Leading business gurus give Cairns entrepreneurs advice on how to survive and thrive
Best in business entrepreneurs reveal their profitable secrets in special report for people hoping to strike gold with their enterprising dreams.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- FNQ tourism industry’s future hinges on vital works
- Luminous Lights owner began selling fairy lights to fill a gap in the Cairns market
TWO of the country’s leading business gurus say Cairns entrepreneurs can survive and thrive – as long as they follow the key steps to success.
The region is home to 13,641 businesses, most of which turn over less than $500,000 a year.
In the past four years, 6692 businesses have closed.
Experts say everything from bad planning decisions to slow internet are preventing businesses from growing.
The Cairns Post asked two of Australia’s leading business gurus about what it takes to survive and thrive.
Entrepreneur and Shark Tank star Naomi Simson says it takes very little effort to set up a business but making a success of it is an entirely different beast.
“If you have got an idea in the morning you can have it registered with a website and everything else done by the afternoon and away you go,” the founder of RedBalloon Australia and the Big Red Group says.
“The hardest part is about scaling a business and growing it – and finding customers.”
Ms Simson said scaling up was expensive and new operators could expect to not draw a liveable wage for 18 months or more.
About 38 per cent of Cairns businesses turn over less than $100,000 a year and 39.9 per cent earn $100,000–$500,000.
>> NEW BUSINESS: New baby store aims to fill gap in market
Just 6.6 per cent hit $2 million in annual turnover, Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows.
Ms Simson said she was not surprised by this.
“High turnover depends on the industry that you are in and what you are selling,” she said.
“If you are a retailer or warehouse holding a lot of stock, you will chew up your working capital.
“If you are a fee-for-service business, for example a consultant selling your intelligence, your costs are a lot lower.
“$500,000 sounds like a lot of money but it might not be.”
Council of Small Business Organisations Australia CEO Peter Strong has long been an advocate for enterprising start-ups.
>>FNQ TOURISM: State Government to host meeting with Cairns tourism industry leaders
He said planning was the key for people wanting to keep their businesses on track.
“You need to do a classic forward business plan with cash flow management so you know how much money you need to come in to survive – to cover your rent, your power, your suppliers,” Mr Strong said.
“You also need to manage your emotions – do not get so excited that you do not apply normal due diligence.
“Get yourself an adviser who knows your industry – not a relative but a professional – and listen to them.”
Mr Strong said business owners struggled if there was limited access to good quality internet.
“One of the biggest problems is that businesses do not have great relationships with their internet providers and that can cause major issues,” he said.
“We’ve found that where people have access to excellent internet they are more likely to succeed.” — NewsRegional
CAIRNS BUSINESS FACTS
Number of businesses open: 13,641
Number closed in past four years: 6692
% earning under $100,000 per year: 38.1
% earning $100,000–$500,000 per year: 39.9
% without employees: 57.3
Source: Queensland Government, ABS
HOW WE COMPARE
Listed by region, number of open businesses, number that closed in past four years
Bundaberg, 6556, 2935
Cairns, 13,641, 6692
Fraser Coast, 5858, 2908
Gladstone, 3839, 2208
Gold Coast, 64,848, 34,983
Gympie, 4407, 2040
Ipswich, 8914, 4816
Mackay, 9747, 4183
Rockhampton, 5187, 2573
Southern Downs, 4033, 1513
Sunshine Coast, 30,619, 14,881
Toowoomba, 15,619, 6405
Townsville, 12,009, 6504
Queensland, 437,640, 215,951
Source: Queensland Government, ABS
Originally published as Leading business gurus give Cairns entrepreneurs advice on how to survive and thrive
School issues alert after man chases, lures students
A school in Far North Queensland is on high alert following reports a man chased students and attempting to lure them into his car.
‘Grabbed his dogs and ran’: Airbnb guest lucky to escape house fire
A Cairns Airbnb guest was lucky to escape a blaze with his two dogs unscathed after a home was completely gutted by fire, believed be caused by a phone charger. Watch the video.