Set up a Wi-Fi network

Posted on March 31, 2021 by Angus Jones

Before you find someone to help you set up a Wi-Fi network, you will be pleased to know that the process is extremely easy. In this guide, we will look at the possibilities and help you decide what to buy and how to set it up to ensure the best productivity.

Wi-Fi is a wireless sharing technology that allows devices such as computers (laptops and desktops), smartphones and other equipment (printers and video cameras) to connect to the Internet.

WHY should I have a Wi-Fi network?

Suppose you are transferring large amounts of data, or you need a mission-critical connection to the internet. In that case, you should not have a Wi-Fi connection, you should instead use a cable connection to your modem or Wi-Fi router. An ethernet cable will allow faster transfer speeds and a more reliable connection.

However, if you want to seamlessly move to different places in your home or office without being tied to cables, Wi-Fi is a must. Wi-Fi encourages collaboration but, most importantly, simplicity rather than having to do expensive hardware and cabling installs.

If you run a business where your guest might benefit from Wi-Fi, it is also simple to provide them with access to the internet, but not access your private computer resources and files.

WHAT do I need to set up a Wi-Fi network?

Small Business Answers have a separate article on setting up a computer network covering all the higher-level information you need to understand.

Steps to set up a Wi-Fi network:

You will need to sign up for an Internet plan where you should consider what speed and capacity will suit your needs
Buy a wireless router. A wireless router is a device that does two key functions. The router function allows a single internet connection provided by a modem (device to connect you to the internet) to be distributed across many devices. It is very simplistically like a single power point and adding a power board – you can now plug more things in. The wireless function allows a radio connection of devices without any cables, thus wireless. The connected device like a Notebook will, of course, need its own power source like a battery.
Connect your wireless router to your modem with the supplied ethernet cable.
Set up your wireless router. See the next section for more details.
Connect your devices with a password to your router (more details below). Password protection does two things. First, it stops just anyone connecting to your network, like neighbours or some random person using your network to download movies. Secondly, it prevents others from getting unauthorised access to your network, which might allow them access to private information. More details on internet security can be found in this guide.
Decide who else will have access and under any restrictions.

Which wireless router should I buy?

Our sister site www.Gadgetguy.com.au has reviews on various models to help you decide. Your friendly office supply or consumer electronics store will also have some good advice.

There are some different types you need to understand first:

4G/5G router – different from others as it uses the mobile phone network to access the internet. No broadband connection required, and it will work anywhere there is mobile phone coverage. Internet access will, however, be more expensive.
Standard Wireless router – most common and economical solution.
Wi-Fi mesh router – provides multiple units that enable a much greater coverage area in your place of work with a seamless transfer from one mesh unit to the next. This means a more reliable internet connection for the user.
Business access points and small business solutions – Specific products designed for larger offices or to give Wi-Fi access to customers. There is a simple unit from Netgear called an Orbi Pro. Beyond this, we suggest you seek professional advice.

A wireless router may have been provided to you by your internet provider. These routers are generally the most basic models and may not work as well as a product bought for the purpose. It may lack coverage, capacity (number of connected devices) and speed of transfer.

HOW do I set up a wireless router?

Before you break into a sweat, a simple setup will require you to

Configure a Wi-Fi Router

Select a central location for the router
Connect the supplied ethernet cable from your router to the internet modem
Connect to a power point and turn it on if it has a switch
Look on the bottom/back of the unit for a network name (SSID) and password. The preconfigured name and password will be unique to your router
On your PC or phone, select WI-FI and look for a match to your new router’s network name. Select and add the password
You are now connected

Advanced setup:

Your router will come with instructions that will allow you to make more customisation to your router settings. These will include more complicated setups like a mesh router and directions on downloading an app to your smartphone to assist with the installation and administration process. You will be able to change your network name and password, alter security restrictions or limitations to groups or individuals and the ability to set up a guest network.

A guest network is a key feature you should enable on your router. This means any visitors to your business can benefit from access to the internet but not have access to your printers, shared file systems, POS units etc. Within the router setup menu, which can be reached by either the provided app or by entering a sequence of numbers (IP address) into your connected internet browser (instructions in the router box). Once connected, select the Wi-Fi or wireless section and enable a guest network. Here you can give the separate network a name and password, which you can then provide to your customers.

HINTS

If you do need additional support, see our guide to IT support.

A standard wireless routers coverage can be increased using a Wi-Fi extender which increases the distance covered from the router but by using a different Wi-Fi network name. This is not as simple as a mesh solution but a cheaper way of extending coverage. See our guide on how to improve your Wi-Fi

SUMMARY – Set up a Wi-Fi network

A wireless router will enable you to wirelessly connect your devices to the internet like a PC. This simple device removes the need for cabling and allows mobility within your business premise. A router may be supplied by your internet provider. Still, a higher quality unity easily available from a local retailer is more likely to provide a more productive result. Simple setup can be done in minutes by a novice with more advanced configurations allowing you greater security and control as well as allowing you to set up a 2^nd network for visitors, excluding them any access to your private resources.

Which computer should I buy?

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Angus Jones

You need a new computer, some are $300 others are $3000. Where do you start? What do you need? In this guide, as we don’t understand your circumstances we cannot recommend the right computer but we will help you make that decision yourself.

