Miranda Mears launches Start Right Business Academy in Small Business Month

With half of businesses failing within the first five years, a Townsville businesswoman’s new program will provide guidance and tools to help people find their feet. Find out more.

Australian Impact Group director Miranda Mears is taking applications for the newly launched Start Right SME Business Academy. Picture: Supplied.

With over half of businesses failing within the first three years, a Townsville business leader is offering guidance through a new initiative helping fledgling ventures find their feet.

Coinciding with the commencement of Queensland Small Business Month, Australian Impact Group director Miranda Mears announced that she was accepting applications for her online business program Start Right SME Business Academy.

Designed to support idea-stage, early-stage, and micro business owners – particularly in regional communities – the three-month self-paced program delivers weekly challenges, real-world templates, and peer support, all backed by six months of access to resources.

Participants will also benefit from weekly virtual Q&A sessions and curated updates on grants, tenders, and opportunities – saving business owners the time and overwhelm of searching for relevant information.

Having previously experienced success in deploying similar programs through her business and role as the president of the Townsville Chamber of Commerce, Ms Mears could see the potential in evolving the programs to help instil the foundations for operating a successful business.

Australian Impact Group director Miranda Mears is taking applications for the newly launched Start Right SME Business Academy. Picture: Supplied.

“You can’t be a plumber or an electrician without actually going and doing the basics around your trade, but anyone can go into business, and they’re not really supported with the right information and tools to help them build … and understand what a good sustainable business looks like,” Ms Mears said.

“There is a huge challenge, not just with the business sustainability, but the family sustainability and the mental health sustainability of the founders’ relationship.

“There’s a significantly greater proportion of people that are in small business with their partners, and end up divorced.”

The Start Right SME Business Academy gives you the tools, guidance, and clarity to lay strong foundations, and connects you with a community of like-minded business owners. Picture: Supplied.

The first intake on June 1 will be capped at 50 participants to ensure personal support and engagement, with the opportunity to scale up in the future.

The program can also be used by chambers of commerce, councils, start up accelerators, hubs and incubators to deliver important resilience based knowledge.

“Start Right is the culmination of 25 years of learning – building businesses, making mistakes, and figuring out what works without big budgets or degrees. This is the program I wish I had when I started,” she said.

“In addition to the online course material and program, there’s a community that the participants will be able to join where they can actually discuss with new owners and founders going through the same experience, and ask questions.”

To find out more or lodge an application, visit: www.australianimpactgroup.com/startright.

Who should join the Start Right SME Business Academy

• Are starting or restarting their business journey

• Have an idea but haven’t yet put it into action

• Feel overwhelmed and want a practical way forward

• Need clarity, structure, and support — but on their terms

Originally published as Miranda Mears launches Start Right Business Academy in Small Business Month