Taking an information and communications technology (ICT) company from start-up phase to market leader is no easy task – particularly if you come from a non-technical background – but Maree Adshead made it happen.

If you’re selling a well-crafted product, it makes sense to ensure your sales channels reflect the quality of that product.

You can’t start a business without a vision, but you can start a business without seeking professional advice, however risky that might be.

It can be tempting to take on every client that comes your way, particularly in the early days when generating healthy cashflow is critical, but failing to deliver on your commitments can lead to problems later.

Operating in a highly competitive industry like real estate often requires lateral thinking and the ability to approach the market from a different angle.

There is an old adage that you should keep your personal life and business separate, but it is a rule James Milne chose to ignore when recruiting for his technology company.

Being passionate about your business idea is critical, but unless you can back it up with industry-specific expertise, you won’t get far.

Selling your wares online is an instant recipe for success, right? Not according to Pierre Boutros, who learnt that even the most straightforward business needs strategies in place to secure sales.

Being young in business can be an advantage, but having a young family to support leaves little room for error. Ben Bradshaw knows all too well what this is like.

Having a great idea is the launchpad for most entrepreneurs, but success is defined by how you develop that idea using your skills and experience, and the expertise of others.

Taking on a new role in a business can be daunting, particularly if you’re stepping into the shoes of the person who built the business.

Search engine optimisation is a crucial element when it comes to being seen online, but small businesses often find that becoming visible to customers is harder than it seems.

Striking a deal with another company to commercialise your product sounds like an ideal arrangement, but if that company changes hands, suddenly your future can look very different.

All start-ups should ensure costs don’t run out of control, but when you operate in a cutthroat industry such as modelling, you can’t afford to skimp on much if your business is to grow.

Creating a new concept in any industry is no mean feat, but when you’re operating in a highly competitive market such as customer loyalty programs, the stakes are even higher.

Expanding your workforce is imperative if you are to diversify and grow your business, but how do you know the people you’re hiring are up to the job? Rob Davidson found this out the hard way.

Negotiating the terms of a deal can be taxing at the best of times. But the challenge is particularly acute if the other party is based overseas, as details can get lost in translation or slip through the net entirely. 

Making the transition from running your own business to a partnership can be tricky, but it’s a move made by many entrepreneurs looking to grow. What matters is how both parties handle the change.

Knowing which niche market you intend to cater for is hugely important, but if you’re unsure how to target that market, your business won’t get very far.

Managing workers within a mobile business can be risky, particularly if you’re not around to supervise. But when your business centres around children’s parties, everything must go to plan.

Mike O’Hagan is the founder of Mini Movers, providing short-distance furniture moving. The company has operated in Australia since 1985, with a presence in all the major cities.

The global financial crisis saw the collapse of many established businesses, not to mention the start-ups that were so unfortunate enough to launch in the midst of it.

Using the media as a marketing tool is nothing new, particularly among cash-strapped start-ups looking to get their name out there.

Entrepreneurs often speak about “getting off the hamster wheel” when they start a business, which can be difficult when the business is performing well and sales are steady.

Launching a new concept in an unfamiliar industry often requires a thick skin, particularly if you plan on franchising your business from the get-go.

Trying to sell off $20 million worth of property during an economic crisis is a near-impossible task, yet Garry Braams found himself with no alternative.

Promising the world to clients can be a tempting sales strategy for start-ups, particularly in the early days when sales are scarce, but it can also backfire in a very big way.

Being temporarily dis-engaged from your parents as a teenager might not sound like the ideal background for a successful entrepreneur.

Start-ups have been known to try every trick in the book to win over sceptical suppliers but when you’re barely out of uni you don’t necessarily have the right skills or experience to draw on let alone a good reputation.

Working from home is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways of starting a business, particularly if you never need to leave the house in order to make sales.

Having very little money has served as the motivation for many successful entrepreneurs, from Seven Media chief Kerry Stokes to Harry Potter mastermind JK Rowling.

Operating online is the norm these days, particularly if you’re a new business. But as Matt and Richard Burgess found out, setting up a website is the easy part. Being found online presents an entirely new set of challenges.

Negotiating with real estate agents isn’t most people’s idea of fun, but one business found out the hard way how to deal with the industry in a profitable way.

For many entrepreneurs, choosing which industry to enter doesn't warrant a second thought – they enter a particular market based on their experience and business idea.

 

Building a network for rural and regional businesses is no mean feat, so it’s important to get it right from the start. But when your plan backfires, how do you proceed?

Supply and demand can be a precarious balance for small businesses, even more so for start-ups still trying to build up their customer base.

Launching a business during a global economic downturn is ill timed, to say the least. But when you’re a start-up, you can’t afford to procrastinate, particularly if you’ve already spent a year preparing.

Starting a business can be an overwhelming experience, particularly if you didn’t plan on doing it alone. But as Matthew Sampson found out, thinking on your feet is crucial when you realise that you are going solo.

Milking cows isn’t an obvious path to website design but entrepreneur Tim Gentle says moving to a rural area proved to be the perfect way to tap into a niche online market.

Brian Jones is the founder of Fortitude Financial Management, a Victorian-based business providing life insurance solutions across the business, personal and superannuation sectors.

Alicia Beachley’s mantra reads like this: “I believe in biting off more than you can chew and then chewing like crazy.”

The ‘culture’ of a business is something many large companies spend a lot of time, and money, getting right. But getting the right mix of staff is something start-ups should be concerned about too, as The Missing Link found out ­– expensively.

Despite launching just two years ago, Mount Lawley Pets & Puppies is already changing the negative perceptions of pet shops with its open and ethical approach.

California-born Carl Harwin is the founder of frozen yoghurt business Wowcow, which recently announced its plans to become a nationwide franchise.

Despite starting out in a fringe market, independent online publisher Sound Alliance is now considered an essential resource for the likes of big-name brands such as Virgin Mobile and Smirnoff.

WA-based business What Scratch? is an automotive scratch repair business, founded in 2008 by husband-and-wife team Matthew and Dale Burke.

There are countless ways for business owners to boost profits. Raising prices and cutting costs provide a great starting point, but
 entrepreneurs need to think more broadly about strategies for winning 
more business and lifting sales.

Collectively, Australian businesses fork out an immeasurable amount of money to market their offering in a bid to bolster sales.