Entrepreneur

With more and more businesses closing their doors, here are the three important focuses every entrepreneur needs to keep in mind when starting up, to ensure the longevity of their venture.

For many small bricks and mortar retailers, the prospect of adding an online store to the mix is daunting. How will you manage the technology? What about all the extra responsibilities? According to one Canberra boutique owner, the secret is good systems and a willingness to educate yourself.

Each Tuesday we’ll feature a business that’s endured an incredible challenge. This week, Lisa Mills explains how the loss of her hearing aids meant she had to discover a new way to communicate with clients.

Being able to delve deeply into the behaviour of your customers can bring big rewards. The more you understand who your customers are, what drives their choices and what they expect from you, the better.

Thanks to the explosion of texting, instant messaging and social media, the line between communication for business and social purposes is becoming blurred. Here’s how to avoid the embarrassing blunders these communication methods can cause, for the benefit of your professional image.

When Amy Richards’ partner had a near fatal motorcycle accident, the old cliché ‘life is short’ was driven home in the most frightening of ways. Now, she’s running one of the country’s best up and coming accessory brands.

Layne Beachley didn’t want other driven women to face the same financial hardship she did at the dawn of her surfing career, so the determined seven-time world champion has turned her attention to building her own social enterprise.

Ten teams of bright young business minds have made it to the final stage of the 2012 RMIT Business Plan Competition, with the top ideas including a green fuel made from agriculture waste, a basketball-themed pub and sustainable way of packaging beer.

Stereotypes about the sexes are as old as the hills, and have little proof. If men and women acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses then leaders of any sex will get ahead.

Damien James faced the ultimate challenge: bringing his business back from the brink. Here’ he reveals how when a serial fraudster stole money from him, he was forced to rebuild his podiatry company from the ground up.

How do you manage disagreement with your business partner? Just like couples get counselling, sometimes it’s wise to bring in external help to assist with mediation between business partners.

New research from the University of Technology Sydney has revealed the state of play in small business, and offers some lessons for SME owners to learn from.

Nathan Murphy is the young gun behind the MuesliForMe start-up, a subscription commerce venture that’s making waves in the breakfast market.

It’s easy to get so caught up in the running of a business that you forget to celebrate the important milestones reached along the way. Use these simple tips to celebrate your achievements, and those of your team – your business culture will thank you.

Phillip Di Bella is the aficionado behind the homegrown, now global, boutique coffee business, Di Bella Coffee. Here, he reveals the secret to creating a stand out brand in a crowded and competitive market.

Starting a business can be the most exhilarating yet terrifying experience. Although risky, some careful planning from the very beginning can help ensure you’re running a smart start-up. Consider these 5 tips.

At the core of a happy and engaged workforce is a great leader. Anyone can be a manager, but can they be an inspirational, affiliative and collaborative leader? MYOB CEO Tim Reed offers these thoughts.

We all know why we should network, so why don’t we do it more? Mentally, networking feels like it takes a huge chunk out of our already time-poor weeks, but as one time management expert explains, this need not be the case.

Want to learn how to get the ear of the press? Learn how at Sydney Business Month’s Pitch To Media event next month, featuring Dynamic Business’ own associate editor Rhiannon Sawyer.

Each Tuesday we’ll feature a business that’s endured an incredible challenge. This week CEO of Carrera Partners Michael Floyd reveals how some quick-thinking during the GFC saw his business come out the other side with all staff and a profitable new division.