Small Biz Matters: People, Policy, Purpose.

Small Business Lending - How has the Royal Commission changed the landscape?

Small Biz Matters – a half hour program each week where you can work ON your business rather than IN it.
with Alexi Boyd from Boyd Office Management Services
Date: 13 November 2018

If there’s one ‘moving feast” topic which is almost impossible to keep track of its small business lending. If its not the RBA changing rates its the Big Four changing their requirements for small business loans and then throw in a Royal Commission or two and if you’re not an expert you haven’t got a hope of working out where you stand when it comes to the likelihood of small business finance.

But luckily we do have with us today our resident Small Business Lending expert. Declan is part of the Valiant Finance Team, who work as part of the government’s Business Connect program. An initiative of the Small Business Commissioner, Business Connect is there to support small business through advice, workshops & education and one on one sessions with an expert. Declan is one of those experts.

Welcome Back to the show Declan.

• Recap what we chatted about last show - in particular:
  • different types of lenders in the market for “evolving” nature of the business
  • Getting prepared for a small business loan - what paperwork should you have in order and what questions can you expect to be asked?
  • How the loan environment has changed over the last 12 months?
• What businesses can expect from the next 12 months - particularly after the findings of the Royal Commission?
  • What it a Royal COmmission we had to have, and in your opinion will it make a huge difference to the way lenders view small business?
• Specifically the different types of small more business loans

To find out more go to their website: https://valiant.finance/

How to use Podcasting to grow your Business

Small Biz Matters – a half hour program each week where you can work ON your business rather than IN it.
with Alexi Boyd from Boyd Office Management Services
Date: 6 November 2018

Well before it was cool to grow your online reputation using podcasting Ash Roy was curating content, gaining a huge listenership and positioning himself as the expert in podcasting. Explore the Productive Insights Podcast which has been running since Feb 2015 with over 150 podcasts for business, and you’ll discover an excellent range of guests and subject matter on developing this medium as a tool.

But more than this, when you listen and are lucky enough to meet Ash, you’ll discover a passionate yet kindly spoken business leader who is proud of his “slow burn” accomplishment. He might be in sales and marketing but the “rah rah” approach isn’t part of his DNA but podcasting is his legacy.

Very excited to be welcoming Ash Roy live on the radio to talk all things podcasting.

Topics we’ll be covering:

• What were you in a former life? What led you down this path & instigated your leap of faith into starting your own business
• Looking at your website, podcast content and guest list you look hugely successful, an overnight success in your broadcasting. Has it really been a slow burn for you?
  • If you had your time again how could you have accelerated  this? It takes consistency and effort.
  • You have 3 or 4 main topics in your podcast material, is it best to niche or broadly engage with the audience to get numbers?
  • How do capture attention quickly in an environment where people have such short attention span?
  • A good title is a compelling promise but you need to make sure you fulfill that promise - what’s your top tip?
• Why is podcasting a good idea - is it to engage with potential clients and grow your business directly or do you see it more of a reputation build?
  • Key reasons to start a podcast
    • An intimate way to connect with your audience low cost
    • Its the #1 fastest growing medium
    • A radio station is cheaper than you think to set up!
    • Leverage the listenership (once you get there)
    • Builds authority & reputation
    • Builds relationships with other key influencers
• Podcasting for business - top tips for launching
  • Start listening to OTHERS’ podcasts
  • As with everything, decide who your “ideal listener” is
  • Develop a good strategy & content plan - Content is King!
  • Promotion where your listeners are
  • Launch - is a soft launch ok?
  • Use momentum to build a bank of episodes
  • Consistency is Key!

To find out more go to their website: https://www.getmetodone.com/

Small Business Education Opportunities

Small Biz Matters – a half hour program each week where you can work ON your business rather than IN it.
with Alexi Boyd from Boyd Office Management Services
Date: 30 October 2018

It’s important to keep learning when you’re running a small business but like so many aspects, it is often put on the backburner while we work in our business rather than in it. But many of us don’t realise that further learning is right on our doorstep.

