#Business Planning
Why a ‘people plan’ is just as important as a business plan
Your business needs a people strategy, one that covers the embedding of culture and the projection of your team members’ career pathways…
Five actions to supercharge your business
A new financial year plan can make all the difference for your SME It’s never-ending for business owners: if it’s not BAS time, it’s EOFY, then the cycle starts all over again. With the EOFY rush receding, July as the first month of the new financial year is a great time to take stock. Scottish […]
A new year, a new plan: five ways to transform your small business
The start of a new financial year is an ideal time for business owners to take stock of the business, review progress towards growth goals, and re-align plans as necessary. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach for businesses to make their planning more effective, there are a number of key considerations that can help business […]
Has your business planning outgrown Excel?
Microsoft Excel enjoys global superiority as the go to electronic spreadsheet for financial management and data collation. This status is well deserved as the business application has given in excess of 30 years of admirable and loyal service in helping companies track, forecast, analyse, and manipulate a wide range of business data. Despite its excellent […]
7 Survival tips to avoid common business mistakes
Growing a business is a special talent, part science, part art and doing it well can be one of the most rewarding life experiences. It can also spell financial disaster from which it is very difficult to recover, when things don’t go well. In this article we discuss 5 common mistakes made by businesses. Cash Flow Cash […]
Why do so many entrepreneurs fail to execute their ideas?
As the world becomes smaller and technology more powerful, an ever-increasing number of people are being bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. Against a general background of economic uncertainty, the idea of taking charge and becoming the captain of your own ship is an incredibly appealing one. There is, however, something of a chasm between the […]
Starting a business? 6 things you need to consider
Everyone has, at some point, dreamt of owning their own business. Whether it’s a small family restaurant or a large worldwide corporation, the need to have something you can call your own is deeply rooted in the human psyche. That being said, if it really were that easy, everybody would be an entrepreneur. Making it […]
Regulating CEO paychecks could boost business profit
Ensuring CEO payments are capped and monitored could make businesses more profitable, according to a new study from the University of Melbourne.
SMBs must begin planning for 2014
The silly season is already creeping up on us and 2014 is only a few short months away.
Business expert, Chrissy Crust, launches new consulting services
Business expert and entrepreneur, Chrissy Crust, recently launched her business to help small, micro and solo businesses succeed in an increasingly competitive market.
Making the most of your Australia Day Monday
Having a public holiday so soon after Christmas may feel like a treat but perhaps it could be best spent catching up on those things you keep putting aside. Here are four activities to keep you busy, and on top of things, this public holiday.
When last did you spend quality time with your business?
Growing a business is a lot like raising children: it will need a lot of nurturing and care to be healthy and self-sufficient. So, when was the last time you sat down to spend some quality time making plans for your business?
The state of small business today
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.
Why workplace safety should be part of the planning process
WorkSafe have found that safety in many SMBs isn’t delegated to a responsible party, and is instead juggled on an ad hoc basis. This lack of planning has far-reaching impacts on a business’ ability to cut costs, especially WorkCover premiums. Here’s how to integrate workplace safety into your other business functions.
Why your business needs an operations plan
If you’re sailing your boat without a rudder, you’re going to lose control when the water gets rough. A growing business needs a sound operations plan to survive.
How healthy is your market intelligence?
If you don’t know your competitors back to front and you don’t know where your customers are coming from and how they feel about your service, then it’s impossible to make informed improvements to become more competitive.
The benefits of including staff in strategy development
A good strategy is the foundation of any successful business, but getting that strategy ingrained in your staff’s minds is easier said than done. Better yet – why not include your staff within the strategy development process? They could very well have insights and ideas that strengthen what you have in mind.
Ten steps to go from surviving to thriving in 2012
This year is shaping up as yet another difficult one for SMBs, but there are a few easy ways to stay ahead of the game and avoid the roads that lead to insolvency.
A business guide to strategy
Strategy is the ‘how’ you are going to achieve the outcome. Objectives are ‘what’ you want to achieve. The plan is the step-by-step ‘actions’ you are going to take to get there. How’s your business strategy looking?
Succession Planning: ‘It’s make or break’
The end of the Second World War led to the start of the great Australian baby boom, when many of today’s leaders and business owners were born. Today, these same baby-boomer business owners and CEOs nearing retirement are faced with a burning issue – to whom should they hand over the reins?
Start working on your business
Brad Callaughan looks at an area many small businesses fall down – planning. “Lack of planning or direction can be the cause of your demise. If you aren’t looking at where you are going, how can you see opportunities or threats or be prepared to deal with uncertainties like cash flow or profit fluctuations.”
Matters of life and death: tips for small business owners
Not something we want to think about too often, but still a part of the “admin” of our lives: planning for our demise is especially important for business owners, though it may be last on the list of things to do. Blogger Rick Mapperson offers some advice for small businesses.
Insider’s guide to running a family business
About 80 percent of all businesses in Australia are family businesses. Yet being in a family business isn’t easy, with a skills shortage and corporatisation to face. So read on to find out about successfully running a family business. A study by RMIT University shows that $1.4 billion will change hands in the next decade, […]
Ann Cummings, Newcastle’s Pudding Lady, on running a seasonal business
Making sweet-tooths see an old favourite in a new light may not be the same as reinventing the wheel, but for Ann Cummings it’s a way to keep Newcastle’s Pudding Lady, a seasonal business, busy year-round. Talking to Ann Cummings one week from Christmas, you’d be hard-pressed to catch her at a quiet moment. As […]