Central Coast SBNG News

Have Your Say – Help Shape the Future of Small Business Support

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:11:05 GMT

There’s something really powerful about being asked, “What do you actually need?”

And right now, small business owners across NSW have that exact opportunity.

The NSW Government has announced a new advisory service designed to support small businesses with practical skills to run and grow, and they’re inviting business owners (that’s us!) to help shape what that looks like.

This isn’t a tick-box exercise. They’re genuinely seeking input from real businesses across different industries, stages, and locations, to ensure the support offered is actually useful, relevant, and accessible.

They want to understand:

What support would make the biggest difference to your business
What skills or advice are most valuable at different stages of growth
How you prefer to access support and guidance

And honestly … this is where your lived experience matters.

Because you’re the one navigating the day-to-day realities: the juggle, the decisions, the risks, the growth.
You know what’s missing ... and you know what would help you.

This is your chance to speak into that.

The survey is short, and your input will directly contribute to shaping a service designed to better support businesses like ours.

️ Consultation closes: Sunday 19 April 2026 at 11:59pm

If you’ve ever thought, “I wish there was better support for small businesses…”
this is the moment to help create it.

This is the link.

Let’s make sure our voices are part of the conversation.

Small Business, Big Responsibility: Managing Risk with Confidence

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:44:58 GMT

At today's SBNG meeting, Mark Hanslow delivered a practical and engaging session on how small business owners can approach risk in a simple, structured way.

For businesses with fewer than five employees, the key message was clear: you are your own risk manager.

Using straightforward tools, Mark guided members to identify potential risks, assess their impact, and consider what protections are currently in place.

He also shared a checklist of common business exposures — from assets and liabilities through to legal risks and business continuity — prompting many to reflect on gaps in their own planning.

The session was well received, with attendees highlighting both the relevance of the content and the value of Mark’s real-life examples.

Key Takeaways

You are your own risk manager — awareness is the first step
Identify what could go wrong before it does
Regularly review your insurance — don’t “set and forget”
Have a simple, clear disaster plan in place
Protecting your business protects your future

For more information, contact

Mark Hanslow

HANSLOW INSURANCE GROUP PTY LTD

M: 0401 674 794

E: mark@hanslowinsurance.com.au

W: www.hanslowinsurance.com.au

Create a Great Presentation – In a Nutshell

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:04:14 GMT

Our Tuggerah meeting moved to a new venue this week — a big thank you to the team at Breaking Grounds for making us feel so welcome.

We also welcomed four first-time visitors, which is fantastic to see as the SBNG network continues to grow.

Our guest speaker, Nicola Davies-Cooke, shared practical insights on how to create a great presentation. Here’s what matters most:

• Start with your audience – relevance beats information every time
• Decide your outcome – if you’re not clear, your audience won’t be either
• Less is more – a focused message is far more memorable than a full download
• Simplicity creates structure – for both you and your audience
• Finish with intent – don’t fade out, land the message

Great presentations aren’t about saying more.
They’re about saying the right things, in the right order, with purpose.

Networking can be a bit like Dating!

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:58:25 GMT

Today's Ettalong meeting was well attended, with 24 members and guests coming together for our structured networking session.

Ettalong Patron, Mark Hanslow, introduced a simple format to keep things moving - three 10-minute one-to-one conversations - and the impact was immediate because the short timeframes kept energy high and conversations purposeful.

Feedback from the participants reflected a strong appreciation for this format, with many noting how much more they learned about others in a short period of time.

It was a great reminder that when we create the right environment, connection becomes both efficient and impactful.

There's a hidden goldmine sitting in your CRM!

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:16:45 GMT

Another packed meeting at Sol with several new faces around the tables, which is great to see!

Jay Walmsley was our guest speaker for the meeting, and he introduced us to Sabri Suby's "3% Rule" which essentially says that in any room or community there's only about 3% of people who are in a position to BUY NOW.

Here's the highlights of his presentation:

Stop Chasing, Start Attracting: If you only talk to people ready to buy today, you’re ignoring 97% of your potential revenue.
The Education Bridge: Community isn't about selling; it's about moving people from "problem aware" to "solution ready" through consistent, low-friction value.
Ownership vs. Renting: Why building your own community platform is safer and more profitable than relying on changing social media algorithms.
The 17/20/60 Split: A breakdown of how to tailor your content for information seekers (17%), problem-aware prospects (20%), and the "not yet aware" majority (60%).
Be the Only Choice: By the time a prospect hits that "Ready to Buy" 3%, your community has already made you the only trusted authority in their eyes.

