Business Advice

Business plans are not a new concept, most of us have seen them and have a fair (if theoretical) idea of their value. Despite a lot of interest from business owners who seem enthusiastic, what I have seen over the last 15 years is a long way from that enthusiasm. My estimate is that less than five percent ever had a business plan. Gurus and experts love to spruik all sort...

  Many small and medium sized businesses experience regular cashflow problems. It is more common than you may think and it becomes a balancing act, or a poorly choreographed juggling attempt. A clear head is the number one ingredient, not yours, your thinking is hampered by stress. You need someone that offers substantial business experience and sound advice. Don&r...

Although bank interest rates are at record lows in Australia, many potential franchisees still can’t raise the finance to acquire a franchise and are increasingly turning to non-bank lenders, particularly their parents and family members. The Franchise Advisory Centre estimates around 10% of new franchisees are now funded or underwritten by family finance, which it ...

Have you started to eat lunch or have a snack during a busy day when you get interrupted? Have you ever taken a couple of bites from of an apple and have to put it down to take care of something? The problem is when you come back, your apple has started to turn brown and just doesn`t look as appetizing as it did. The same thing can happen to your labour margin. If you &...

With time becoming an increasingly scarce commodity, employees are now placing greater value on their own personal time. For businesses to prosper, employers need to pay great attention to employee conditions and remuneration. Flexible working arrangements allow a greater choice of ways for employees to access the necessary time to complete their tasks. This shows that t...

While more people are taking up franchising as a way to buy a job, a communications expert is warning franchisors to think carefully about who they sell a franchise to, rather than focussing on simply selling a licence to anyone keen to buy it. Mike Irving of Advanced Business Abilities says some franchisees lack the right personality profile and disposition to make their...

Considering what your business is worth is essential for any business owner in making decisions. But it’s not just good for identifying the purchase price in the event of a sale or acquisition; it can also be used to establish partnership agreements or dissolution, resolve disputes relating to estate and gift taxation or even assist in something as left-field as divo...

Ground rules outlined below can be useful in providing assistance to Purchaser of a Business in finding the right business. 1.  Take Your Time  When buying a business, it is important that purchaser allows for a considerable time (2-4 months) to find an appropriate business. Since buying a business requires a major commitment on purchaser’s part...

After more than 25 years in franchising, I’ve seen both franchisees and franchisors achieve spectacular success, and others lose it all. There is no such thing as a sure bet in business, but franchising helps reduce the risks of small business by providing a supported environment utilising both the resources of the franchisor, and the community of franchisees operat...

In this article we’ll get down to the nitty-gritty of how to get going in a difficult economy. When we’re done, you’ll be armed with a creative, industrious, positive attitude in the face of hard times – the same hard times that cripple your competitors. If you’re reading this article in the middle of a difficult economy – and the chanc...