By his own admission, Kade Sims is adept at counting beans – the coffee variety that is, not financial figures. So, when the owner of Beck & Call Coffee in Albany considered expanding the business model for his niche coffee roasting enterprise, he sought assistance from the Business Local network to put together a competitive grant application. An...
Throughout 2018, our staff have been hitting the airwaves on RTRFM’s ‘Taking Care of Business’ show. As part of these monthly chats, we have been able to provide business advice, information on current trends and issues facing small businesses in WA and to share details of our small business workshops and events. If you missed the interviews when...
When jeweller Julianne Karavitis relocated from Melbourne to Kalgoorlie, she saw an opportunity to launch a niche fine jewellery design. With the help of the SBDC’s Business Local team, Julianne has turned her love of jewellery into a vibrant business with a positive impact on her local community. Turning a passion into a thriving business is a...
For self-taught bakers Sam Dawson and Rhiannon Moon, their successful business story has hinged on ingenuity, opportunity and sheer hard work – all in equal measure. A move from Perth to Albany revealed a gap in the market for traditional sourdough, at a time when the resourceful couple was tinkering with breadmaking at home. “We saw that there was...
While navigating the uncertainty of COVID was a challenge for many small businesses, for popular Geraldton restaurant Skeetas, the pandemic proved a boon for trade. Western Australia’s hard border is likely to have played a role in the regional business’s uplift. Tourism Western Australia’s most recent Intrastate Market Profile showed that...
With spring in the air, now is the time to take stock of your business and get organised before the busy festive season
When opening and evolving their landscaping supply business in Albany, owners Jane and Ian sought guidance from advisers at the Albany Business Centre, the SBDC’s Business Local provider in the Great Southern. Designer Dirt in Albany is more than your average landscaping supply centre. Opened in 2012, the business could be seen as an extension of...
Family-owned and operated business, Leaf Bean Machine, has spent more than a decade taking their love of a good brew to the next level by focussing on being more than just a coffee roaster. Fleur and Brad Cassidy, the husband and wife team behind Leaf Bean Machine, created a three pronged product focus which gave rise to its trading name. They...
Should you borrow money from your family? Questions to ask yourself before getting loved ones involved.
Are you finding it hard to work out how much you should be charging for your services? One of the most common questions we’re asked by new business owners is how much should they be charging per hour for their services. There are a number of factors to consider when setting an hourly rate. Here are our top tips if you are running a service-based...
We all want to avoid non-essential costs when starting a business. The good news is, there are some amazing free resources available to get you started on your business journey. Here are some of the best. 1 - Free Starting a Business workshop If you are new to business, our free Starting a Business workshop is the best place to start. You’ll cover...
As you dive into the new year in small business, it’s important to take stock of your achievements during the past 12 months and to set your business goals for the next. We have put together a few tips to help ensure smooth sailing in the year ahead. Get on top of your finances Take some time to put your finances in order by reviewing your...