Here from Hornsby - Ku-ring-gai Community College we have Inga Rosenberg; who looks after the enrolments for the business courses - and there are many! From Certificates in Business Administration through to MYOB Training, Starting your Own Business courses - and many of them are fully funded.

Welcome to the show Inga.

As part of Small Business month we like to raise awareness of some of the opportunities the over 14,000 small businesses have in our local government area.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 60% of small businesses close within the first three years of operating. The reasons vary but often include that new businesses are not aligned with customer needs, have a poor business model, poor financial management or lack of proper training.

As your local Community College, we can play a big role in providing government funded education and training to small business owners and their employees, as well as to job seekers to qualify for personal and business growth, wellbeing and the advancement of community values.

• Tech Savvy Small Business Funding and Training
  
  • What is the government program?
  • What can I/ my employees’ study?
  • How do I qualify?
• Career Pathways
  
  • Options for learners who are not (yet) small business owners or employees
  • Individual career planning
  • Flexible training delivery
• Industry Connections
  
  • Partnerships with local organisations to
    
    • Train students on the job
    • Respond to training and work needs
  • Free recruitment: Hire qualified HKCC students
• Mental Health: Study + Leisure
  
  • The importance of work-life balance
  • Business and leisure needs under one roof

To find out more go to their website: https://www.hkcc.nsw.edu.au/s/img/BSB%20v18.0.pdf

If you like to learn more about the program and how to access the funded training, please contact us at (02) 9482 1189 or email frontdesk@hkcc.nsw.edu.au.

Teaching Your Kids about Everyday Cashflow

Small Biz Matters – a half hour program each week where you can work ON your business rather than IN it.
with Alexi Boyd from Boyd Office Management Services
Date: 16 October 2018

From invoicing to cash flow to bill paying, one of the many strengths (and hats) we have as small business owners is keeping on top of our business’ finances. If we do it in-house we often run our family’s finances too. Now, that can go one of two ways: we’re either sick of dealing with numbers and run away from it in ALL aspects of our lives or we’re pretty good at it and the household budget is smooth sailing.

 

This strength and knowledge can and should be taught to our kids - they look up to us as business owners and admire us for being in charge of our own business and inherently, the “books”. But not all of us run a teaching small business so how are we supposed to know the best way to teach our kids about money?

 

Joining us today is Ray Trevisan, Director at OTG Capital and an expert in getting yours and your family’s finances in order to chat about driving this tough road without hitting too many familiar speed bumps!

 

Welcome to the show Ray.

 

Topics we’ll be covering:

 

• Children of just about all ages need guidance and counsel from their parents/guardians about how best to handle money.
• The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) recently released an excellent eBooklet that outlines some great tips on how to talk to children about money.
• They’ve segmented their information to address 3 different age groups that include:
  • Children (4 to 8)
  • Tweens (9 to 12)
  • Teens (13 to 18)
• Packed with handy hints, Ray Trevisan, who is a licensed FP and a member of the FPA, will discuss some great ways to engage in discussions with our children that makes sense and will provide a great foundation for both child and parent that will put them in good stead for their future.

 

To find out more go to their website: https://www.otgcapital.com.au/single-post/2018/10/03/Teach-your-children-well

The Role of Innovation and the Small Business Economy

Small Biz Matters – a half hour program each week where you can work ON your business rather than IN it.
with Alexi Boyd from Boyd Office Management Services
Date: 9 October 2018

It’s an age-old question; should business or government drive innovation? Whose responsibility is it to support those emerging businesses who have discovered a gap in the market but may not have the resources to meet the demand?

 

And similarly should it be the role of big business to support small enterprises with this potential or should small business be left to their own devices; to sink or swim on their own self made vision?

 

Today we are joined by Jono Herrman; Chair of the North Sydney Innovation Network who is here to tell us about their work and how they interact with government and enterprise to foster innovation.

 

Welcome to the show Jono.