PC is an abbreviation for personal computer. Personal computers allow us to write papers, create spreadsheets, track our finances, play games, and do many other things. If a PC is connected to the Internet, it can be used to browse the Web, check e-mail, communicate with friends via instant messaging programs, and download files. PCs have become such an integral part of our lives that it can be difficult to imagine life without them!

WHY do I need a new or different Computer?

The fact you are reading this guide means you are already considering a new PC.

The most common reasons for a new PC are:

New staff member
Old PC is too slow
Old PC has failed
Existing PC will not run the program you need
PC has been written off from a financial perspective or deemed too old to continue being reliable.

The question that needs answering here is what is the difference between a PC for home versus a PC for work? Not a great deal depending on what you do for work. These days a lot of home PCs have features built in to support gaming which is not much use at work unless you are doing graphic or video work.

A PC will not last forever and any moving part like a disk drive or fan is the most likely component to fail.

WHAT do I need to understand about a PC?

Walk into a retailer or go online and you will be presented with lots of choice and price points. There are some key decisions you need to make upfront before we look at how to evaluate a PC.

Desktop or Laptop – Laptops may also be called notebooks, which are generally slightly smaller. A Laptop is portable whilst a desktop is not. A desktop can be more powerful, have more connection port options and upgradeable but few people except for gamers ever upgrade their desktop by replacing components. Historically desktops are cheaper for similar specifications but not always. If the user will work away from the office they should have a laptop.
1. Desktop – come as either a tower unit which is large upright box, compact or small form factor which places everything in a sandwich sided box, or an all-in-one which combines the components into the back of a monitor.
1. Laptops – are a self-sufficient solution with battery including screen, keyboard and touchpad (mouse). Features, screen size and weight distinguish models.
Operation system – Today there are four main types:
1. Microsoft Windows – most common and will run almost every software.
1. Apple Mac OS – traditionally favoured by creatives or anyone who has gone down the Apple ecosystem.
1. Google Chrome – a cheaper solution that combined with a lower specified hardware set without a hard drive will perform most functions via a browser and the internet. Popular in education today.
1. Linux– an opensource operating system which is very cheap and generally only used in specialised applications.
Tablet as PC replacement – Some modern tablets are so powerful they could be used as a laptop replacement. When combined with a keyboard they are essentially the same with a different operating system.

As more and more applications and solutions go to the cloud, the operating system is becoming more irrelevant and all you need is to run a browser connected to the internet. However, you do need to ensure that any specialist software or application your business will use can run on the device you buy.

HOW do choose which Personal Computer?

Now you have picked your form factor and operating system this starts to narrow down your selection. Next, you can compare at various retailers instore or online, alternatively visit a specific manufacturers website who sell direct like HP or Dell.

Very simply the higher the specification on each of the below technologies the more expensive the PC will be. If your needs are basic the most basic solutions will do the job but we will make some recommendations below based on value for money and suitability for 3 to 4 years usage.

Key technologies include:

Screen or Monitor: built into a laptop and often bundled with a desktop. Similar technology as a TV. Two factors to consider are screen size measured in inches and resolution. For desktops, we recommend a 27-inch display with Full HD (1920×1080 pixels) resolution. Those doing graphics or video work should consider a larger display with a 4K resolution. More money will also buy more accurate colours.

Processor or CPU: This is your brains of the PC and will be an Intel or AMD product. The bigger the number the faster it will complete a task but at a higher cost. A good sweet spot is an Intel Core i5. Those doing complicated mathematics or graphics should spend more money here.

Memory or RAM: This is the PC’s short term memory. It controls how much it can remember in real-time. 8GB is the sweet-spot, however, most devices can be upgraded if not enough.

Storage or hard drive: This is the long term memory and the place you store all your applications and files. A standard hard drive has moving parts and is cost-effective and can store large amounts of data. A modern alternative is a solid-state drive or SSD which essentially uses computer chips to store data. An SSD is very fast to boot and access files. If you are using a laptop we recommend using an SSD of 256GB, if using a Desktop SSD would be good but 1 TB drive is the sweet spot. In a desktop having both an SSD and hard drive will give you speed and greater storage.

Graphics card: Unless you are using graphic intensive programs, we don’t suggest you need this functionality as the basics are built into the processor. Graphics cards are very popular with home gamers.

Connections: This is how you connect devices to your PC. We recommend you ensure you have the following ports-

HDMI to connect an external monitor.
USB 3 to connect keyboards, mouse, printers, memory sticks, camera’s etc. Two or more ports recommended.
Thunderbolt (not essential but replaces both of the above).
WiFi is how you might connect to the internet wirelessly (see Set up a WiFi network guide).
Ethernet will only be required if you want a cable connection to the internet from the PC.
Bluetooth allows you to connect wirelessly to a mouse, keyboard or your smartphone.
Speakers are included in a laptop but generally needed to be added to a desktop.
SD card slot (not essential) makes it easy to transfer from this medium used in cameras and phones.

You will need to consider software for your new PC and further details on this can be found in our guides on office productivity software and internet security.

HINTS

Visit the gadgetguy website to see reviews and recommendations on various PC products.

How to choose a Windows laptop – a guide for home and office use 2021

Watch out for specials. As this is such a competitive market they are always around and will save you some money.

Next year’s technology will always be better so just accept your PC is out of date soon after you buy it. However, most 3-year-old computers can handle any solutions currently available today.

Ensure you also read our guide on Backup- keeping your data safe.

Your IT support business or computer retailer can also recommend suitable models.

