Tips, Tools and Templates

Tips

Enjoy the quick tips for successful small business below. 

• Really? You Don't Think You Need a Website?  Even if the competition is bigger, small businesses should embrace available resources to grab market share. That starts with a web presence. Almost all consumers (79%) check the web before buying a product or service, so get online to get noticed and sell stuff! 
• Think Strategic!  To stay nimble (and use it as a competitive advantage) new businesses in a strong growth phase need to move away from strategic planning and concentrate on strategic thinking. There isn't enough time or resources for such a small reward.  This does not mean fly blind - you still need a plan, it just needs to have an adaptive opportunistic approach to strategy.
• Good Things Come to Those Who Wait.  Even Steve Jobs started small but he understood the value of perseverance. He likened building a company to a marathon, rather than a sprint. "To do anything of magnitude takes at least five years, more likely seven or eight." 

• Be Unafraid.  Unafraid to fail and change. Innovate your offerings constantly, keeping pace with technological changes. Use change as a springboard to improve your products, procedures or reputation. Innovation should also cover your operations - from pricing, promotion, customer service, distribution, etc. Keep your eyes for new ways of doing things, and apply those that can improve the quality of your products and efficiency of your operations.

Tools

Start building up your toolbox! Peruse and download the following items, from checklists to information booklets. Is there something you would like to see in our Toolbox? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

• Starting Your Own Business Checklist 
• Grow Your Business Checklist 
• Franchise Start Up Checklist
• Australian Tax Office Checklist for Start Ups
• ABN Look Up Tool
• Employee or Contractor Decision Tool
• Intellectual Property Australia - Understanding IP
• Selling or Closing Your Business
• Subscribe to the My Business Magazine
• Research Statistics for the Hunter Region
• Glossary of Key Financial Terms

Tech Tools to consider

• Xero Online Accounting  Software
• Saasu Online Accounting Software
• Invitbox Online Invoice Management System
• Shoeboxed Online scanning and storage of paperwork
• Deputy Connecting and managing your team 
• Evernote Remember everything
• Basecamp Project management

Templates

We have a collection of templates below for you to use. Always ensure you tailor a template for your own business and its needs.

• Business Plan Guide
• Business Plan Template
• My Biz Plan App
• Marketing Plan Guide and Template
• Market My Biz App
• Succession Plan Guide and Template
• Emergency Management Recovery Guide
• Emergency Management Recovery Template
• My Biz Sheild App
• Breakeven Calculator
• Partnership Agreement
• NAB Cashflow Forecast - weekly and monthly
• Release Documents for Flim or Video; Appearance Release for Minor, Appearance Release for Non Actor, Location Release or Material Release