 

Topics we’ll be covering:

 

• What’s the role of an Innovation Network in the small business community?
  • How does the network interact with Govt at the local and state level?
• Tell us about the recent reports around Innovation and Productivity Scorecard which was released in August?
  • Innovation prescincts    
  • What is monitored in this data?
  • How does the Northern Sydney area compare with previous years’ data and what major fluctuations have been noted?
  • How do we compare with similar areas of Sydney?
• What can small businesses do to foster innovation in their area or even within their own business to tap into the opportunities it offers?
  • What can local and state governments do to improve innovation opportunities in their own areas?
  • Are these lacking in our area of Sydney in your opinion?
• Tell us about some of the the excellent events on the Innovation Network calendar and how the listeners can find out more??

 

To find out more go to their website: http://www.northsydneyinnovation.org/

Publishing your story... from Inspiration to Celebration in print

Small Biz Matters – a half hour program each week where you can work ON your business rather than IN it.
with Alexi Boyd from Boyd Office Management Services
Date: 2 October 2018

We’re not great at cheering ourselves on nor celebrating the journey that is running a successful small business. Isn’t it lovely that someone like Charles Fairlie has done just that. After experiencing true pride in his father, a successful business owner in his own right achieve amazing things in his life and as a yacht builder he was inspired to write about him and others too.

When I first heard about the book 50 Unsung Business Heroes I realised it was a very unique published work. Not only does the book sing the praises of small business entrepreneurs and those who have risen to the top of their field but it equally celebrates the successes and some of their failures.

It’s also a unique business model; a fascinating way to advertising yourself and position yourself as the expert in your field. Charles Fairlie is the Publisher and Author of 50 Unsung Business Heroes and joins us today in the studio.

Welcome to the show Charles.

Topics we’ll be covering:

• Tell our listeners about the evolution of your book and how your passion for telling the small business heroes story evolved
• The growth of the storytelling from the starting point of your father, your inspiration
• Why in your opinion are genuine connections so important in this tech world we live in?
• The “backlash” against social media and the disconnect small businesses feel in that environment
• What to expect if you’re dabbling with writing a book
• The ins and outs of publishing, pitfalls and joys
• The different models of book publishers
• The movement back to print from your perspective
   

To find out more go to their website: http://www.unsungbusinessheroes.com.au

Small Business Updates from ATO & Small Biz Matters: Single Touch Payroll

Small Biz Matters – a half hour program each week where you can work ON your business rather than IN it.
with Alexi Boyd from Boyd Office Management Services
Date: 25 September 2018

I'm proud to announce that Small Biz Matters is now working with the Australian Taxation Office to provide regular updates on how they supports small business including having regular ATO representatives speaking on the show! Today we’re joined by John Shepherd an expert in Single Touch Payroll  to chat about how this big change will affect you as a small business.

Welcome to the show John.

Discussion Points:

• Single Touch Payroll is the largest change to payroll and overhaul of the Tax System since the GST.
  • Why has this been initiated?
  • What is the ATO hoping to achieve with these changes?
• For a small business with up to 19 or fewer employees for example when does this start and what changes do they need to make in their payroll processes to be compliant?
  • Take us through the steps to be ready
  • What takes place in the end of financial year finalisation process?
• Will this change anything about the way we work with contractors as opposed to employees?
• How will this impact employees and what can small business do to inform employees of the changes?
• What resources does the ATO provide to support small businesses in these changes?
• What do you say to those employers and employees who have concerns about their data protection?

 

John Shepherd, Assistant Commissioner – Australian Taxation Office.

John is the Program Lead for Single Touch Payroll.

John has performed a number of senior roles in his 27 years with the ATO, leading significant change programs and projects seeking to improve the client experience. Playing an active role in the implementation of SuperStream, John also led the delivery of a number of other super reform initiatives, including driving online superannuation account consolidation.

John has been a passionate Movember ambassador since 2009, the ATO team he leads raised over $40,000 last year.

John holds a Masters of Taxation and is based in Canberra.