SUMMARY – understand the computer jargon

Buying a new PC can be a daunting task with lots of jargon and so much to choose from. If you stick to reputable brands and understand the implications the various technologies have on the performance of a PC your decision becomes easier. Make sure that what you buy will support the applications and solutions you need to run within your business.

Home Office Hacks For Business Productivity

Posted on February 26, 2021 by Angus Jones

Having a split workspace between home and the office is becoming the norm for workers and business owners alike.

While the home office has become a necessity for many of us over the past year. Those who have run businesses from home for years say most people get it wrong when trying to create the right environment and mindset for working and running a business from home.

Retailer Dave Strutton splits his time between his store on the outskirts of Adelaide’s CBD and his home office in the Adelaide Hills.

He believes we must maintain a functional workspace in our homes at all times to accommodate the changing nature of work and the threat of sudden lockdown.

“Over the past year, many business owners have found themselves having to work from home for the first time – either full time or in hybrid situations – and I expect that will continue for some time,” Mr Strutton said.

“For that reason. I think it’s more important than ever that we have a dedicated home office that mirrors as much as possible our workstations in our business premises” he said.

The owner of a Howards Storage World franchise says the key to a good home office is setting up a space that is properly laid out, well equipped and kept neat and tidy.

“Everyone’s homes are different. What works for one won’t necessarily work for another, but you don’t have to have a big space – or even a separate room – for a home office.

“Look for customised and adjustable shelving and storage units that allow you to set up a workable space that utilises whatever space you have available.

“This also gives you the flexibility to move things around should your circumstances changes.”

Location – Start by selecting a quiet room or space away from distractions and interruptions, such as children, pets and the TV. Don’t plonk yourself on the dining table or spread work across the kitchen bench. You’ll end up with food stains on essential documents as you rifle through your things looking for a phone charger! Set aside a permanent space just for working or studying.
Equipment – Make a list of everything you need – not just a desk and chair. You’re basically recreating your office workstation, so you will need essentials at your fingertips. Drawers and draw dividers, overhead shelves, filing systems and a cable organisation kit will help you maintain order. A wireless charging pad and labels are also useful. If you’re splitting your time between work and home, put items that will be moving between locations in a separate box or basket for a seamless transition.

Workplace expert Maureen Kyne from Maureen Kyne and Associates works from her home in regional Victoria.

She believes there needs to be a clear delineation between your designated work and home zones.

“The lines between home and work have blurred, and there are many pitfalls when it comes to working from home or dividing your time between home and the office,” Ms Kyne said.

“You have to be disciplined to create the right environment and the right mindset. Those who are splitting their time between home and the office really should be aiming for ‘hybrid harmony’.”

Dress code – get dressed in the clothes you would normally wear for work. Ms Kyne also applies make-up and puts on her high heels before entering her home office and shutting the door behind her. Dressing appropriately gets you into the right frame of mind.
Behaviour – Don’t keep any items nearby, such as books and magazines you’re reading, avoid distractions and don’t get in the habit of doing chores or housework, such as putting the washing on or cutting up veggies for dinner during work hours.

Both experts agree a well-planned and well-organised home office can make working from home a more enjoyable and productive experience.

Check out our guide on buying supplies to set up your office

Dave Strutton is the owner and operator of Howards Storage World in Adelaide.
Maureen Kyne is the principal of Maureen Kyne & Associates

Leasing vs Buying Equipment

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Angus Jones

Setting up or expanding a business can be an expensive exercise. To provide yourself with the tools and equipment you will have to either buy items or lease items. Almost anything can be leased from office equipment to machinery and tools. This guide will help you consider the choice between buying and leasing as well as providing further knowledge around the process of leasing.

Leasing of plant and equipment is obtaining the use of machinery, vehicles, or other equipment on a rental basis. This avoids the need to invest capital in equipment. Ownership rests in the hands of the financial institution or leasing company, while the business has the actual use of it.

If you do not have the available cash, further details on ways of acquiring finance can be found in our guide on Financing.

WHY should I lease versus buy?

To understand which is best in your situation it is best to understand the various advantages and disadvantages of each.

Leasing advantages include: making lower monthly payments rather than buying upfront, getting a fixed financing rate instead of a floating interest rate, benefiting from tax deductions on leasing costs, conserving working capital and avoiding cash-devouring down payments, and gaining immediate access to the most up-to-date business tools. The equipment also shows up on your income statement as a lease expense rather than a purchase. If you purchase it, your balance sheet becomes less liquid. The leasing company may also be responsible for repairs saving you maintenance costs.

Leasing disadvantages: You may pay a higher price over the long term versus buying. Leasing commits you to retain a piece of equipment for a certain period, which can be problematic if your business is unstable. Some brands or models may not be available to lease.

Buying advantages: Allows you complete control over your purchase including selection, modifying, and selling the asset for cost recovery. You can control repairs and service intervals. In certain cases, you can claim depreciation as a tax deduction. No agreements or contracts to agree to.

Buying disadvantages: Requires you to have cash flow and might force you into buying a cheaper model. If technology is outdated you have no easy upgrade path other than selling. Unless a warranty or insurance policy exists, repairs and maintenance will be an additional expense.

WHAT do I need to understand about leasing?

If you are just starting a business you may find it difficult to lease equipment. Lease companies will look at your lack of credit history but may consider your personal rather than business credit history during the approval process.