For more information, contact:

Office Number +61 0411 438838
www.bizboxpro.com.au
info@bconnectedworld.com

From Conflict to Collaboration in 20 Minutes with Medianos

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 05:16:25 GMT

Today's meeting at Tuggerah was our biggest yet with 27 people in attendance! With a bit of judicious furniture removal, we managed to find seats for everyone, which was great ... and we welcomed first time guests, a new member and saw the return of some familiar faces who have been absent from meetings for a while. Clearly 2026 is off to a bounding start here.

Rory Gowers gave our special presentation today, ably assisted by his wife Lilian and Paul Diener, who role-played a common business scenario:

Using Medianos - the board game teaching practical conflict resolution through interactive gameplay - we witnessed a real problem being navigated through a playable solution
This format can assist with difficult customers, unreliable suppliers, partnership tensions, because it uses a structured framework we can all apply immediately
Beyond traditional mediation: Medianos equips teams to resolve their own conflicts before escalation, building capability rather than dependency

As Australasian Ambassador for Medianos, Rory Gowers is bringing this innovative approach to Central Coast businesses, schools, and community groups throughout 2026

If you'd like more information on how to get involved, please contact Rory:

Email: rory@gowersfacilitating.com.au

Phone: 0425292811

Preventing Forward Head Posture with Stretches & Massage

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:36:05 GMT

The Peninsula Meetings of SBNG are back in full swing with a lively crowd attending at Coast 175 Cafe, Ettalong this morning.

Our special presentation was given by Catherine Lui from The Herbal Girl, and we learned how our modern lives are creating this new structural problem called Forward Head Posture (FHP). It contributes to neck discomfort and can alter breathing mechanics.

Catherine showed us some simple stretching and self-massage techniques to help manage the symptoms, and it's key to note:

Prevention cures; remedies repair.
Strategies win over remedies only. Practice consistently and persistently with your health strategies is the road to joy and happiness.
Always listen to your body and your intuition. No one understands your body more than yourself.
Keep hydrated every day with clean water.

For more information visit Catherine's website:

https://www.theherbalgirlaus.com/#/

A Purposeful Start to the Year at Erina

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:46:29 GMT

Just like that, we’ve turned the corner into a New Year — and it was wonderful to see such a strong turnout at our Erina meeting this morning.

We were delighted to officially welcome our new Erina Patron, Deearn Moore, who stepped confidently into the spotlight for her first meeting in this Committee role. It’s fantastic to have Dee on board, and we’re looking forward to the energy and direction she’ll bring throughout the year.

This session focused on networking with purpose. Dee prepared practical worksheets to help members get specific and strategic about their goals, encouraging us to dig a little deeper into what we’re working toward — and where we might be getting stuck.

Members were invited to ask intentional questions, seek input on business bottlenecks, and tap into the collective experience in the room. It was a powerful reminder that networking isn’t just about introductions — it’s about collaboration, insight, and shared growth.

You never know who might offer exactly the perspective you need at just the right moment.

We’re excited for what 2026 holds for SBNG — and if this first meeting is anything to go by, it’s going to be a productive and purposeful year.

Reminder from Service NSW about Women in Business Grants

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 23:52:42 GMT

Just a friendly reminder that the Women in Business NSW is still open :) https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/women-in-business-nsw .

If anyone needs personalised support, they can request anyone in team Service NSW for assistance and book a call. https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/business/business-concierge-service .

Journaling for Business Owners

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:14:59 GMT

This morning's meeting at Ettalong was chilly but the thought provoking discussion that was generated through the presentation and exercises provided by our guest speaker Liz Macnamara made this a very worth while event.

Key Takeaways:

Journaling for your business isn't just reflective - it's strategic.

Liz showed us how regular writing can sharpen decision-making, clarify priorities, and keep us connected to why we started our business in the first place.

Through simple prompts and real talk, Liz helped us see how our original business ideas still echo through what we do today—and how journaling can help us track those shifts and stay on course.

