Veechi Curtis - Small Business for Dummies

How important is it for you to have a regular, steady income?

1 You couldn’t care less. You don’t need much to live on anyway.

2 You dream about a regular income but life doesn’t usually work out that way.

3 It’s important in the long term, but you can do without it right now.

4 You want more than a regular income. You aim to succeed and make your first million within the next five years.

It’s midnight and your new online ordering system has crashed. What do you do?

1 Switch off your computer and give up.

2 Swear, curse, and blame everyone including the cat.

3 Ring your night-owl IT friend and offer homemade chocolates in exchange for their help.

4 Work steadily till dawn, solving the problem.

Mostly As

It’s good to be laid-back, but you may not get much done lounging in that hammock all day. Being in business is hard work and you need to be inspired and motivated. If 60-hour weeks aren’t your cup of tea, you’re best to start a part-time business where you can pick and choose your hours, have lots of fun, and make a modest amount of money.

Mostly Bs

You may be a bit of a stress-bucket, but your creative talents are there for expressing. Being your own boss may suit you well, although financial success may be elusive, especially at first. Do be careful: If you lack business experience and you already have significant financial commitments, the stress of starting out on your own may take its toll.

Mostly Cs

Aha. You’re not only super-cool and enterprising, but you’re also resourceful and a natural multi-tasker, making the perfect personality for the small business person. When you can be web designer, manager, salesperson and bookkeeper all in the one day, and stay calm and collected to boot, you know you’re on your way to success.

Mostly Ds

Slow and steady wins the race, and a bit of dogged persistence along with a healthy dose of ambition helps, too. These qualities all help in running your own business, although you may need to choose a business that matches your conservative personality. A strong network of advisers and business associates are particularly important to your business success.

However, I am a realist when it comes to recognising that many small businesses face significant challenges from time to time. In Chapter 19, I share lots of tips for carrying your business through tough times, and in Chapter 20, I take the more optimistic perspective of how to sell your business and how to ensure you get the best price when you do.

I recall a client of mine, a highly experienced business manager, who purchased two hairdressing salons as an investment. Despite relatively sound business practices, both salons floundered, simply because my client didn’t have any experience in the hairdressing industry: He failed to understand that most customers didn’t come to the salon looking for value for money, but came looking for a chat and a confidence boost; he didn’t appreciate that several of the hair stylists in this particular salon expected ‘cash’ wages as part of their weekly pay (something the previous owner had offered); and he had difficulties maintaining hygiene and dealing with money going missing out of the till.

My client made an elementary mistake in that he didn’t stick to doing what he did best.

My point? If you’ve been a musician all your life, you’re going to be much better starting a music school than opening a florist shop. If you’ve always worked as a landscape gardener, you’re probably ill advised to open a bookshop.

Stick to what you’re good at: Business is competitive enough without trying to do something that you have little or no experience in.

You’re paying out all these taxes, so you may as well get something back. The quality of available government advice is luck of the draw: Some advisers are great, others are a bit dodgy. However, most government advice is free and can often be just what the doctor ordered. Here’s a summary of what advice is available and where to find it:

The Wild West: The Small Business Development Corporation is a government agency focused on developing the small business sector. They offer advice on finance, marketing, business planning and regulations. Visit www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au .

Tassie tigers: Business Tasmania has a good portal for small businesses at www.business.tas.gov.au .

The Top End: Head to www.nt.gov.au/industry for territory-specific planning advice, business licence information, and business support. This website also links to business advisory centres across the territory, known as Small Business Champions.

Brash and brazen: www.business.nsw.gov.au is a good resource, and I can recommend the Business Connect program. This heavily subsidised (and indeed, often free) service provides face-to-face support and expert advice to help develop your business.

Eureka and Ned: Business Victoria is a central organisation based in Melbourne offering information and referral services for small businesses. An excellent website at www.business.vic.gov.au offers links to a whole load of business services, including business mentoring and workshops.

Don’t you worry about that! The best source of info in Queensland is www.business.qld.gov.au . Here you can find a whole range of resources, plus access to training seminars and workshops.

The lost city: ACT Innovation, Industry and Investment ( www.cmtedd.act.gov.au ) offers small business advice and administers a range of business support and development programs.

Home of the white pointer: For South Australian business advice, start at www.business.sa.gov.au . They offer great small business support and advice, including several Business Enterprise Centres and Regional Development units.

National Business Enterprise Centres: In addition to the state government business development departments listed here, a national network of Business Enterprise Centres is available to help you get your business going in the right direction. Go to www.becaustralia.org.au to find a BEC near you.

For more about business planning, and other business resources, skip ahead to Chapter 6.

I talk a lot about the pros and cons of small business in this chapter and, as you’ve probably gathered by now, I speak from a somewhat conservative standpoint because I know both how tough small business can be and also the amount of commitment required.

However, don’t imagine for a minute that you’re not capable of success. With careful research, willpower, financial backing and a healthy dose of inspiration, you’re going to be hard-pressed to think of a reason you can’t succeed in the way many others have done before you. (And, of course, that’s what the rest of Small Business For Dummies is all about!)

Chapter 2

IN THIS CHAPTER

Identifying what gives you an edge

Ensuring your business idea is strong enough to fly