There are four types of equipment leases:

Finance Lease: Ownership of the equipment is with the business. It is on-balance sheet. Lease payments are tax-deductible. At the end of the lease, the equipment is returned to the Lessee or purchased by the business for an agreed price.

Operating Lease (Rental): Ownership of the equipment remains with the Lessor (it is off-balance sheet). Financing payments are tax-deductible. At the end of the lease, the lessee returns the equipment to the lessor or purchased by the business for an agreed price.

Commercial Hire Purchase: Equipment is owned by the business and it is treated as on-balance sheet finance. Only the interest portion of the payments is tax-deductible. The business can claim depreciation deductions on the equipment. At the end of the term, the equipment remains with the company. Sometimes there is a residual value payment required.

Chattel Mortgage: Equipment is owned by the business and the interest component of the payment is tax-deductible. The business can claim depreciation deductions on the equipment. This is a traditional secured loan where the equipment acts as security for the Lender. At the end of the finance term, the borrower remains as the owner of the equipment.

Watch for balloon payments, here you make small monthly payments with a large payment at the end. While this allows you to conserve your cash flow, the final balloon payment may be more than the equipment is worth.

If your lease requires you to return the equipment at the end of the lease and it’s worth less than the value established in the contract, you may be responsible for paying the difference. Also, watch for additional charges such as wear and tear.

HOW to buy or lease equipment?

Buying equipment is fairly straight forward however when selecting the right product you should consider:

What you need both now and in the future?
Would it be more cost-effective to have someone else’s plant or machinery do the task for you?
Do you have the right environment or space to operate this product?
Is the quality or reliability of product critical and does the extra cost make sense?
Do you need to buy new or will 2^nd hand work?
How easily and/or quickly can the product be repaired or serviced?

If you decide to lease, the above list also applies. You can secure an equipment lease through:

Banks and bank-affiliated firms. Banks may offer advantages, like lower costs and better customer service. Check whether the bank will keep and service the lease transaction after it’s set up.
Equipment dealers and distributors can help you arrange to finance using owned leasing subsidiaries or an independent leasing company.
Independent leasing companies.
Commercial leasing broker. Much like mortgage brokers, these people charge a fee to act as an intermediary between lessors and lessees.

HINTS

Every lease decision is unique, so it’s important to study the lease agreement carefully. Compare the costs of leasing to the current interest rate, examining the terms to see if they’re favourable. What is the lease costing you? What are your savings? Compare those numbers to the cost of purchasing the same piece of equipment, and you’ll quickly see which is the more profitable route.

SUMMARY – Leasing versus buying equipment

There are advantage and disadvantages of both buying and leasing. Make sure you:

Understand the tax consequences.
Make sure the product and the financing meets your needs.
Understand what the implications are at the end of a product’s useful life or the end of lease terms.

Your accountant should be able to advise you in these matters if you require additional assistance.

Website design for subscribers, leads, and sales

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Angus Jones

Website design is critical for your business success. When you open a web page, do you read it or do you scan it? We all want instant gratification to quickly find what we want. A well-designed website will engage readers and help you achieve your goals. This guide will look at why web design is essential and look at what you should consider to get the best result.

Web design can be defined two ways.
1. Referring to the design of the website displayed on the internet and the consumer experience. The experience of viewing the page includes its layout, the content contained and the graphic design.
2. To create and maintain a website using a process of planning, conceptualising and arranging content. Website design uses specialised software and templates combined with human creativity.

WHY should I care about good website design?

The best layouts for sales are deeply influenced by conversion science (study of converting a user’s interest into a sale). This means layouts are critical for marketers who want more subscribers, leads, and sales.

A visitor’s first impression of your website is critical! Layout and design are what influences that first impression.

More than 90% of first-impressions are design-driven. A visitor will form an opinion of your site in less than a second.

A recent study indicates that nearly 50% of all web visitors will decide if your site is worth their time based on design alone.

Colours and graphics contribute to a website’s design. Still, it is the layout that is most important when it comes to user experience and digital conversions.

WHAT makes a good website?

Simple to use – users should not have to work out how to use it
Intuitive – makes information easy to find
Streamline – marketing fluff or clutter is removed
Engagement – convince readers you are worthy of their time
Easy to read – simple text and layout means lazy readers will absorb
Consistency – colours, fonts, and imagery are consistent and on-brand helping visitors connect with you
Responsive – ensures superior experience no matter if consumed on a desktop, tablet or a mobile
Fast – our patience is stretched if a web page takes too long to load

For information on steps to create a website refer to our guide to building a website to boost your brand

HOW do I ensure my website design is effective?

Let’s face it, not all of us are creative, and if we are, we may not then have the skill set to briefly explain a product or service. The net result is web design takes a specific set of skills that may collaborate with several individuals with different abilities.

Web design has become much simpler with the availability of user-friendly software tools and the availability of template-based building tools. You have many options to do it yourself or completely outsource the project to something in the middle, like getting some help with some graphics. See our guide on graphic design.