Liz offers ongoing support for business owners who want to develop a journaling habit—whether it's through one-on-one coaching, online check-ins or custom workshop sessions.

The benefits? Less overwhelm. More focus. And a way to process the ups and downs of business without burning out.

If you're ready to grow your business without losing yourself, Liz can help you build a journaling practice that supports you as much as your bottom line.

Contact Liz Macnamara:

0438489240

lizmacnamara@bigpond.com

Powerpoint - it can be a whole new ballgame when you know how to play!

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 05:30:00 GMT

It's fair to say that Bill Murch's presentation to the Erina Meeting today blew our minds!

As I write this I'm imagining Bill in a scene similar to the part in Crocodile Dundee .... "call that a knife? this is a knife" ...

As usual we started the meeting with our regular SBNG slideshow ... and then "this is what Powerpoint can REALLY do"

Bill held us captivated as the images swirled and danced across the screen, demonstrating how images can morph from one thing to another; how slides can be linked together for interactive conversation; adding video to play through text and he finished with a train moving through a scene on the screen ....

If you weren't there you missed a real treat!

And you'll probably want to contact Bill for some hints and tips, so send him an email:

bill@idmconsulting.com.au

Building Your Strength With Public Speaking

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 05:30:00 GMT

Our Tuggerah meeting was well attended for this presentation for small business owners on speaking with more confidence from our secretary, Nicola Davies-Cooke.

There are some who would rather die than have to speak in public, and Nicola how as a child she hated all the poetry competitions or piano competitions where she had to "perform" for other people's judgements and evaluation - and how overcoming those old fears of being seen to fail is helping now in her business.

VOICE - 5 key points to focus on:

Validate Your Nerves - it's OK to be nervous, your body knows that this is an important moment
Own Your Message - there's so much information available these days it's highly likely people have heard something similar before .... but you bring your own insights, your own personality. There is only one you.
Include A Story - as you illustrate your message, storytelling creates an opportunity to paint a visual picture for your audience which brings them deeper into your world
Connect With Clarity - connect with your audience (rapport) and help them join the dots to your message
Enjoy The Ride - let go of having to be perfect or polished and allow yourself to enjoy the experience of helping your audience

For further information, or help with building confidence, you can contact Nicola:

Email: hello@nicodaviescooke.com

A Frosty Morning At Ettalong

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 05:30:00 GMT

It was definitely a good morning for wrapping up warm at Ettalong! Lucky for us though the networking conversation bubbled around the table.

It's always nice to meet some new faces at these morning meetings - we look forward to seeing you again soon!

Failing To Plan Is Planning To Fail

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 23 May 2025 05:30:00 GMT

A regular contributor to our meetings is one of our founder members, Grant Pavett, Director of Vizion Accounting. Grant and his staff shared their expertise with members to help everyone plan for the EOFY across 3 meetings

Key Takeaways from these events:

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail (Allen Lakein – Author Re: Time Management)
Everyone and every business are different, planning for your personal goals/wants/needs is especially important.
Remember, it is important to act upon Tax Planning Strategies prior to 30th June. Otherwise, it is too late
If your Accountant tells you to buy a new car to save tax, don’t go shopping for a new car, go shopping for a new accountant.

Deductions, Prepayments & Income (Tuggerah, 11th April 2025)

Planning for your personal goals/wants/needs is especially important to decide your tax plan.
As Australian residents for Tax Purposes we all have an obligation to pay the Australian government (via the ATO) tax based upon World-wide Taxable Income.
Sometimes businesses can be too good at what they do, or they are too competitive – they may grow way too fast. The problem with this is that quite often the Cashflow cannot keep up with business growth.

Cars - to buy or not to buy (Ettalong, 2nd May 2025, given by Susan)

If you don’t need to buy a new car – Don’t.
Why spend a dollar to save 25 cents?
There are a number of different scenarios that can be used to finance a new car if you want/need a new car, pick what suits you best.

Houses & Investments - Gearing and Why (Erina, 23rd May 2025)

If you listen to the political rhetoric from some corners, it could seem that Negative Gearing is for the rich. No, not at all, this is a chance for average people to create wealth.
The point of Negative Gearing is to cash in on the capital growth on the property when you sell.
Negative Gearing uses the annual loss as a Tax Deduction to help with the holding costs and to enable lower rents.

