Small Business

Getting the right lease for your business

13 October 2008 | 10:31 - By Shivani Gupta

Many people running a small business get caught by leases. A lease essentially provides you with the legal right to occupy premises. It protects you and the landlord by setting out all the agreed terms of occupancy.

When taking out a commercial lease you first have to decide on what premises and lease will be right for your business. Many businesses think about their immediate need rather than take a long term view including growth. I am working with a client who within 12 months had outgrown their premises and now is having to find new premises and recreate the PR.

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The right branding is worth its weight in gold

08 September 2008 | 11:37 - By Shivani Gupta

 The right branding is worth its weight in gold Michael Phelps is not only the most successful Olympian in history, he has also been coined the possible billion dollar man, with experts predicting that he could now earn up to 30 million dollars a year including sponsorships.

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Grants can help to get your business started

26 August 2008 | 17:23 - By Shivani Gupta

Starting a new business can be financially difficult for anyone especially if you are giving up an existing job paying you a regular income.

You’ll have costs too, such as fitout, rent, and staff wages. Managing the cash flow right is one of the most important things in a start up business. This can amount to a large hole in your financial situation. If a grant is available to suit your needs, then this may be the go. Although you may need a loan, see if you can find a grant first. Also search for grants on Google as see if you can find samples of a grant to see how it is done.

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In business, it is difficult to be the one who is generating new ideas, managing staff, managing finances and implementing client relationships. Phew!

You need inspiration from different places to help your brain to think outside of its normal patterns, so you can constantly generate new ideas for your business. One great source of inspiration is books. They are relatively cheap, cheaper if you get them second hand or from the library. One simple idea from each book can help generate an idea worth hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

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To network or not to network?

24 June 2008 | 11:46 - By Shivani Gupta

Networking is a buzz word. It is essential, but like all things in business, it has to meet your broader business plan.

There are a range of networking events - industry specific, education related, business development opportunities, inspiration related - the list goes on. When I started my own business, I attended a lot of events. This was initially important as I was establishing new contacts and learning more about business. Now, to better utilise my time, I’ve had to become more strategic.

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Learning to give feedback

18 June 2008 | 14:17 - By Shivani Gupta

In running a successful small business, you rely on a number of key suppliers to help you deliver your business outcomes. Things must be delivered on time so you can manage your business and your clients. If people do not deliver to you on time, it can be costly and embarrassing for your business.

No doubt you have experienced a challenge where a supplier lets you down. I did recently. The consequences were at a national level where I was not going to be able to meet my clients’ needs if this company did not deliver on time.

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Hiring the right staff

12 June 2008 | 11:17 - By Shivani Gupta

As your business grows you need to find good people. Your people are so critical that you must be involved in this process to some degree. Here are some tips on hiring the right staff.

"Finding people is hard, finding good people is impossible.’" A client who was feeling frustrated at not being able to find the right people for their small business said this to me recently. Skilled labour shortages are being experienced across Australia and the world. Large companies and even countries are putting in financial incentives to attract skilled people. So how does a small business compete? People moving overseas are often driven by career opportunities and financial rewards where the proposition for a small business has to be different.

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You can’t just be a technician

11 June 2008 | 13:48 - By Shivani Gupta

In Episode 3 we meet Dean, the 26-year-old golden boy. For the past six years Dean has earned his stripes cutting hair at an upmarket salon. Desperate to prove he can be his own boss, Dean opens his own salon in what was a corner deli in a quiet suburban street. Dean has never run a business before, and it shows.

Dean’s passion is to help people (especially women) look and feel good about themselves. He wants to help people do just that by giving them a sexy haircut.

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About this Blog

Risking It All presenter and business expert Shivani Gupta has a passion to see people grow their businesses. Shivani brings her vast experience and practical business sense to help out the entrepreneurs in the television show and the SBS online audience in her business blog.

Shivani Gupta is a business dynamo with heart, vision, values and passion. She is a former corporate executive who “risked it all” herself to become an author as well as establish her own successful business coaching and speaking business, Passion@People. Shivani is well qualified for the role of helping our four start-up businesses, and your business too. Shivani has worked with a range of companies from sole traders to six of Australia’s top ten companies. She has won awards that include ‘Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year’. She was born in India and grew up in Australia. For more information about Shivani visit www.shivani.com.au

 
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