Some key practical attributes of a good website:

Use lots of white space to highlight the headline and call-to-action
If the visitor wants to learn more, they can scroll down
Simple (cut-down) menu that makes finding what you need simple and intuitive
Show an example of the solution at work
Visitors can understand why they would need the solution, which helps to push the conversion
Have a call to action that is static – it’s always prominent, even as visitors scroll down and continue to read
Keep the menu static, so readers always have access to other content
Ensure the layout is pleasing and easy to read so visitors will be engaged
Use clearly marked headings with simple explanations and links for more info
Have information to learn enough to drive a conversion based on someone skimming
Use words and images that will draw attention
At the bottom of a page list out links that make it easy to navigate the site with minimum clicks and scrolling
Put essential information above the fold requiring little visitor input (landing page info on screen)
Ensure your menu items are simple to understand, and you should have a practical website layout to drive more sales
Video can be an effective way to tell a story quickly. Ensure the video is short and clearly explains a customer benefit
Use pop-ups to collect customer data and consider an exit pop-up to reignite interest in your site

HINTS

Good web design is only part of the equation of having a successful business. If you have a product that no one wants or your pricing is not right, the best website is unlikely to solve this. For more helpful info see our guide on marketing to grow your business.

You need to be credible. The design will get you eyeballs, but you will never see them again unless your content is of high quality and relevant to the reader.

Don’t be afraid to use offers. This offer could relate to price, availability, bonuses etc. There is a reason year after year, retailers use sales to boost sales.

Test your new site. Ask family friends, business associates etc. to look at your new site and give their frank feedback. Don’t accept the answer “Good” ask them specific questions.

SUMMARY – Website to drive sales

Having a website and something to sell is a start, but that website must be engaging to attract a buyer to look further and persuasive to help you close a sale. You can do some simple things with the website layout, content, and graphic design to give your site an unfair advantage over your competitors.

Catch how 2 brothers built a billion-$ business from scratch

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Angus Jones

How do two immigrant brothers with no money, limited industry knowledge and amateur technical skills build some of Australia’s most successful digital businesses, with a combined exit valued at more than $1 billion?
It’s a good question. It’s one Gabby, and Hezi Leibovich gets asked every day, which is why they wrote their new book, Catch of the Decade.
You may not have heard of these men! You probably won’t recognise their faces, but you’ll almost certainly know some of the brands they built, sold or merged for more than $1 billion after just 13 years in business.

Here are just a few of them:

Catchoftheday: Australia’s most popular shopping site
EatNow/Menulog: an app that revolutionised the food delivery business
Scoopon: a major disruptor in the services and entertainment sector
Luxury Escapes: a travel deal site that made luxury travel affordable for all.

How did you come up with the idea of Catch?

Gabby: From selling at the market, we graduated to operating little eBay stores out of our garages. We were doing okay, but we were up against the likes of Deals Direct and just didn’t have the budget or resources to compete. We knew we needed a point of difference. We were always reading, watching and listening to everything going on in our industry. So when a friend of ours told us about Woot, a US-based daily deals concept website, we thought maybe we could do the same in Australia.

What was the Woot concept?

Hezi: Woot was a deals site that sold one product every day at midnight. The deal lasted for 24 hours, and then the sale was over. The website was written with a cool style of copywriting that was both arrogant and funny and had an ‘I don’t give a shit’ vibe to it, which we really liked. The prices they offered were so good, the items would sell out within hours, often in minutes! We liked the concept a lot. The best part? No-one in Australia had ever heard of Woot, so the concept was wide open for us to launch in Australia. Our motto had always been ‘better to copy and excel than to be original and mediocre’, and this was no different.

What was one of the biggest challenges you faced when building Catch of the Day?

Gabby: Getting the big, prestigious brands to sell to us. Believe it or not, they’d say, ‘We can’t sell to you because you don’t have bricks and mortar presence.’ In other words, we didn’t have a door! Can you believe how stupid that was! The reality was, they just didn’t understand what online business was. Very few did when we started. We were ahead of the curve.

Was there a moment in your business journey when everything changed?

Gabby: Yes, it was when the computer industry saw sense and decided that they would let us sell their products on our Catch of the Day website.

What did you do to convince them?

Gabby: There was a big supplier expo event being held by Ingram Micro, a powerful industry distributor. We weren’t invited, but I decided to go anyway. I brought with me a hundred A4 fliers about Catch of the Day to hand out to everyone. I wore my suit (I never wear suits, but I had to look the part!), got in, and went to work, handing out my flier to all the suppliers. It worked like magic. The next day we were inundated with calls from big brands like Toshiba, Asus, Canon and others saying, ‘please sell our products’. After that, we never had any difficulty getting quality brands to sell to us.

What did you learn from this experience?

Gabby: That’s there’s always a way. Our dad had a saying: “If the front door and the back door are closed, try another door. There’s always a third door.’

How did the Catch website get started?

Hezi: We hired a programmer we found for $1500 on Odesk who lived in some remote Ukrainian village. It was going well until we were ready to launch: the guy just suddenly disappeared, and we couldn’t get in touch with him for a week. I remember having sleepless nights. I thought he’d run off with all the code and our money and was now sipping piña coladas in some bar in Kiev. Every hour during the night, I would turn on my laptop in bed to see if he had written to explain what had happened, but there was nothing. I started to lose hope. Then, one morning a few days later, I got a message from him, apologising and explaining that his village got flooded. He’d lost all power for a few days, and he couldn’t contact us. Turns out, he was an honest man. A great developer? Not so much. But it got us started.

As the business grew, what did a typical day look like for the founders of Catch?

