There are only four ways to grow a business: Increase the number of customers Get them coming back more often Increase the average spend Improve the effectiveness of every business process A local art gallery worked with their accountant to improve profitability significantly by running a series of quarterly themes through the year. Before each...Read More

Most businesses are built by default – not by design. Very few businesses start ‘with the end in mind’ and design it from the ground up. Most businesses grow by default with people, systems, culture, clients, numbers, habits and attitudes. If you take a good hard look at your business today, is it exactly what...Read More

Scenario A well-established barber shop in a small town was hit hard when a new barber moved into the area and set up shop. Having held a monopoly prior to the arrival of the competitor, the barber had become complacent and benefited from false loyalty.  This sense of false security was disrupted by new competition....Read More

Formal and Informal Systems All businesses have systems. They make the wheels of your business turn. Some systems are formal but many are informal.  Systems that are informal can keep your business wheels from turning smoothly when it comes to day-to-day operations such as closing sales and ultimately from easily selling or passing down your...Read More

A local wholesale paint supplier had been a client of their accountant for eight years. The relationship had traditionally been around year end tax and compliance. Two years ago, the accountant discussed the idea of business growth with her client. She said she had been thinking about the business and had run some numbers to...Read More

Consider it polygamy of sorts. But if you want to stay in business long and prosper, you have to commit to your customers. It’s no longer enough just to satisfy them. The quality of a business’ revenue is as important as its quantity. Loyal customers represent quality revenue. It’s great if every customer walks away...Read More

Consider this fundamental point in business; whenever a customer makes a purchase, they take a risk that the product or service will work. When you think about it logically, the fact that they’re taking a risk must hamper the decision-making process. In a lot of cases, it must put off the decision. The product or...Read More

Amanda started a modern and progressive dental surgery three years ago. She had grown the business from nothing, reaching break even quickly through word of mouth and then moving into profitability. But she felt there was so much more potential in her business. When her accountant suggested they sit down to talk through how she...Read More

Ever heard the expression “time is money”? Well, it’s never more true than when it comes to making changes to your business. While change is not something that most people embrace quickly or open-heartedly, if it’s done too cautiously it can flatten revenues, eat profits and lead to business failure. This is particularly true for...Read More

Running a business without a business plan is like rock climbing blindfolded. Your chances of making it successfully to the top are slim. And the process will surely be a death-defying one. Contrary to popular practice, a business plan is not a means to securing financing. Instead it is a step-by-step guide to running your...Read More