is all about the profit, right? While being profitable is the ultimate goal of a business, one of the most important factors (and one of the biggest pain points) is management of cash flow. So what can you do to improve your cash flow? Paul Sweeney from Pretium Solutions explores some […]
Running your own business is amazing, right? The freedom, the power, the money – more like, the STRESS! Stress is something that everyone experiences, but for small business owners, it can feel extreme as you try to grapple with every problem imaginable and find solutions to please everyone. It’s an uphill battle that can leave […]
Sales is commonly listed as a problem area for businesses. But where to begin with fixing things? What can you do to improve your sales? Nathan Williams, founder of Customer Return, joins us to look at some of the biggest sales issues faced by businesses including: Developing the right pitch Creating a sales process that […]
It’s something that all businesses (and individuals) dread – a data breach. We all know by now how important it is to protect our data. But despite the tools and education available, these data breaches still happen. And sometimes, like the recent Optus breach, they are massive. This incident has led to many important questions […]
As part of our celebration of our 100th episode, we asked our listeners what topic they would like covered. The consensus was to do a compilation of the best business advice from listeners. So that is what you will find in this jam-packed episode! We heard from business owners and professionals about the strategies that […]
Delegation can be a great tool for business owners to use – but only if used correctly! Otherwise, employees can feel resentful (“I’m getting the jobs no one else wants!”) or overwhelmed (“This isn’t my job, why am I doing it? I have no idea what to do!”) Raj Nathoo from Keystone Active Learning shares […]
Do you need to know more about your customers or competition? What about trends affecting your industry? Or generational shifts in society? Successful businesses are all about providing great solutions to difficult problems faced by your customers. To make sure you are on the right path, it is crucial to have the right information to […]
Does your business rely on labour? An aging population and falling immigration rates already reduced our labour market and then COVID-19 made staffing challenges that much harder. So how can your business grow and prosper during these challenging times? Paul Cripps from PK People Solutions explores the issues around labour shortages and provides some ideas […]
Getting a tax refund is good, right? Everyone loves a tax refund! But, if this tax refund is for your business, then it may be a sign of trouble! It’s time for a closer look at what is happening in your business. Find out why tax refunds are bad for business in this episode with […]
The premise of ‘keep it simple’ has been widely used and helpful for many people in many scenarios. It’s about not overcomplicating things which can leave room for problems to develop. ‘Keeping it simple’ also applies to business. As a business owner, the more complicated you make things, the more steps that you add in […]
Raj Nathoo from Keystone Active Learning explores how your business can manage change in this constantly evolving business environment. It all starts with your personal mindset. Raj discusses why it’s important to reduce negative thoughts and stop punishing or blaming yourself for circumstances beyond your control. You need to accept change as being inevitable – […]
Have you been reflecting on your business over the holidays? Maybe you have found some things that aren’t working well, things that you want to do differently. Or perhaps you aren’t even sure where to start. Don’t worry, we have some inspiration to help you kick-start your business this year. Paul Sweeney shares some of […]
We hope you got some inspiration from last week’s ‘kick-start your business’ podcast. We have another dose ready for you this week on The Business Behind Your Business. While we have all been experiencing many challenges over the past couple of years, we want to see businesses flourishing, despite the bumpy road. That is why we […]
Is your business losing profits to expensive and unnecessary FX conversions? These costs are often ‘hidden’ but can go up to 5% each time you bring money back, or pay global expenses. In this episode we talk to Henry Broad from Airwallex who have developed a solution to this problem. Essentially, Airwallex provide a cheaper […]
Planning for your retirement? Or do you look at retirement as something to think of ‘down the track’? Many business owners don’t plan properly for their retirement. And many rely on selling their business to fund their retirement. But will that provide the lifestyle that you’ve been dreaming of? Find out what else you should […]
Did you know there are many grants and incentives to help fund early stage innovation companies? And small and medium businesses can access them – they are not just for the large companies. Peter Towers from ESS BizTools explains what opportunities are available around research and development. Find out about the application process and steps […]
How do you determine what your business strategy and plan should be? How do you identify what your successful business should look like? What goals and targets should you set for your business this year? The first question you should be asking is ‘why?’ Asking ‘Why’? Has become a key process for business owners, made […]