Hezi: A typical day for us would look something like this: upon waking, we’d check our emails. We’d drive to the office, be at our desks by 8 am, solve the problems from the night before (we were a 24/7 business), attend a supplier meeting at 9 am, juggle a thousand different balls and decisions throughout the morning, eat a hurried lunch at our desk, have more meetings with suppliers in the afternoon, head home at 8 pm, have a quick dinner, kiss the kids, say hello to our wives, hit the desk for another few hours, answer more emails and have team discussions on Messenger, get to bed around 1 am and then get up and do it all again the next day. You could say we ‘bootstrapped’ it.

What advice would you give to people wanting to launch their own websites or their own business?

Gabby: Execute quickly. We have a policy at Catch that has guided our every action: ‘Decide by midnight, execute by midday.’ Don’t wait for perfection, because there’s no such thing, and never forget that the first draft of everything is shit. Looking back, the web page we launched was terrible. It’s embarrassing really, but that’s what got us started. It was super basic: just a simple logo of a fisherman, a counter that counted down from 24 hours, a single product and a product description with a sales spiel that walked the chutzpah line of bold, arrogant and blatant.

Hezi: Take our advice and just focus on the features that make the product work, that distinguish it in the market, and release it quickly to capture the opportunity. All the rest, the ‘nice-to-have’ features, can come later. Put it this way: if you’re happy with your first draft, you’ve launched too late.

5 ways to be a better buyer

While you’ve either got the talent or you ain’t, here are a few strategies from Gabby and Hezi that will make you a better buyer.

Be curious: read sales catalogues, check out the industry journals in your sector, listen to podcasts, or if you’re in retail, just walk through shopping centres and have a look around. Curiosity goes hand in hand with learning; the more you immerse yourself in your niche, the more educated you will become.
Know your category: Knowledge allows you to spot a deal the moment it comes your way. Great entrepreneurial companies and individuals always ask ‘why?’, and that curiosity powers their creativity.
Be honest: Do the right thing. This is the quickest way to build trust. If you’re a jerk, the word will quickly get around. We always believed that honesty (and integrity) are the best policies.
Build a relationship with your seller: Try to get face to face with your customers as often as possible, or Zoom them if you can’t meet in person. Try to get off email as quickly as you can. Everyone prefers to deal with a friend rather than just a faceless executive hiding behind a computer.
Pay your suppliers on time: Even better, pay them ahead of time. They’ll never forget you.

Catch of the Decade is out now. Find out more at www.catchofthedecade.com.au.

If this story has inspired you to start a business yourself find out more with our guide to Start a Small business

Business Technology for set up

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Angus Jones

As a small business owner, you need to be a jack of all trades. One of the hats you need to have is head of IT or Information technology. In this guide, we will look at what technology you will need to buy to establish a small business.

Information Technology or IT is the use of computers and telecommunications for storing, retrieving, analysing and to share information.

WHY should I invest in business technology?

Technology will allow your business to run efficiently and make your business look more professional.

It will enable you to communicate via a mobile phone and email. You will have the ability to create documents and print them. IT will allow you to control your finances and time. You will be able to safely store and share information and lastly be found and possibly sell on the internet.

So, put simply, what phones and computer stuff do I need to buy then set up to help run my business !

WHAT business technology do I need to buy?

Below is a checklist of technologies you will need to consider for your business and a link to find more information on selecting the right option:

What technology do I need for my business?

Mobile Phone. Features that will help make a difference in running your business.
Mobile Phone Plan. Consider coverage, data inclusion, & value for money.
Computer (PC). Demystifying the jargon to help you buy the right computer.
Computer monitor. Size vs cost vs quality for your business type.
Office Productivity Software. For producing documents, presentations, spreadsheets, databases, charts, and graphs.
Cloud-based software. Solutions to help you run your business, like accounting, payroll, staff scheduling, databases etc.
Internet Plan and Provision. Reliable broadband at a speed and capacity that suits your small business.
Internet security. Take precautions against a cyber threat to your computers.
Network or WiFi. Allows your office to share resources like the internet or a printer.
Storing and sharing files. Collaborate with staff, customers and suppliers.
Backup. Protecting your data if the worst should happen
Printer. The cheapest one may cost you more!
POS System or terminal. If you are in retail, a café or restaurant you will probably need one.
Website domain and email. Creating an identity and allowing you to communicate on the internet.
Build a website. To boost your brand and help you sell.

HOW do I decide what technology to buy

All of the 15 items on the checklist above have their own Small Business Answers Guide to help you make the right decisions on what to buy. Be sure to click on those links.

If the whole process is still too much for you, we suggest you speak with an IT retailer or engage the services of an IT support person or organisation. See our guide on IT Support – help with technology

HINTS

Now I know you want the latest and best smartphone and computer but carefully consider how much all this will cost before you go crazy with the credit card. Also, consider exactly what you need as you don’t have to buy everything on the first day.

If you believe you will expand and hire more staff, you can always pass technology down and invest in an upgrade for yourself.

The reverse of this, be careful of buying something that does not suit the job. For example, a cheap printer that is not up to the volume means you will be back out purchasing a higher specified printer.

Reviews of specific products can be found at our sister website Gadget Guy

SUMMARY – Setting up your office tech

Buying technology can be a very daunting experience, mostly due to the cost associated with it. It will, however, allow you to operate more efficiently and professionally. The 15 step checklist and the associated 15 guides will give you the confidence to make the right decisions.

