Nhia Chao Thao Saykao is one of many Hmong refugees who has resettled in Australia for the last 4 decades, shared his insights into how he has changed from a refugee to a business owner and what does it take to run a successful business in Australia?
Mr. Nhia Chao said that he like to to things that challenge his ability, and his mind and hands on.
He was only 18 when he came to Australia as a refugee. He worked at Toyota assembly line in Melbourne and think to himself, I don't want to work in this condition for the next 40 years. Finally he decided to take a mechanic course at a Technical And Further Education (TAFE) and with luck MotaFit accept him as an apprentice. After he has worked for some years, with experience, he decided to buy his private garage and then move close to Motafit, which ending up joining a branch of MotaFit as a franchisee and now be his own boss since.
"Challenges in mechanic services, Mr. Nhia Chao said, it is very hard because if you run your own business, everything is on you, you are representing as a franchisee, you are carrying other's reputation, you have to abide by safety regulations, you have to figure out what is wrong with the car and how to fix it. After you are done with fixing, you have to figure out what and how long the services provided will be insured. But if finally you have problem arise, you may need outsourcing therefore is there any network that can help you handle it. This is the biggest worries for running your own business," said Mr. Nhia Chao SaykaoThao.
Listen to Ashely Thao Saykao, second generation of Hmong Australian insights into how to be your own boss here:https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/services/embeds/audioplayer/a80b1a64-26f7-40d9-911e-55d5f729d33a
Mr. Nhia Chao said that we can only lie once, if your services is not up to the standard as you have claimed, that services and those customers will be lost forever, but if you live up to your tasks, people will keep coming for your services, this is because people's words of mouth through their families, relatives and friends.
"Mr. Nhia Chao said that the most important things need to consider when someone wants to start a business are the capability of that person, knowledgeable about that profession, financial resource, and when you can run the business, you are growing business and know the the business well, can you still take it to the next level? Therefore you have to believe that you can do it."
He said that tax deduction for Australian businesses is currently debating in Senate, so we don't expect much up until it is ticked by Senate, become legislation and taking effective, then we may expect some benefits. Furthermore, it will be welcoming if government can deliver, however, if the trimester tax can be paid more flexible and not paid in specific time, that will also be a big advantage for any businesses. Besides, at the end of every financial year, businesses still need to lodge their tax return if the can make even or profits. If they make a lost, they may need to redraw so their business can stay afloat. So in the end even if you do good business but if you don't have enough fund to pay your workers, their superannuation, their leaves (sick leaves, personal leave, holidays) you will end up with huge financial burden, and this can also bring your business down.
Despite all the the down, there are also some benefits of running your own business, said Mr. Nhia Chao SayKaoThao. Everything is on you, but the only good point is that there is no one bossing you around. You can stop whenever you like, if you think it is impossible to perform that duty.
During the Refugee Week starting from Sunday 17th June to Saturday 23rd June 2018 and as a former refugee now Hmong Australian who run his own small business said that:
"As a refugee, you speak a language, live in a different country, having particular ways of doing things to resettle in a totally different country with unfamiliar environments, thinking about working for others or running your own business or doing anything is utterly taken by surprise. It is not easy for everyone, if running a business is so simple everybody would have done one by now, but it is not. But it is your mindsets and your drive and your intention that will aspire you to fulfill your fullest potential. if you plan, you can do it, but there are many factors which will determine if you prevail or you fail. Firstly, it's financial resource, secondly, if you do have a potential, can you fulfill it? This has been the most important changes from a refugee who really embrace Australia and contribute to Australian economy. Moreover, as a refugee who resettle in a western country and want to run a business, especially Hmong community for instance, for the last 4 decades only a very few can run their own businesses, even those who have taken the same course I have done, but they cannot run this business. This is the biggest changes for myself as a transitioning from a refugee to fully embrace Australia. But if you look at the majority of Australian communities, not everyone can run a business like you (a former refugee) do, then this is a very big step forward for you," said Mr. Nhia Chao Thao Saykao.
Mr. Nhia Chao final suggestion for those who want to run a business no matter what type of businesses are that:
"First and foremost, you should do your home work about the business policies in that countries if you can abide by or do you like it. Taking Hmong Australian Society for instance, if you want to be a member with this organization do you know its policies?The biggest pit fall for some one who did not survive when they run a business is that they tend not to do any research about that market at all, that is why they never succeed. Not abiding the business regulations can take your business down easily. So the next question is if we want to do something, do we really know or have the know how to do it properly? So if you don't know what rules and regulations are which that particular business has to comply, better not dip into it, unless you are willing to get into financial lose. Therefore, before you want to start a business, you may need to ask yourselves if you have done market research, if there is a market for that particular services or products. What products it is going to be, who are the target customers, having the passion for the business you are doing, if that business has potential, know how to run a business, have a sound financial resource to keep the business going, and finally if you can manage all these, there is still the last factor which is having a good networks or business associate who are willing to land their hands when you are in trouble so you can get up again," said Mr. Nhia Chao Thao Saikao.#
Listen more news in Hmong and English at SBS Radio Hmong Program on www.sbs.com.au/hmong Thursday at 6pm AEDT-Australian Eastern Standard Time and Sunday at 11 am AEDT.
You can download SBS Radio App from App Store at https://apple.co/2pLgvCX and from Google Play at http://bit.ly/2GuIRv or you can download podcasts news in Hmong and English from www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/yourlanguage/hmong.
Besides, you can follow us, click like, share and comments at #SBSHmong website at www.facebook.com/sbshmong.
Call to have a chat with SBS Radio Hmong Program on + 61 3 9949 2259 or sent your comments to comments@sbs.com.au.
