A voice for small business

procedures
Business Team Training Listening Meeting Concept

TSBI aims to provide practical training and support services for the small-business sector.

We believe the small-business community lacks a strong representative voice and has a critical need for training designed specifically for its needs. This is why the small Business Institute (TSBI) was formed in Victoria. It is dedicated to providing practical training and support services for the small-business sector, as well as representing it at all levels of government.

More than 21,000 small-business members are part of our community, where they can learn how to grow their business, find support, share offers and build a strong voice.

TSBI is a member Of the Small Enterprise Association of Australia & New Zealand (SEAANZ), the International Council for small Business (ICSB) and the Council of Small Business Australia (COSBOA).

Our business training provides practical, real-world information. Programs include workshops and seminars on topics such as funding, practical money management, digital marketing and using digital tools to save time and money.

A flagship five-month business accelerator program with mentoring support is available, designed to help owners take their business to the next level.

Easily wasted

While learning and self-development are critical to survival in an increasingly competitive marketplace, we also know that without implementation, the investment of both time and money can easily be wasted. This is why we include mentoring support in most of our small-business training programs, enabling participants to adapt what they learn to their own specific situation, and to implement key concepts into their business environment.

“Participants can adapt what they learn to their own specific situation, and implement key concepts into their business environments.”

A series of videos are available free on our website (www.tsbi.com.au) as are resources and articles from organisations including.

  • the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) .
  • the Small Business Commissioners
  • the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
  • emergency services such as State Emergency Service (SES), Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Victoria Police.

TSB membership includes the chance to market your products and services to the wider membership via a directory listing or as a “supplier” offering other members special benefits. “Supplier organisations” can use the TSB events listings to promote workshops and events to members via the website, TSBI social media and newsletter updates.

Members are offered discounts, savings or value-add offers on TSB workshops, seminars and training programs. Membership is free, and any business can join through the website.

5 NEW YEAR TIPS

Here are five tips for a smooth transition into the new financial year:

1. Stocktake your resources

It is always good at this time to look closely at what may be missing from your resource inventory – skills, people or cash – then plan to acquire these in the coming year.

2. Check your numbers

While we all hate budgets, it is imperative to check your numbers are you making the volume of sales, average sales amount and profit contribution you need?

3. Decide what is working well

Do more of these things and see more of these people.

4. Determine what may be holding you back

Outsource or delegate the stuff taking up your valuable time. It is more economic to pay for services at $50 an hour than lose your productive time, worth far more dollars.

5. Clear out the old

Get rid of old stock, clients, products or services that cost you more to keep/deal with than they are worth. This “spring clean” creates space to bring in new ideas, products and customers that can prove more valuable.

Anthony M Turner, Founder, The Small Business Institute

This article first appeared in issue 13 of the Inside Small Business quarterly magazine