Grants for Small Business

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Angus Jones

Unfortunately, there is no magic pool of money to help start-ups or existing small businesses. However, some grants for small business are available with a lot of hard work and most likely a long waiting period. This guide will look at what you need to know about Grants and how you might go about getting one.

A grant is an amount of money given especially by the government to a person or organisation for a special purpose.

WHY might I apply for a grant?

A grant:

can take your business to the next level which could benefit not only you but society as a whole.
may encourage research or development of a solution that without the grant would unlikely have been funded.
might come in the form of training rather than money to build your business skills and knowledge.
may keep your business afloat during times of hardship.

WHAT do I need to understand about grants for small business?

A grant is normally associated with a specific goal. That goal may be as varied as helping find a cure for cancer, supporting a minority group such as Torres Strait Islanders or developing groundbreaking technology.

Examples of grants include CSIRO Kick-Start, Biomedical Translation Fund, Research & development Tax Incentive, and Export Market Development Grant.

It is unlikely you will get a grant to open a café!

Obtaining a grant is a competitive process and many other businesses are also likely to apply.

If you are successful in obtaining a grant it is likely there will also be some sort of assessment panel which will review your progress and decide how the grant will be administered. Thus, your funds must be spent as you outlined in your application.

If you accept a grant, you will need to sign a contract and submit a range of reports. It is also likely that you must acknowledge the grant agency in any advertising or PR activity you undertake on the project.

Any business-related expense in applying for a grant can be claimed as a tax deduction.

HOW do I apply for grants?

The method in which you submit your grant application will depend on the instructions provided on the grant and in documentation by the granting agency. You must consider carefully the prescribed submission process.

If you wish to discuss aspects of a particular Grant, you will need to contact the granting agency using the contact details as provided by the agency.

When applying for a grant you should:

ensure you meet the eligibility criteria
know exactly what you’re applying for and why
know what the funds will be used for and how they’ll be used
complete the grant application. This process will vary in time and detail depending on what you’re applying for

HINTS

The following site allows you to search for available grants based on your location, industry, and the type of assistance you are looking for. https://www.business.gov.au/grants-and-programs

Grant opportunities can also be found at www.grants.gov.au and they provide a help desk on 1300 484 145

State Specific Grants:

SW https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/find-grants-and-financial-help
VIC https://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance
QLD https://www.grants.services.qld.gov.au/#/
SA https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/care-and-support/concessions-and-grants/grants
WA https://https://www.wa.gov.au/service/business-support/industry-assistance-schemes
NT https://nt.gov.au/industry/start-run-and-grow-a-business/grow-your-business/business-grants-and-funding
ACT https://www.grants.act.gov.au/
TAS https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/grants_and_funding_opportunities

SUMMARY – What grants are available for small business?

Applying for a grant could enable your business to grow or achieve what might not have been possible. However, note they are hard to get and take time to complete so consider the effort versus the likely success. Ensure you follow grant instructions both when applying and if successful after receiving one. Key is to understand what grants are available at both a local and national perspective for your industry and need.

Marketing to grow your business

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Angus Jones

There is a very good chance you are already doing marketing because a lot of it is common sense. For a small business, it lets people know you are in business and gives customers reasons why they should do business with you. In this guide, we will look at the basics of marketing and give you an action plan to develop some further plans.

Marketing refers to activities a business undertakes to sell more of a product or service. Marketing includes researching, advertising, selling, and delivering products to consumers or other businesses.

The simplest form of marketing is how you answer the phone or what you wear through to a complex integrated plan across newer mediums like the internet or older like radio advertising.

WHY do I need to do marketing?

For any small business to succeed you need customers who know or can find that your product exists and who trust your business enough to buy your product.

Marketing helps by looking at your business and adjusting how customers perceive your business.

Assume you are starting a new small business to paint people’s houses. You are a very good painter and plan to charge competitive rates. Imagine if you did not return phone calls, turned up to do a quote in dirty clothes and quoted by writing a price on a scrap of paper. The customer does not know if you are a good painter and interprets you as unreliable with poor attention to detail and therefore they don’t trust you to paint their house. Thus marketing is key to present your business the right way.

WHAT are the 4 Ps?

The 4 P’s describe how important it is to present a complete package to entice a customer. You cannot do just one of these and consider it is marketing instead you must do all 4 in some form, all working in harmony to drive the optimum result.

Product

To be successful in business you need a product or service that is needed or wanted by the end-user. You ideally find an opportunity or problem that needs a solution and has a market large enough to sustain providing a product or service. You cannot always design or build your product or service from scratch but you can pick the best product or solution to sell that best meets that need. The better your product or service is compared to competitors as seen by the consumer will give you an advantage.

Price

Many people work on the principle that the cheapest price wins the sale. Whilst this is often the case, it is not always and indeed you can easily under-price a product making people think it is not high enough quality or an uncool purchase. Make sure you do your homework to ensure you price correctly.

Place

Place refers to how you get your product to market. Where is it sold? A retail shop, a direct visit to the customer, or perhaps an eCommerce store. It is important to consider the best place or places to sell to be most successful. It is important to actually have what you sell available and understand the effect of selling in different places can have on one another. Having a product that you want to sell in a supermarket is no good if you can’t supply it or the supermarket will not put it on the shelves. Also, imagine what the supermarket would say if they found you selling the same item cheaper on your eCommerce store.