To find out more go to their website: https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/Single-Touch-Payroll/

Going it Alone - An interview with Robert Gerrish, Author of Flying Solo: How to go it alone in business & The 1 minute Commute

Small Biz Matters – a half hour program each week where you can work ON your business rather than IN it.
with Alexi Boyd from Boyd Office Management Services
Date: 18 September 2018

There are certain experts in our small business community who truly are leaders in their field, and this week’s guest is someone who has really walked in the shoes of small businesses. Robert Gerrish is one of the leading experts in Australia when it comes to Home Based Businesses. Formally successful in the marketing & advertising space he started the well known Flying Solo entreprise, which began as a support forum website & evolved into a magazine with a huge membership base of over 100k members. These sort of numbers indicating the real need for support and education, which home based businesses still lack.

Welcome to the show Robert.

Topics we’ll be covering:

• Why I wrote this book
  • Tell us about your Small Business journey
  • Your inspiration and former experience which gave you the expertise to share with your readers
• The biggest challenges home based businesses have (and how to overcome them)
  • Mental Health issues, the isolation
  • Distancing yourself from the home as a place you live to enable you to focus on a place where you can work.
  • Bleeding into family time
• What are the main considerations when setting up a business from home
  • Different councils having differing allowances and regulations when it comes to setting up a business
  • Being organised and time management
  • Remembering the importance of ergonomic workspace and your obligations if you have employees in your home
• How do I fill my days…  the notion of a 'portfolio business'
  • Marrying the creative and organised mind

To find out more go to their website: https://www.robertgerrish.com

 

ROBERT GERRISH ~ Bio & Introduction

Following a career in the marketing and design industry in London and Sydney, Robert made the leap to his own business in the mid 1990s.

Seeing a niche in the area of support and resources aimed at the ‘one-person business’, Robert launched the Flying Solo community in 2005.

With a small team, he grew the business to a member base of over 100,000 Australian freelancers and entrepreneurs, before selling to Pinstripe Media at the end of last year.

Back working solo, today Robert pops up regularly at conferences and events; supports individuals in the development of their ventures, and hosts a series of podcasts including: “The Business of Bookkeeping” (for First Class Accounts), “The Flying Solo Podcast” and his own “Mellow Brick Road” a new show that explores creative approaches to business.

His first book, “Flying Solo: How to go it alone in business” was a business bestseller and his latest, “The 1-Minute Commute“ was published by Pan Macmillan at the end of June.

How the State Government Supports Small Business

Small Biz Matters – a half hour program each week where you can work ON your business rather than IN it.
with Alexi Boyd from Boyd Office Management Services
Date: 11 September 2018

• Since becoming minister for better regulation, in what ways have you helped small business through reducing red tape?

• We frequently hear when chatting to small business on the program that one of the biggest hurdles to growing a businesses is NSW Payroll Tax. It feels as though you’re just beginning to grow and then you’re penalised by employing people.

  • We have one of the highest proportions of non-employing businesses in Hornsby, could payroll tax be one of those compliance and cost hurdles stifling employment in our region? Has anyone ever examined why this is the case and thought in relation to how small businesses in your electorate can be better supported?

• It’s disappointing to see loads of co-working spaces, collaborative & networking opportunities, and innovation hubs popping up all over the city and in regional areas. When is the State Government going to support Hornsby in this way? Is this something the State Government is thinking of in support of small businesses in the outer suburbs or will these services always be city-centric?

  • We have the transport infrastructure, over 15,000 registered businesses and Hornsby could potentially be a real hub in the North Shore.

• On Sept 30th The Epping to Chatswood Line Closes. This potentially has huge ripple effects to commuting in our area as people travel through or near area. Both on road and rail lines. (Hornsby – Nth Sydney trainline, Hornsby Epping train line, traffic congestion pac hwy and Ryde Road). Apart from the additional busses being put on to service the epping chatswood route, what other contingency plans are being put in place for outer areas affected by the change.  

• What rebates and grants are currently available to small business, offered by the NSW State Government

How to communicate effectively using DISC and 6 Core Needs principals

Small Biz Matters – a half hour program each week where you can work ON your business rather than IN it.
with Alexi Boyd from Boyd Office Management Services
Date: 4 September 2018

The heart of selling is connections, pure and simple. They should happen organically; you either connect with someone or you don’t, right? Well, sometimes in business some inside knowledge about human characteristics can go a long way to help that connection get started.