For further information or help with your EOFY please contact Grant and his staff:

Email: reception@vizionaccounting.com.au

Phone: 02 4367 0698

Small Business Asset Protection

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 09 May 2025 05:30:00 GMT

We had a fabulous presentation at this morning's meeting at Tuggerah - Isaac Chalik is an expert on corporate disputes and blew our minds with this short presentation!

There's clearly so much more to be understood about how you set up your business than first meets the eye .... and pointing out that most of us are taking advice from our accountants (who have a tax agenda) rather than a lawyer (who comes from an asset protection angle) was one of the key takeaways from his first slide.

As a Sole Trader you have zero asset protection - you can definitely lose your house if your business goes in the wrong direction;
A Partnership is not much better because you're also liable for your partner's actions;
Setting up a company provides high asset protection for your personal assets, except in the circumstance of insolvent trading, fraud and other company unauthorised activity
Trusts can be an excellent way to future proof your business

Isaac also shared some points about documenting your business growth with the appropriate partner, corporate, shareholder and director agreements, ensuring that you have mapped out how equity/liability is to be shared. And what about when you leave your business - do you even have an exit strategy? There's plenty of legal potholes to be avoided in

the sale contract
discharging any guarantees or loans
transferring leases

And very briefly at the end Isaac touched on wills, succession planning, family agreements and estate planning for business owners

Truth be told, each of these 4 topics warrants a full presentation - we will definitely get Isaac back again!

If you would like to discuss your situation directly with Isaac this is how you can contact him:

Email: isaac@zimanandziman.com.au

Ph: 0413870228

Leaning into the Rollercoaster of Business

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 06:52:06 GMT

A huge thank you to all the members and guests who joined us for SBNG Ettalong this morning at our impromptu venue! Your flexibility and support are what make this network so special.

An even bigger thank you to Dr. Leanne Faulkner for her inspiring and interactive presentation on small business owners’ mental health.

Leanne delivered a very interactive session and had everyone thinking about how owning a business can often be a bit of a roller coaster ride. In fact, she brought along a rollercoaster and asked everyone there to identify the points on the ride they would find to be the most stressful. The results were varied and produced a great discussion about a good time to address feelings of stress at work. Typically, it's more effective to address those nagging worries when you first notice them (that might be at the start of the ride or while climbing the coaster hills!) instead of when you hit the dips and lows.

Tackling stress at work is a lot like taking the fear out of riding a rollercoaster. You can:

1. Notice if and when you are feeling worried. This may be when something different signals worry (starting to wake in the middle of the night for example) or you feel less in control of your work day.

2. Take the time to research and learn about the work you need to do. Worried about cash in the bank? Learn how to do a cash-flow forecast so you can see what money is coming in. Worried about sales? Learn and develop a new sales strategy, for example.

3. Ride with a friend. At work, this means attend networking or social events with other business owners so you can see you're not alone. Seek out the support of others during the challenging times.

If you want to learn more about taking control of your work, contact Leanne for more information.

Dr Leanne Faulkner

rereadable.com.au

fortitudeatwork.com.au

Cash Flow Management Strategies For Small Business Owners

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 01:18:40 GMT

We had a packed meeting today keen to hear Anna Golubeva's presentation on Cash Flow. She began with a quick Trivia quiz and then opened our eyes to why it is that 60% of small businesses fail .... essentially a lack of understanding of what cash flow is and does for your business.

Key points to take home:

Understanding business income and expenses is the foundation of effective cash flow management. Having a clear picture of where your money is going helps to decide on the best ways to optimise your expenses or, alternatively, work on increasing your business revenue.
For small business owners business income and expenses are often closely interrelated with personal income and expenses. Drawing down funds from your business sporadically to cover emergencies and irregular personal expenses leads to decline in business Net Profits or even brings Net Losses and undermines cash flow forecasts. It is crucial to have a clear separation of your business and personal finances and know how much your current lifestyle “costs”.
To tackle the above challenges the Profit First approach can be adopted by your business. It will enable you to pay yourself first, get closer to hitting your business profit targets, ensure you have enough funds for taxes and make your business leaner. With separate bank accounts you will have clear boundaries for personal and business finances which in turn will optimise your business planning and cash flow management.

