Building a new business? Success starts with the right business structure…
03/06/2019 by Andrew StubbsRegardless of the industry you're in, the way you structure your business will have ramifications long into the future.
From the amount of tax you pay to the administrative load and your level of personal liability, the consequences of your decision can be serious; and they may have a profound influence on the success of your enterprise.
It's vital to fully understand your options and put the necessary consideration into the most suitable one for you and your business.
For most small businesses, there are four basic choices. Familiarise yourself with each of the four structures and then ask yourself the right questions in order to determine which structure is best for your business.
Any business that isn't planning for the future is planning to get left behind.
While most business owners know that budgeting is a critical part of their planning, there is some confusion about which components should be included in a budget.
There are three critical elements. Together, they provide the oversight you need for your business - and the key targets to work towards.
They will allow you to make informed decisions based on the reality on the ground, and realistic projections of what will happen in the future.
If someone gave you the opportunity to attend a meeting where thousands of your prospects were also present, you'd be silly not to take them up on the offer…right?
This opportunity might be staring you in the face.
LinkedIn is the world's largest database of professionals; hundreds of millions of professionals waiting there, ready to be connected with and engaged.
It really is a small business marketing dream. If you get it right.
How highly do you value leads in your business?
For any small or medium business, leads should be the most highly prized currency - to be consistently sought and converted.
Without a steady flow of new opportunities, how do you grow? How do you take things to the next level? How do you prepare for the future?
Starting a business is part science, part art, and a large part hard work! It can get lost in all the excitement but you need to get the balance right.
Approximately 20 percent of all small businesses fail in their first year; and your chances of your business making it to five years are around 50/50.
One thing is for sure: leaving your success up to chance is not an option. Get clear on where you want to take your business and how you are going to get there.
Thinking of selling? Or just curious to know the value of your business in case you do decide to put it on the market at some point?
Many business owners are well-wide of the mark when placing a value on their prized asset. They overvalue it and under-prepare for their exit, believing in a huge potential for their business that buyers unfortunately don't see.
Your business is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it!
It's easy to be wise after the event. Taking out certain types of personal insurance is being wise before the event!
What happens if you're in a bad accident and need to take an extended period off work to recover? Or you were left permanently disabled - or worse? What would happen if you got sick and needed around-the-clock care for a few months?
Have you been doing the numbers and panicking a little recently?
If your super fund is a little 'light' as you start to think ahead to your golden years, you're not alone.
Millions of Australians are reviewing their retirement plans. We have been taught to believe that the money that flows into our super fund (equivalent to 9.5 per cent of our salaries) will look after us when we retire.
Small business owners – replace hoping for leads with marketing strategies to generate them
05/10/2018 by Andrew Stubbs"I get all my business from word-of-mouth marketing."
"I'm a referral business."
"I don't have the budget for marketing."
"I'm just too busy to market my business!"
If you find yourself saying any of the above, it's likely that you experience considerable peaks and troughs in your small business.
Why?
When Benjamin Franklin said that the only things certain in life were "death and taxes" most people didn't consider that they may be closely linked.
But problems with taxes can lead to the death of your small business unless you take steps to keep the taxman off your back.