Southern Highlands Business Guide

What + Who You Need To Know If You Run A Business In The Southern Highlands.

It’s quite the hairy, scary ride when you own, run and operate a business, especially in the past few years – there are simply no words to describe THAT rollercoaster ride.

But it’s also satisfying, invigorating and inspiring when it all goes right and you have happy customers, fab staff and you’re doing pretty darn well yourself [pat yourself on the back, gang!].

Part of what helps make a business successful is access….access to the right people, the right information, the experts who plug your skills gaps, access to funding or grants that can help you grow or kick start something you just KNOW is going to take your business to the next level.

We’ve put together an information guide to help business owners of the Southern Highlands access the right info and the right people at the right time……. locally!

Business support programs for biz owners

There are some fantastic FREE programs [yep! FREE!] available for business owners in the Wingecarribee LGA. Have a look at these to start with:

• Entrepreneurship Facilitator Program
• Business Connect
• AusIndustry Entrepreneur’s Programme – Strengthening Business
• Rewire Program
• Self Employment Assistance Program

The local Chambers and industry associations can offer valuable support, guideance and advice for local business and it’s a good idea to consider joining.

• Business Southern Highlands
• GROW – Southern Highlands NSW Association Inc.
• Southern Highlands Food and Wine Association
• Robertson Business Chamber

They range from providing financial advice and guidance through to digital marketing expertise, business planning and more. From start up through to a turnover of over a million bucks, it’s worth checking these out and heading to the Business Advisory Services page on the Wingecarribee Shire Council website for more business support info.

Finance

Yep, it makes the world go round and doors to businesses stay open, that’s for sure.

You need a good bookkeeper, financial advisor and/or accountant on your side, that’s for sure, especially if numbers and navigating your way through the finance and banking sector is a little overwhelming for you.

BDCU helps local businesses plan for financial and personal success. They believe if local residents and businesses thrive, so too does the economic and social prosperity of the region which leads to more choice and opportunity for everyone…..so interesting. Check it all out here.

And here’s a link to local financial experts who can help you crunch the numbers and make them work for you.

Grants and funding

There are plenty of grants and funding opportunities floating around in our current economic environment. They are absolutely worth researching and applying for. Maybe you just need a few thousand to see you through or a big wad of cash to purchase or create something spectacular…… you’d be surprised about what’s available and when.

Check in with Regional Development Southern Inland, an awesome support organisation doing some amazing work with regional business in and around the Highlands.

Sign up to their Grant Funding Finder to get on the front foot with what is available out there.

AusIndustry and Service NSW for Business and their Business Concierge Service are also good websites and organisations to link up with for more information about grants and general business advice.

Marketing

Ignoring the marketing side of things is like opening a business and not telling anyone about it! Marketing – whether it be traditional or digital [+ there’s space for both most definitely] – gets your business in front of the right people who need you to solve their problem for them.

So, who can you contact locally to help you?

Well, there’s us, of course! Yep, we use our busy website [nearly 1 million page views a year] and social media platforms with over 25,000 followers to spread the word about local businesses. If your target market lives here, our local area marketing opportunities will hit the sweet spot. Head here for a copy of our media kit!

There’s some fab local marketing agencies that can help you with everything from branding to website design through to SEO, social media content and signage.  You can find more designers, brand experts and marketing agencies in our Business Directory. So many talented and creative people in the Highlands – we love it!

People power

Anyone who owns a business knows how important it is to surround yourselves with the right people. A great team makes such a difference to the success and growth and general well being of a business.

The Fold Southern Highlands Jobs Hub, powered by Highland Recruitment is a great place to advertise any local jobs.

And if you’re after recruiting advice or need a bit of extra help in that area, Marguerite and the awesome team at Highland Recruitment are crazy good at what they do so get in touch with them here.

You can also check out this list of local companies helping with everything from recruitment and career advice through to resume writing and training services.

Highland Recruitment

Legal eagles

You have to get those t’s crossed and i’s dotted, people! Protect yourself, your business and your bank balance by making sure you are doing everything by the book.

And yep, it’s a biiiiiig book. We get it…but so necessary to be across all things legal.

Head to our Biz Directory for a list of local lawyers, solicitors and legal experts.

Find your tribe

There are a number of active business and networking groups in the Southern Highlands which are vital for establishing super useful connections and sometimes it’s just so good to chat with other business owners riding that same rollercoaster you are.

• Moss Vale and Rural Chamber of Commerce
• Southern Highlands Food and Wine Association
• Businesss Southern Highlands
• Business Women’s Network Southern Highlands
• Women in Business Southern Highlands

Business logistics

It’s not sexy but it’s absolutely necessary. The services that keep the engine of your business ticking over. Here’s a list of local suppliers of products and services you need to keep that motor running:

• Stationery
• Printing and Signwriting
• IT and Technology
• Cleaning
• Removalists and Storage
• Local Tradies

Custom Printing, Moss Vale

Biz events

Networking, training, mastering a new skill or just getting an update on the lay of the economic and business land……our Event Directory always has plenty of events – online and face to face – to help you and/or your train to skill up, connect up or level up.

It’s also Small Business Month in October, so keep an eye out for local events then too – lots tend to be funded and free at that time. Handy!

Remember to look after yourself too, guys and if it all gets too much, there are fantastic local mental health experts and services available to you. :

And don’t forget to take time out for yourself – whatever that looks like – whether it’s a creative passion, exercise or heading back to nature.

It’s tricky times for our amazing local business owners, so bookmark this Southern Highlands Business Guide and keep on truckin’!

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This blog features friends and advertisers of The Fold Southern Highlands and is fully endorsed by The Fold Southern Highlands. We strongly believe in the businesses and all the information we share with you on The Fold and we’re excited to share the amazing stories and adventures of our local businesses. We want to say a BIG thank you to you for supporting our sponsors who help make The Fold possible.