What is revenue and why is it so important? Let’s start with looking at profit. Profit is the outcome; the end result. It’s quite simply what’s left over from your revenue when you deduct your expenses. Profit is the final score. Just looking at the final result and saying how much you want it to increase won’t make any […]
Do you feel like your days are spent running from one thing to another and never getting anything done? Do you look at those 5 and 10 minute gaps between speaking to this client and invoicing that client and picking the kids up from school and think, “That’s not enough time to do anything, why […]
How can we support better mental health in our communities and workplaces? What training is available to help workplaces promote mental health and recognise when someone needs help? Who can you turn to if you are worried about the mental health of someone at work or at home? Michael van Dyk from The Black Dog […]
As an employer, what are you doing to look after your employees? These days, employers are investing more into employee wellbeing than ever before. Employee relations and getting the most out of your employees is one of the most critical things for any business, but it’s particularly important for small businesses. Paul Cripps from PK […]
As a business owner, have you ever avoided getting advice because it was too expensive, then had to fix up a legal problem which cost even more money? Have you turned down opportunities because getting advice was too hard and too expensive? Do you worry about being appropriately covered for risk but not sure who […]
Do you have a great business idea, but not sure where to start? Are you confused about what you need to do first? If this is you (too many questions and not enough answers) then you are in the right place! Paul Sweeney, chartered accountant and business advisor, explores what you need to know before […]
Is being passionate about your product or service enough to warrant starting a business? What about skill or quality – if your product or service is ‘the best’, does that mean you should start a business selling it? A successful business requires more than just passion, skill and an amazing product or service. Paul Sweeney (Pretium Solutions) […]
Are you ready to turn your passion into a business? Sister2Sister pop duo did exactly that when they opened the popular Sister2Sister School of Singing in 2004. They successfully moved from a performance career to balancing running a singing school with being professional freelance, session vocalists. So how did they do it? Learn about the […]
Do you understand your employer obligations under the National Employment Standards? Whether you have one employee (even if it’s just you, the business owner) or many, these are rules you must follow, including understanding changes in the past couple of years. Paul Cripps (PK People Solutions) gives an overview of the eleven points of the […]
What’s the difference between a ‘start-up’ and ‘starting a business’? A start-up is all about scale, it’s about creating a business that is built to grow quickly. We are joined by Meryl Johnston from Bean Ninjas. Meryl looks at start-ups and ways you can scale your business. She also looks at supports for businesses such […]
So you have just started your business – why would you want to look at exit planning? Well, the more you focus on having a great exit plan, the more profitable and successful your business will be. A good business plan is a long-term plan, with both a start and a finish. By planning your […]
Intellectual property (IP) is frequently overlooked by businesses. But by looking at your IP issues early, when you are setting up your business, you are both protecting your business, as well as adding value to it. André Meyer, founder of Meyer West IP, joins us to take a closer look at intellectual property and the […]
What traps do you need to avoid this end of financial year? What is the simple strategy behind tax planning? End of Financial Year (EOFY) activities should include, but not be limited to taxation planning. There are some traps that every business owner should avoid at this time of year. So what do you need […]
What can you do to gain a competitive advantage over other businesses? Raj Nathoo from Keystone Active Learning discusses how business owners can use the knowledge within their business to its greatest capacity. Some important points that Raj discusses include the following: Identify training needs within your organisation Offer staff training – this helps keep […]
Do you have a business that buys and sells products? Or do you manufacture products to sell? Or, maybe you are looking at starting a business that will have stock? If your business has inventory, then you need a tool to help you manage your stock and grow your business. If you don’t already have […]
Do you have trouble keeping track of what is going on in your business? Does the idea of business planning leave you feeling overwhelmed? Are you ready to grow your business, but not sure where to start? If any of this sounds familiar, maybe you need an ‘all-in-one’ business tool! Chris Palmer, from Maus Software, […]
Do you struggle to forecast the right amount of stock to order? Are your manual systems and processes letting you down? Find out how ERP (enterprise resource planning) software, like Jiwa, can help your business be successful. It combines inventory management, accounting and other tools in one complete package. Getting the right business tools can […]
