Qld entrepreneurs reveal good and bad about doing business in state
THEY’VE been named Queensland’s Top 20 entrepreneurs under 40. And now some have opened up about what’s good about doing business in the Sunshine State, and what is holding us back.
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QUEENSLAND’S best and brightest young business leaders want to see better access to government grants, a reduction in red tape and an educational focus on start-ups and small business.
As Queensland Business Monthly unveils its annual Top 20 Under 40 business leaders for 2018, some of the state’s leading entrepreneurs and professionals have voiced their hopes and concerns for the Sunshine State’s future.
We’ve asked them three questions about doing business in Queensland: What would you change to make things even more attractive for emerging businesses; What is the most positive thing about doing business in Queensland; What are the biggest concerns about Queensland’s direction.
Most agree that the combination of Queensland’s enviable lifestyle, weather and affordability make it a wonderful place to launch and grow businesses.
Some, such as Dean Foley, the founder of Australia’s first indigenous business accelerator Barayamal, said support for growing businesses needed to be widened to the greater community.
“The business leadership groups need to embrace the rich perspectives of diverse and young people instead of doing business as usual,” he said.
Here are some of their answers to the questions below.
Charlie Cush, 38
BRISBANE FESTIVAL CEO
1. In the arts and entertainment industries, I would like to see a change in culture where residents and tourists head out on a weeknight to enjoy a show, a meal or attend a gallery opening. If our friends in southern states better understood the great art being made here, the lifestyle and affordability, we would have greater critical mass in our theatres, restaurants and galleries.
2. I have lived in New York and London and spent time in Sydney and Melbourne, and I have always chosen to return home to Brisbane to live and work. There is a hive of opportunity here balanced with the lifestyle. I can live in the inner 5km, drive in peak hour with ease and enjoy an outdoor lifestyle uninhibited by the weather. Works for me.
3. I’m concerned that we are producing some of the more worrying characters in politics. I worry about ... the message this sends to the rest of the country.
Stephen Bornstein, 29
CYBORG DYNAMICS ENGINEERING FOUNDER
1. We need to consider not just setting up office in the capital city but diversifying to the Gold Coast, Logan, Sunshine Coast, and look at flexible work arrangements so people are able to live in the areas they want and not have to spend excessive time travelling to and from work. That will attract more talent and use some of the great living and housing affordability in areas outside of Brisbane City.
2. A combination of a great lifestyle which attracts and retains a variety of talent who want good weather and improved housing affordability.
3. Collaboration between university and industry on real meaningful projects is super important. The commercial partners involved need a proven track record of delivering and the universities need to demonstrate an ability to mature technology past preliminary levels.
Dominique Lamb, 33
NATIONAL RETAIL ASSOCIATION CEO
1. The key is ensuring that the costs are low and profitability is high. This comes down to education of business owners. We need further investment in education around compliance and minimising red tape at no additional cost to the business. We need better resources to make government grants more accessible and understood by business
2. The most positive thing is community support for business. Queensland has become a hive of activity especially in the innovation space and this activity encourages others to dare to dream.
3. My biggest concern continues to be thelevel of state debt, because community needs are growing and we need the government to invest. I am also concerned about youth unemployment rates, especially in the regions.
Dean Foley, 29
BARAYAMAL FOUNDER
1. Funding and support for the start-up ecosystem needs to support the greater community instead of a select few. The business leadership groups need to embrace the rich perspectives of diverse and young people. I believe some Queenslanders are being left behind so there needs to be better infrastructure and facilities built to take advantage of the digital economy and create more jobs.
2. The cost of living is substantially lower in Brisbane compared to Sydney or Melbourne, and most Queenslanders believe in giving people a fair go.
3. The current leadership in the business community lacks diverse views and has a tunnel vision way of doing business, which concerns me because Sydney and Melbourne will acquire talent from Queensland to help build their economies.
Rachael Turner, 34
FRONT PORCH PROPERTIES FOUNDER
1. I’d like to see improved tax laws for business owners, a change in zoning to create more collaborative work spaces, create opportunities for free advertising and more government help for start-ups.