For help with understanding your cash flow, contact Anna in one of these ways:

Email: anna@financefirstcoaching.com.au

Website: www.financefirstcoaching.com.au

Phone: +61 413 468 024

Facebook/Instagram: @finance.first.coaching

Tuggerah Networking Breakfast Meeting

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 06:05:24 GMT

It's always good to see some enthusiastic networking! Today's meeting was well subscribed, and we had a good range of "experienced" to "new" business owners in attendance.

We had our regular introduction section, and then posed the question to our more experienced members "what's something you wish you'd known before starting your business, and what impact would it have had for you?" and it wasn't long before the room was humming with discussion!

So nice to see some new faces around the table too - we look forward to seeing you again at an upcoming event.

Our thanks as always to the staff of Zenith Cafe for looking after our breakfast orders.

AI-Powered Video Production

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 05:21:28 GMT

Wow! We were absolutely blown away by the incredible turnout at this morning’s SBNG Ettalong meeting! A huge thank you to all our members and guests who joined us—it was fantastic to see so many new and familiar faces.

A special shoutout to Andrew Forsyth for his insightful presentation on how AI-powered video production can take your business marketing to the next level! Your expertise and knowledge were truly appreciated.

Andrew had some fabulous offers for those in attendance - but if you missed the event perhaps you might like these links:

Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/04-flipping-the-script-with-andrew-forsyth-how-video/id1778904882?i=1000680747565

Website https://pembertonproductions.com.au/

As always, our thanks to Bobby's Cafe for looking after our Breakfast needs

Lifestyle Financial Planning Isn't Just About The Numbers!

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 05:30:13 GMT

A huge thank you to all our members and guests who joined us this morning at Erina! It was a fantastic session filled with great connections, insightful conversations, and plenty of inspiration.

A special shoutout to Jacqueline Ernstzen for her engaging presentation on Achieving Your Life Goals Through Lifestyle Financial Planning. Her insights reminded us that financial planning isn’t just about numbers—it’s about creating the life we truly want. It was a powerful reminder that small, intentional steps today can lead to big achievements tomorrow!

Working with Collaborate Financial ensures that you have expert guidance to help navigate complex financial decisions.

We add value to the lifestyle planning process through:

Clarifying Goals and Aspirations – We work with our clients to articulate their short-term and long-term aspirations, whether it’s early retirement, funding children’s education, traveling the world, or purchasing a dream home. By understanding these objectives, we can develop strategies that align financial resources with life goals.
Creating a Personalised Financial Plan - No two clients are the same, and a one-size-fits-all approach does not work for financial success. We tailors investment and savings plans to each client’s unique circumstances, risk tolerance, and future ambitions.
Strategic Wealth Management - By leveraging expertise in investment, tax planning, and risk management, we help clients make informed decisions that give the opportunity to optimise financial growth while maintaining stability.
Ensuring Financial Security for Life Transitions - Whether it is changing careers, starting a business, or preparing for retirement, we provide strategies that allow for smooth transitions without jeopardising long-term financial health.
Accountability and Regular Reviews - A key benefit of working with a us at Collaborate Financial is ongoing support and accountability. Regular check-ins help clients stay on track, make necessary adjustments, and ensure their financial plans remain aligned with evolving goals.

Check out the website https://collaboratefinancial.com.au/

And as always our thanks to the team at Cheeky Charlies who run back and forth with our breakfast requirements!

The First Home Buyer's Journey

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 05:08:35 GMT

What’s better than starting your Friday morning with great company and valuable insights? A huge thank you to Tim Helman from Professional Mortgage Advisors for delivering a fantastic presentation on the first home buyer process at SBNG Tuggerah on 14th February. Your expertise and guidance made a complex topic so much easier to understand.

**************

Tim has been in the mortgage industry for almost 40 years initially working for various lenders in roles from mortgage officer processing new applications, NSW settlements manager for a large bank and collections manager for another lender during the recession we “had to have” in the late 80’s .

25 years back Tim left the comfort of an employed role and started a mortgage broking business in conjunction with an accountant friend and they operated this for almost 11 years before Tim went out on his own as the two parties had different ideas on the direction the business should take.

Tim now operates from a home office and has access to the loan products of almost 40 different residential lenders, 12 commercial lenders and 6 asset finance lenders with the majority of his business being residential lending.

