It's not always easy to focus on growing your business when you have your hands full with daily operations. However, planning for growth is an ongoing process for small businesses looking to grow or adapt.
Through its Service NSW Business Concierge service, the Service NSW Business Bureau can support you to grow your business at every stage.
Get personalised support
It can be hard to know where to begin when thinking about growing your business. One way to get started is to get in touch with a Business Concierge to receive personalised guidance.
'We support different types of businesses, sometimes even scheduling time after hours over the phone, in person or online, depending on their need and availability,' Nathan, a Business Concierge in regional NSW, says.
For example, if you own a mobile food business, you may find it useful to seek guidance to determine whether to open a permanent shopfront. After hearing about your business’s goals, a Business Concierge can help you navigate government requirements to identify the licences you need and regulations you need to follow. They can then refer you to other agencies for additional support you may need.
'Business Concierges can help businesses apply for licences and permits. For example, we can help a small food business process their food safety certificate,' Nathan adds.
If more tailored advice is needed, a Business Concierge can refer business owners to independent Business Connect advisors.
Have regular check-ins
Running a business means being adaptable. Customer needs and trends change, so it’s important to have current and relevant business insights.
Business Concierges get to know emerging businesses and industries in their local area. They also often regularly check in with existing businesses that they've helped before.
'We stay in touch and let them know about any available rebates, incentives and grants and maintain that ongoing support. It’s also about understanding their individual situations. Some business owners use their small business in Australia to support their family overseas, so motivations for growth look different for everyone.'
Learn about your market
The on-the-ground work Business Concierges do improves the quality of support they can provide. Knowing the specific circumstances of a local area paints a clearer picture.
For instance, when agriculture is the backbone of the local economy — as it is for many regional NSW towns — a local Business Concierge will understand the unique impact that a higher cost of living has on the area. They can refer business owners to small business loans, concessions and programs that may be available to support their growth.
Understand the support available
Employment is also an area of focus for regional businesses that are having a difficult time recruiting and retaining staff. To help with this, Nathan says a Business Concierge can identify and provide information about wage subsidies and assist with the hiring process.
'We link businesses to different services and professionals. We can introduce them to immigration consultants, for example, to help with temporary working visas when recruiting international talent to grow their team.'
Grow your way
There’s never a wrong time to be considering the growth and agility of your small business. If your business is going through a slow period, that’s a particularly good time to think about business plans, recovery and growth.
Sometimes, business owners need guidance on where to begin to plan the road ahead. Service NSW Business Bureau can help your small business grow and adapt in a way that works for you.
View our resources to manage and grow your business. Or, book a call with a Service NSW Business Concierge to get personalised support.