In the people business
When it comes to growing a business, ensuring you have the right people surrounding you is important.
STARTING A BUSINESS
PEOPLE & SYSTEMS
Get your start-up business off to a great start with the right people and the right systems. Read tips for deciding on the best business structure for you. Learn how to create systems to improve your business performance and your work-life balance. Find out how to attract and retain great staff to your start-up business. And get insider tips on what Australian employees really want in the workplace - and how to give it to them.
The opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and not those of Optus. The articles on this website contain general information only and are not intended to be relied on as legal, financial or professional advice. Readers should seek their own advice based on their specific business [or personal] needs.
The entrepreneur's to do list
So many businesses start the New Year with grand plans for improvement, but far fewer actually implement those plans. Don't let the start of a New Year go by without taking action.
Stand out from the crowd
To get your business noticed, it's important to think outside the square.
Taking care of business with simple systems
No matter how small your business, well-planned systems can help you show you mean business. To prove the point, let's turn to a small business doing big things.
Reaching beyond regional - savvy management strategies
Competition for business is growing increasingly fierce as major metropolitan businesses extend their reach into regional Australia. Savvy management strategies will ensure you not only hold your business' ground, but up its stake hold.
'Virtually' working in a regional area
In this 21st century world, technology is bringing people and businesses closer together. And this is a good thing for regional business, especially those business owners who might feel isolated.
Systems for success with the Wolf of Wall Street
Systems can save your business. From the dizzying heights of Wall Street to losing it all and hitting rock bottom to unparalleled success on the speaking circuit, Jordan Belfort's cautionary tale proves it's possible to come back from the brink.
Regional management strategies made simple
At the heart of good management in regional business is vision. But it doesn't end there - it's about getting employees, suppliers and customers to buy into your brand, to buy into your vision. Lisa Lovett has set up shop showcasing Orange's regiona
Regional restaurant success
How did a Mooloolaba chef beat out the best of the best from the US, South Africa, Austria and Vietnam? The recipe for success, apparently, involves plenty of salsa verde and red onion jam, baby spinach and a smoked salmon fillet on a dill and parme
Is your business a "why" business or a "how" business?
Last week was bookended by opposites. I spent Monday with a visionary, energetic, but largely undisciplined business, and Friday with an efficient, busy yet somewhat lethargic business.
Survival of the fittest
Whether it's cashflow problems, piles of debt or an attack from a competitor, many businesses have a near-death story to tell. Many of these incidents happen during the start-up phase, when SMEs are still finding their feet...
Best and fairest
Getting the right staff is one thing but being able to keep them and keep them trained so they add value is crucial. You have to reward your employees who need to know that they're valued members of your business and contribute to its success.
10 things your web developer must have
There are a plethora of web experts available, specialising in topics from social networking to illustration design, so making a solid website should be simple. But how do you figure out which to ignore and which advice to take on board?
Confidentiality agreement
Question: What can I do to make sure that my secrets aren't leaked to my competitors?
New order
Entrepreneurs are the hearts that pump enthusiasm into the veins of growing businesses and economies. They provide the goods and services Aussies consume and create jobs and opportunities for so many people.
Like water for chocolate
You might not believe this but arguably one of Australia's greatest purveyors of fine chocolate is a reformed investment banker.
Staff Who Fiddle
Fraud is a serious crime that some businesses are more susceptible to than they realise. It's becoming a creeping global epidemic.
Export quality
A formidable export business grew out of a remote farm in regional Western Australia after the owners dared to be different.
IP tales of caution
Before you name your business, there are some very important IP issues you need to be aware of.
It's in your system
Many of us have heard the cliche: "Small businesses don't plan to fail but fail to plan." And then there's: "Small business people spend too much time working in their business and not enough time working on their business."
For better or worse
Employees taking employers for a ride are costing the economy hundreds of millions of dollars each year, and experts warn an increasing part of the cost is linked to would-be employees falsifying qualifications and other credentials.
Safe and secure
Small business is increasingly becoming the target of break-ins and burglary as the bigger end of town implements more sophisticated security systems.
Time management
Time management can be a hard task for anyone in business. And when you have a family at home and also a life that you should be living that has nothing to do with work, it can be hard to manage things.
Family feud
Remember this: you should run a family business like a business - not like a family where there's a place for all those family emotions that knit people together.
Business structure
Getting your structure right will ensure you don't end up on the wrong side of the law and the all-important bottom line.
The right mix
staff retention, good staff, business success, business owner, induction, how can i attract and retain good staff
29 characteristics of an entrepreneur
So you want to be an entrepreneur? Years ago, the word 'entrepreneur' fell into disuse because of the negative connotations attached to it. But hard working business owners have in more recent times resuscitated the word.
Give them a go
Following funding and initiatives introduced in 2007, employing people with disabilities can be a positive step for small businesses.
Interview tips and questions
Employing the right staff is integral to the smooth and successful operation of any business
What employees want
Do we really know what an employee wants from their job? According to a comprehensive survey conducted by the Gallop Organisation, they want many things.
A man and a woman
It is popularly asserted that bank lending has become gender neutral.
Take a close look
I believe that it pays to get an outside expert to assess your business because most of us in business are too close to the coalface to look objectively at our growing concern.
Slack records
Keeping the records up to date is a crucial part of any business. Late payers and the tax office are blamed by more than six out of 10 small business owners for creating a cash crisis in their operations.
You can learn from the movies
Starting a family business can be a great opportunity, but there are some issues that you need to look out for and consider.
Night of nights
Awards can do a lot for your business including giving it a lot of credibility in the eyes of clients and customers.
Organic Growth
When starting or growing a business, good research can come in very handy.
Tips for making business ideas a reality
Many of us have great ideas for a business but don't know how to make it happen. Here are some steps to ensuring your business ideas comes to fruition.
Family Business
Some of the greatest and most successful businesses in Australia are family businesses. But there are a range of issues you must recognise and understand before deciding to go into business with family members.
Protect your business from fraud
Fraud is a big issue for many businesses. Here is a Q&A about what systems need to be put in place to prevent this serious crime.
Family Business
Some of the greatest and most successful businesses in Australia are family businesses.
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