Tim's presentation took us through the process he has with first time home purchasers:

The initial discussion providing them on the benefits available , the purchasing process and who they should talk to about this, how much deposit they require and tips on what lenders are looking for.
Lodging the application with the documents required and the timelines.
The approval and subsequent settlement process.
The post settlement check ins to ensure everything is ok and remind them of some of the matters discussed in the original discussions.

Key Points to take away:

Buying your first home can be stressful, having an experienced mortgage broker on your side can make the process simpler.

With so many lenders competing for client’s business, making the choice on who is the best fit for the borrower is not an easy task.

With over 40 years in the mortgage industry Tim is a good person to have on your side. He is passionate about helping young people achieve their goal of home ownership.

As always, our thanks to the staff at Zenith Cafe for looking after our breakfasts.

Welcome Back to SBNG Ettalong

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 05:20:55 GMT

Our first SBNG Ettalong meeting for 2025 was very well attended. A big thank you to all our members and guests who joined us for networking earlier today!

It was great to see everyone connecting, sharing ideas, and supporting each other in business.

As always, our thanks to the staff at Bobby's Cafe for looking after our breakfasts.

Keep an eye on the calendar for more information of upcoming meetings!

✨ Kicking Off the Year with SBNG @ Erina! ✨

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 05:25:56 GMT

It seems that even a long weekend around Australia Day was not going to keep people away from our first SBNG meeting of the year! It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces back in the room and to welcome some wonderful new guests.

Networking is all about connections, and we’re excited for another year of learning, collaboration, and growth together. Here’s to a great 2025 with SBNG!

We're back at Sol, Fountain Plaza, which has been redecorated over the Christmas break and is much brighter and welcoming! As always, our thanks to the staff at Cheeky Charlies Cafe for looking after our breakfasts.

Thank You for an Incredible SBNG Christmas Party!

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 05:35:22 GMT

A huge THANK YOU to all the SBNG members and guests who joined us on Thursday night for an unforgettable evening of celebration, connection, and festive cheer. It was a fantastic way to wrap up the year with such a wonderful community of like-minded professionals.

We’re grateful for each and every one of you who took the time to attend, and we look forward to an even more successful and connected 2025 together!

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

Final Ettalong Meeting for 2024

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 05:38:28 GMT

A huge thank you to all the members and guests who attended our final SBNG meeting for 2024! Your support, insights, and connections have made this year truly unforgettable.

We always have 20:20 vision when we look backwards, so this was an opportunity to reflect on the year that's coming to a close. Mark Hanslow led the discussions on some highlights of the 2024 year in business for members and guests.

Even if you didn't attend, this could be a useful exercise to put yourself through because perhaps 2024 has been your best year ever ... or maybe it's not all been a golden glow for you? Either way, there are always valuable lessons to learn along the way.

As we wrap up, we want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a successful 2025 filled with growth, prosperity, and joy!

Thinking About Business Plans ...

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 05:44:58 GMT

Our Erina Meeting was treated to a wonderful presentation from one of our Sponsors, Leanne Faulkner from Rereadable.

Leanne is a self-confessed Book Nerd and loves nothing more than sharing her recommendations for books that can help small business owners grow and scale their businesses.

Check out these amazing books she shared insights on :

The E Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

Become a Business Money Magnet by Justine McLean

Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller

The 7% Club by Jenny Still

Six Figures While You Sleep by Kate Toon

Buy Grow Exit by Joanna Oakey

If you prefer listening to reading, check out Leanne's Podcast where she explains her unique Book Concierge service (matching your problem with a book that will help) and also some great conversations with her favourite authors.

Happy reading, and thanks again, Leanne!

Cyber Insurance - Are You Covered?

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 06:19:17 GMT

There are many ways a business may be impacted by financial losses due to cyber attacks or data breaches, and this type of insurance can help protect your business from business interruption, identity theft, system disruption and ransomware attacks. The costs associated with data restoration, forensic investigations, legal costs and other potential damages can quickly mount up.

A big thank you to Mark Hanslow from Hanslow Insurance Group for presenting at our Tuggerah meeting today.

For more information please email Mark

Vale Greg Lawrence

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 02:29:59 GMT

It is with sadness that we report the passing of one of SBNG's founding members, Greg Lawrence, who passed away over the weekend, just after his 69^th birthday.