2. Brisbane, for a capital city, is relatively accessible and easy to travel around, with great weather and lifestyle.
3. Oversupply of units negatively effecting business, and increased rental prices for business/shop owners.
Ben Bradshaw, 35
SPONSOREDLINX CEO
1. Queensland already is a great place for emerging business, but we have a significant cost of living advantage over Sydney and Melbourne and we should be doing more to promote this to budding entrepreneurs. I would like to see more expansion of government-funded start-up mentoring programs.
2. The weather and the lifestyle is the best in the country. There is natural growth so it is a great opportunity to start a business.
3. That future Infrastructure will not keep up with population growth.
Sam Hardy, 34
PEAK MARKETING CO-FOUNDER
1. Remove some of the state taxes that penalise business for growth, such as payroll. These sort of taxes actually have the opposite effect and people actively look to reduce headcount to avoid hitting the threshold. Implement Daylight Savings to keep in check with Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. It is a pain for businesses that hold national contracts to have staggered shifts to handle the time change with the southern states.
An education system where people don’t think you need to go to university to succeed. Eighty-five per cent of jobs are real-world experience and work ethic rather then theory-based knowledge.
2. Queenslanders are really humble people to work with. If you live up to what you say you will do, they will support you.
3. With most governments, increased regulation and tax creep they impose to cover fiscal mismanagement.
Ellen Powell, 28
BLUSHING CONFETTI FOUNDER
1. The business community is definitely thriving here and a lot of local suppliers are happy to help you in your endeavours. With the current state of support and community, the only thing I can really think to make it more attractive are a few more manufacturing resources.
2. Definitely the close-knit community. Networks are easily formed and everyone is supportive of each other.
3. Nothing! Queensland is becoming such a creative hub and now stands alongside Melbourne and Sydney.
Tasmin Trezise, 25
TANDA CO-FOUNDER
1. Goodbye Payroll Tax. It’s a direct disincentive to work which is bad for employees, employers, entrepreneurs, the youth and our nation’s productivity. Payroll Tax is the most potent example of politicians saying one thing and doing another. Fewer handouts for faux innovation. Government handouts are like watering a poisonous flower. It brings politics into entrepreneurship, seeding a bad culture, and diminishes the importance of corporate and community volunteerism.
Unlock the city. There’s a war against fun going on and it’s being fought with rules and regulation.
A vibrant night-life and 24/7 economy is key to building a culture that keeps people enjoying being a part of our towns.
2. The most positive thing about Queensland is that its people are the most resourceful and enterprising in the country. I grew up in the far north and spent my study and working life in Brisbane, so have been privileged to get the full Queensland experience. Queenslanders are resilient, optimistic, hunt as a pack and look after each other when the chips are down. This flows into the camaraderie and openness of the entrepreneur community which, alongside the clear opportunities for advancement and exposure, is the key to success.
3. It’s concerning that there are prominent figures in the community looking to emulate Silicon Valley, in a superficial manner. That’s not going to see this community we’ve helped build last into the future and forge a presence for Brisbane on the global stage.
Our strategy at Tanda has been to identify the resources available to us; time and time again, we’ve found knowledge and bright people to be in far greater supply and power than handouts or VC offerings. Partnering closely with our world-class universities (we started out of QUT in Brisbane), giving young people outsized responsibility. And our focus is on the long term – which is why we prioritise building our technology and our team.
Bec Krone, 30, Nikki Bowling, 34
LACEY LANE CO-FOUNDERS
1. We would love to see Brisbane embrace a networking culture, and government incentives and support for job creation. We believe in improving secondary schools business programs and need to modernise how we teach the next generation the tools to start and sustain their own businesses.
2. We are lucky running the business we do, in a digital space that is able to reach customers nationally and internationally. Having our business based in such a beautiful place is just a bonus.
3. Our concerns stem from the direction of Australia in general. We’re still so far behind the rest of the world. We need to be more disruptive, create more opportunities and support for modern businesses today.
Tim Johnson, 36
RESTAURATEUR
1. Potentially offer first-time entrepreneurs free professional services to help establish a business plan and back-end business systems before opening. As well as financial assistance similar to a first-home buyers grant to reduce to financial barriers to entry.
2. The community support and energy for new ideas and wanting to see people succeed is amazing. Our industry is so open and supportive of each other, it’s a great vibe at the moment.
3. Our biggest challenge is labour cost, so anything that helps that is a massive benefit and anything that hinders that is our biggest concern.
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