Promotion

Many confuse promotion or advertising as the only function of marketing. Without the other 3 P’s your likelihood of success is very slim. This starts with how you present your business from your website to business branding, your work vehicle, how you dress, and the way the staff answer the phone. Next is how you create awareness of your business which could be advertising, public relations, social media, and the content (words) you create to reinforce this. Last is understanding if the promotion you are doing is working and looking for ways to improve it.

HOW do I create a marketing plan?

A marketing plan is a systematic approach to work through developing products and services to fulfil customers’ needs.

A marketing plan should include the following elements:

Business Summary – Apart from an overview of your business the most important aspect of this section is to do a SWOT. See our full guide on developing a SWOT. In summary, SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It is an excellent method to analyse your competitive position and get a clear roadmap of how to help you get to your marketing destination.
Marketing Objectives – This is a clear list of marketing objectives (not business objectives) that outline the strategic steps you will need to follow to reach the goal you hope to achieve.
Target Audience or market – Ideally, you will have the aid of some sort of research that will help you define the industry you are selling to. An analysis of your competitors, and a description of your ideal customer. Age, location, income, or interests can segment the customer.
Market Strategy – It is now time to take what we have collected in the first 3 points including the SWOT, objectives, and target market and using the 4 P’s we discussed above to build out the practical plan.
Budget – This is not only your plan about how much money you will spend but also how many resources you will allocate to making it happen. Your most important resource may actually be people’s time. Could marketing effort help you sell more than having that same person just concentrate on sales?
Marketing Levers – Last but not least, you know what you want to do and how much money you have, but with all the possible marketing levels you can pull which one will get you the best result. Marketing levers here refers to what marketing channels you select. Some of the more common include:

Traditional Advertising
- Newspaper
- Radio
- TV
Public relations
Social media
Digital Advertising
- Keywords
- Display ads
Organic assets. Includes your website or word of mouth
Philanthropic – giving back to the community
Direct mail
Catalogues

A comprehensive template from the Australian government can be downloaded here https://www.business.gov.au/Planning/Business-plans/How-to-write-your-marketing-plan

HINTS

Use as much customer feedback as you can to improve your offer to them.

Set clear objectives around what you want to achieve and how you can achieve them.

Be realistic around how much you can afford to spend on marketing and how many people are in your potential audience.

A mentor or coach may be of value here especially if you have no marketing experience.

A marketing consultant or agency for a fee can provide marketing services to you.

SUMMARY – Marketing to sell more

Marketing is about looking at how a business presents itself and working out how it can improve on that to gain additional sales. The process involves understanding an opportunity, finding a solution, understanding competitors, identifying your market and finally realising your marketing plan.

NDA – Non Disclosure Agreements

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Angus Jones

Shh can you keep a secret? Most people cannot. What if the success of your business depends on a 3^rd party and you need them to keep quiet about what is discussed? This is when you need to have either a lot of trust or you have them sign a non-disclosure agreement. This guide will discuss what a NDA is and how to create one.

A Non Disclosure Agreement or NDA is a contract through which the parties agree to not disclose information covered by the agreement. An NDA creates a confidential relationship between the parties, typically to protect any type of confidential and proprietary information or trade secrets. As such, an NDA protects non-public business information. Also known as a Confidentiality Contract, Confidentiality Agreement, or Gag Order.

WHY do I need a Non-Disclosure Agreement NDA?

Some of the typical needs for an NDA include:

Entering into a business relationship – If you have created a product or service and are looking to sell it to another business, you may need an NDA while you are negotiating the deal.
Getting feedback – After developing a product or service, you may wish to run beta testing (trial) and gather feedback from your network or those in your industry.
Bring on a new employee – It’s a good idea to have employees sign a document that they will not share company confidential information such as plans, business models, financial or products.
Pitching to investors – If your business is looking for investment, you will likely reveal confidential business information when pitching your company. Always insist as they could steal your idea.
Asking a competitor to help you on a project and stop them from stealing your designs and ideas and pitching independently.

WHAT would I use an NDA for?

An NDA will cover:

A description of the confidential information;
Confidential rights and obligations of the parties;
Protection of sensitive information;
Return of confidential information at the end of the agreement;
Obligations regarding the proper use of the information; and
Circumstances where disclosure is permitted.

An NDA normally protects ideas, products, app functionality, designs, source code, plans, business models, records, recipes, and any other commercially sensitive documentation.

HOW do I get an NDA created?

An NDA is a legal document but is only as good as the contents. You can get an NDA as

A free template
A purchased template
Written by a lawyer as fit for purpose

Prices increase as you go down the list as does its ability to possibly be successful if you go to court.

HINTS

Once you have an NDA template chance are you will be able to use it again for similar circumstances.

You should consider:

How long you want it to last
Is it mutual or one way (both parties or only one)
Having a specific definition (broad will result in ambiguity)
Will a court consider it reasonable
Implications if someone will not sign
What other steps you need to take to protect your secrets, for example, lock them in a safe
Locations it applies to, including overseas
All details are correct

SUMMARY – Protect Confidential Information

An NDA will help you protect the information you want to share with 3^rd parties. Templates to create one can be easily obtained but the use of a lawyer will increase your protection.

PLEASE NOTE: All information provided on this website is general in nature and may not be appropriate to your individual circumstances. It does not replace advice available from experts such as lawyers, accountants, business advisors, brokers, etc. We further recommend when using these experts you ensure they have the appropriate licenses and endorsements.