Greg, along with his wife Jill Meredith, loved his time with SBNG and frequented all group meetings regularly. His business, based at Ettalong, was Talk'n Tours, producing downloadable audio tours and guides covering New Zealand and Australia.

The Committee of SBNG sends condolences to Greg's family and friends.

Key Financing Strategies for Small Business Success

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 06:33:46 GMT

Another great meeting at Ettalong today, where members and guests walked away with some really valuable insights from Paul Skene of FinTrans.

Securing financing can be a daunting task for small business owners, but it's a vital step toward growth and stability.

Paul not only shared some practical tips on preparing for loan applications, but gave some fabulous tips on identifying suitable financing options, and how to present a compelling case to lenders.

Understanding how to assess your financing needs, improve your creditworthiness, and choose between funding sources—like business loans, equipment financing, and lines of credit - these are critical skills for small business owners.

For more information, email Paul Skene

As always, our thanks to the staff at Bobby's Cafe for looking after our breakfasts.

A New Venue For Erina SBNG

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 21:08:12 GMT

With the sudden closure of Ilya Cafe earlier last month we've had a bit of a scramble searching for a new permanent venue... which we have found, right next door to Cheeky Charlie's Cafe in Fountain Plaza - the café owner has recently bought the New York Bar and has great plans.

Going forwards this is where our Erina meetings will happen - just order your breakfast through the cafe and they will deliver it to you in the bar.

Our meeting yesterday was a straightforward Networking Breakfast. We hold these on a regular basis to allow time for everyone to build connections on a more personal level.

The turnout was amazing - so many new faces! Was it curiosity about the new venue or is word spreading that SBNG is the Best Networking group on the Central Coast?

Emotional First Aid For Business Owners

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 21:24:23 GMT

A little sidetrack off our regular style of meeting, this presentation from SBNG Secretary Nicola Davies-Cooke was very well attended - so perhaps there's something to note here!

Sometimes the To Do list of a small business owner can cause us to forget that we are all human beings. We get so caught up in daily tasks, or self judgement for not completing things .... we wear ourselves down. We call it STRESS.

As a coach and trainer Nicola specifically deals with neurodiversity, and shared that one common theme for all human beings is the need to feel in control. And when things are going "wrong" this can cause a disregulation in our nervous system, so here are some tips for easily changing how you are feeling:

10 second rule! Under stress, the brain produces adrenaline & cortisol. These hormones can dissipate in 6-10 seconds and this helps you arrest the "fight / flight" response.
Breathe! 2 minutes of either Balloon Breathing (imagine your belly is a balloon - expand it, then let the air out through loose lips) or Box Breathing (breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4) will calm the body and mind
Exercise! Even a small amount of exercise will change the chemicals being released. Endorphins improve mind balance and make you feel good.
Mindfulness! Try the 5 senses exercise to discover things that you're not consciously noticing, eg. 5 things you can see; 4 things you can feel; 3 things you can hear; 2 things you can smell; 1 thing you can taste

Creating a Personal Stress Management Plan can help identify your personal stressors & symptoms; set goals for stress reduction; define strategies that work for you and provides an evaluation process so you can make easy adjustments as you go.

Build A Sales & Marketing Funnel Straight To Your Bank Account

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 23:15:28 GMT

Another fabulous meeting at Ettalong yesterday and our Guest Speaker was Robyn Ratcliff.

With 25 years as a Business Trainer and Coach, Robyn works with business owners to grow their business, in particular in the digital and online space. In this presentation we learned what a Sales and Marketing Funnel is and also the different stages of the Sales/Marketing Funnel.

Exploring how to automate this process through different tools and strategies, we discovered that the stages to be covered are:

Awareness: Attracting leads through marketing efforts (e.g., social media, SEO, ads)
Interest: Engaging leads by providing valuable content, offers, and information
Decision: Offering targeted solutions that cater to the customer's needs.
Action: Driving the conversion—how to optimize the checkout process.

Thank you Robyn for this fabulous morning which was very well attended.

Our thanks to the staff at Bobby's Cafe for looking after our breakfast requirements.

CANVA 101 @ Erina

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 23:29:49 GMT

Back by popular demand, our homegrown marketing expert Sarah Cook took us on a fabulous journey into this powerful software, Canva.

