#Growing A Business
International expansion may be vital for growth; but do you have what it takes?
For some businesses, expanding overseas is considered a vital component to their growth strategy. And it’s not hard to understand why. After all, they’re opening the door to a new [and often much larger] pool of customers and revenue. But if only it were that simple. Sure – the sky is the limit where those […]
5 start-up branding mistakes to avoid
“The biggest mistakes that tech startups make is trying to reinvent the wheel.” (Andrew Bosworth, Global Director of Engineering, Facebook) Ever spent time building a product or tool only to find it already exists? Was it because you didn’t seek out, or have access to guidance and advice? Reinventing the wheel in this way is […]
First hire considerations for the entrepreneur
There comes a point when you can no longer go it alone. Forget flying solo. The time has come for your first hire, but there are so many considerations before you dive in. It’s early days for your business and you’re wondering if a new person is the growth you need. If it’s time for […]
How Atlassian built a $4.4 billion business without sales staff
The story of Atlassian is the perfect tech startup fairy tale; two humble guys from Sydney bootstrap a company with a $10,000 credit card and pull off a successful IPO with a market cap of $4.4 billion (USD). Although, contrary to the hopes of many Australian entrepreneurs, the success of Atlassian doesn’t ride on the […]
The challenges of importing skills to drive innovation
Australia is lagging behind in the innovation stakes, ranking 17th for 2 years running in the Global Innovation Index 2015. We are being overtaken by the likes of New Zealand and even smaller markets like Luxembourg amongst a range of criteria, such as business sophistication, infrastructure, human capital and research and creative outputs, amongst others. […]
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 […]
What to consider when employing your first staff member
So your business has expanded and you are considering employing your first member of staff. However, you are not sure whether to employee a full time, contract or even a casual worker. Before you go ahead start recruiting, here are some important legal issues to consider when hiring staff: Contractor vs Employee In law, there […]
Jessica Bryce: the serial entrepreneur mastering the start-up phase
Jessica was employed in the corporate finance sector when she decided that she “wasn’t loving the 9 to 5 grind” – although, as she quips, “it was more like 8 to 8.” After all, if you’re going to pour so many hours into your day job – wouldn’t you want to choose those hours, and […]
5 tips for perfecting your investment pitch
It doesn’t matter how great your idea is if your pitch can’t back it up. As a small business, you’re relying on the continued support of your investors to help you grow. Presenting them with an organised list of information and pleading for help probably isn’t enough to get the job done. By creating a […]
It’s lonely at the top: The Boardroom and GrowthCon 2016 enabling decision makers to face their biggest challenge
On the 16th of March 2016, Sydney will play host to a new conference on the business scene, specially curated to equip CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners with the knowledge to take their business to ‘the next level.’ But unlike others, this one will not be spearheaded by the best executive coaches in town. Instead, […]
Unlocking your business growth with sticky revenue
Starting a business is all about communicating the benefits of your service or product to the appropriate audience. Although fairly straight forward in principle, the complexities of executing this vary for every business. To get up and running, most service businesses begin by undertaking project based work. They tender for a job, set a price […]
It can take years to gain momentum: One entrepreneur’s journey into the online marketplace sector
Any entrepreneur looking to break ground in the online marketplace sector will be familiar with this conundrum: you need to raise capital to launch the business, but without the business and proof of concept, you can’t get the capital. Much like the centuries old argument: which came first, the chicken or the egg? ‘Raising capital […]
How your personal brand will make or break your business
If you are a leader – or an expert in your field, whether you like it or not, you are Captain of your personal brand. Do you buy from people you don’t like? Do you return to places where an individual has shown you bad service? Have you been in a business meeting where a […]
‘Old school’ thinking won’t cut it in the age of digital media
For a small business or start-up navigating our 24 hour news circle is a difficult prospect. Positioning yourself positively in the media can generate sales and redefine an outdated marketing strategy. Of course, though, negative media can ruin reputation and stifle growth. When conducted correctly, the process of gaining media attention can be easy and […]
An action plan is just as important as a business plan
An action plan could save thousands of small businesses from going bust but as many as eighty percent don’t take the time to make one despite its proven success. I’m not talking about a five-year plan with detailed budget forecasts, but an annual action plan that is reviewed regularly and updated quarterly. I’ve seen first […]
Four questions to ask yourself before expanding your business overseas
Finding the right time to take the plunge and expand your business overseas is a daunting thought for any entrepreneur. With the decision comes the possibility of facing unexpected challenges and ultimately the greatest fear, failure. However, with an up and coming generation of entrepreneurs and many supportive government initiatives, it is becoming increasingly easier […]
What’s in store for Australian tech entrepreneurs in 2016?
2015 was undoubtedly the year of startups and entrepreneurs. It was the year that took the likes of Uber, Atlassian and Canva to new heights and put the brakes on Dropbox, Snapchat and Twitter. Collaborations between brands and people grew, but so did our need for niche products and individuality. We also saw digital become […]
Key tips for growing a franchise business by Anytime Fitness CEO, Arthur McColl
The Australian market has recently seen an untraditional wave of franchise business models, allowing companies to enter the market quickly with low set up costs, and grow rapidly within just a few years. One of the key players here is the ‘low staff’ business model, used widely across the health and fitness industry with the […]
5 ways for national companies to deliver customer service like the local store
Great customer service is crucial to any big company, as it both captures new business, as well as fosters existing relationships. However, often when larger companies increase their scale they are unable to maintain customer satisfaction as it is hard to streamline effective customer service and grow a business without the right tools. The key […]
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 […]
Your company is the sum of your people
There are two kinds of startups – those who succeed and others who constantly try. In Britain, at least half the companies fail to last more than five years and in the US, three out of four startups are going bust without managing to turn a profit. The team and leader define the success of […]
Managing your business journey from a startup to an established company
Creating a business is an incredible journey made up of both success and failures, and entrepreneurs who are fortunate enough to watch their venture grow from a simple idea to an established company will understand that it involves constant change and management – From experience, here’s some advice in managing these changes. Expanding and thriving […]
It’s all about networking physically, not digitally
The digital age has given us a lot to be thankful for. With the ability to transfer information freely and quickly, we have never been better connected with information, resources and people. It’s easy – with only a few touches of a keypad, we need not speak, travel or put on our best corporate attire […]