Today we welcome Graham Elliott, an expert in DISC and the 6 Core Needs Principles to help us to read and recognise these characteristics we all possess at those first few moments of connecting. We are involved in so many connections as small business owners and knowing the principles of DISC and the 6 Core Needs may help you to see your own strengths and weaknesses in these relationships.  

Welcome to the show Graham.

DISC system

• Step 1 - Step into their world - Take me through the DISC model and how through just two questions to help identify the dominant energy
• How can you use this in those first few moments to read them and connect more effectively   
  • What is their energy like - speaking quickly or slowly
  • Ask a simple question on how their day is to see how they connect with you
  • It’s the part you can see - behaviour and the external
• The Elevator example
• Small startup/pitch example
  • D & I are future focussed - they won’t care that you’re new,
    • D - they just want you to tell them if your product tells them where they want to go. They want you to get to the point. It’s a different conversation; can you solve their problem or not? So you have a conversation to find out their needs.
  • I - energy loves fun and gets excited about you and your product.
  • S & C will care if you’re new
    • S - driven by certainty and you have to testimonials and referrals are very important to them. So is more process focussed so they feel safe & comfortable
    • C - also important to have existing happy clients but they are more technical. They want the methodical knowledge & understanding. They like rules & theories to test if something works. You can lose it hello if you touch them!
  • Firstly recognise where you sit in the DISC model
  • Take the time to know yourself so you can compare to those you meet. You can recognise quickly if you’re going to connect with them when you meet, this can save time
• You buy from people you know, like and trust and you get to that through 2 questions
  • Are they like me?
  • Do they get me?

6 Core Needs - Tony Robbins

Talking through about this model and how does DISC and 6 Core Needs work together to drive decision making - all emotional decisions are made first and then we use the intellectual side to reinforce or justify those decisions we made emotionally in the first place.

• 6 core needs = emotional needs we try and meet consistently but we try subconsciously.
  • First 4 are the needs of the person
    • Certainty & Variety
    • Significance & Connection
  • Needs of the spirit
    • Growth & Contribution
  • The way you meet these needs is important and if you can meet all six (relationship, hobby, job) you’re fulfilled.
• Balance is important as everyone is different - and this is where the DISC comes in (give some examples here)

So why is this important to be aware of these aspects of characteristics. We have all four but why do we need to know the dominance of ourselves, and those we work with in your business?

• The way you meet people when you network
• When you’re presenting/training
• When you’re in a management role
• The selling environment
• When you’re hiring new staff
• When you’re firing staff
• Building relationships with clients and all those around you

 

How can a good well, trained coach with a knowledge of these characteristics improve/ make you more effective in your business?

• Being aware of where you sit
• Recognising the weaknesses in your own characteristics and how to improve them

To find out more go to their website: www.getraining.com.au

Bio:

Sales Training - Consistent Sales Results - Major Account Sales Strategy  

I have over 30 years experience working in direct sales, and sales management. I have primarily worked in the business to business area, and also have experience of business to government and selling directly to consumers. I teach people proven techniques that provide consistent sales growth.

How consistent are your sales results?

Often I find that good salespeople have inconsistent results. This impacts their ability to generate income for themselves and the business they are in. I work with people to show them the causes and teach simple, proven techniques that deliver consistent results.

What do you need help with?

• Consistent results
• Strategies for complex accounts
• Techniques to reach decision makers
• How to avoid discounting
• Cold-calling
• How to build trust with clients
• How to build long-term relationships

What is my offer?

One on one training tailored to your needs:

I will discuss your target outcomes and establish a training plan to deliver them.

For more details: https://gelliottassociates.com/coaching-packages/

Team training:

Every member of a team has a contribution to make. In this training, we will look at the causes of communication issues within the team and outside. Training the sales team together sets-up team bonding and brainstorming opportunities.

For more details: https://gelliottassociates.com/sales-training/

Strategic development:

Using my proven 7 step programme, we will go through a strategic action plan to build consistent sales growth into your business.

For more details: https://gelliottassociates.com/contact/

Want to know more?

Call: 0405 990 338

Email: graham@getraining.com.au

Visit: www.getraining.com.au