Here’s what we covered:
✅ What Canva is – a free, user-friendly online design tool
✅ The difference between the free and pro plans
✅ How Canva simplifies social media posts, presentations, and marketing materials
✅ A bit of history – did you know Canva was founded in Australia?
✅ A live demo exploring key features like templates, the Brand Kit, and Magic Resize

Clearly that's just a very quick summary of a fascinating dive into Canva's capabilities - this well attended meeting was quite excited!

Thank you Sarah

Networking Breakfast at Tuggerah

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 02:30:00 GMT

Another well attended Networking Breakfast meeting at Tuggerah this morning, so nice to see some new faces too.

Everyone had a contribution to make as we explored some topics in round table discussion:

What's been the best lesson you've learned in business to date?
What do you consider to be the most important skill in your industry

Breakfast Networking at Ettalong

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 06:01:04 GMT

A big thank you to all members and guests who joined us at Bobby's Cafe this morning.

It was fabulous to connect and network with so many incredible local businesses.

Keep spreading the word that SBNG is the best small business networking group on the Central Coast!!

Windows Wizardry (plus a little Mac Magic)

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 06:05:04 GMT

Our Erina Host, Bill Murch, is a wizard himself for sure ... so bringing us his hints and tips on how to work more productively was a sure fire winner!

There was something for all skill levels as Bill deftly showed us around:

Working with the Taskbar (all the settings / how to ...)
Working with multi windows (moving / resizing / switching / and more ...)
Working with files (oh boy ... the mind boggled)
A few keyboard shortcuts relevant to Windows
Personalising your desktop
And even Virtual desktops

Our attendees were absolutely intrigued and left with a wealth of knowledge to boost their productivity. Bill, your insights were incredibly helpful, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your expertise with us!

Cracking the Code with Canva

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 06:17:26 GMT

For this morning's meeting at Tuggerah, we welcomed SBNG's resident marketing guru, Sarah Cook, with another fabulous presentation, this time on Canva.

Some Key Takeaways:

Creating a design from a template is easy - there's a multitude of editing tools that can swiftly make a design take a new look
Set up your brand so that becomes the basis of new designs
There's an AI tool for added functionality, but don't expect it to be perfect
Give it a go!

Thank you Sarah for sharing your expertise with the group.

5 Reasons Why You Should Use Professional Photos

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 07:04:56 GMT

Another great presentation from Sarah Cook of Atlantix Studios this morning at Tuggerah - thank you Sarah

To summarise :

You have approximately 7 seconds to make a good impression! Potential clients are 35% more likely to engage a business that uses professional photography as opposed to stock imagery!
Your pro headshot represents both you AND your business - so makes sense that it be of the best possible quality
The photos you use on your marketing collateral represent you business just as much as your staff or the products and services you offer. Low quality, amateurish photos reflect poorly on a business `
As well as having them take the logistical reins, using a professional photographer means you get their skills as well as lighting, equipment, editing and retouching It's a hassle-free solution that's worth the up-front cost.
Visual content plays such a big part in today's competitive landscape. Professional photography is an invaluable asset for small businesses offering a range of benefits.

And there was so much more! But the good news is that Sarah will be reviewing this presentation again later in the year - so if you missed out this time, you'll have an opportunity to catch her then

See you at our next meeting!

Another educational morning at our Ettalong Meeting

Sarah Cook — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 06:47:35 GMT

Paul Skene from Fintrans Pty Ltd gave an excellent presentation about Credit Scores and how to understand them followed up by a great round table discussion

If you want to meet like-minded business owners in your area check out our upcoming events: https://sbng.com.au/events

Fantastic Audience Participation @ "Becoming a Word Wizard"

Sarah Cook — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 23:20:38 GMT

Another great meeting with the fantastic Bill Murch. The team had such a great time "Becoming a World Wizard". With the amount of audience participation we've had to rebook Bill for a part two in March.

Don't forget to download the free PDF for Word Tips & Tricks sent to your email

Hope to see all you guys again at the next meeting in Ettalong

A Return To Tuggerah

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 06:43:42 GMT

Way back in the early days of SBNG, one of the meetings was held at the Zenith Building cafe under the direction of Patrick Zuluaga of PMZ Marketing ... so who best to see at our first meeting back in this area! Great to see you again Patrick!

Yes, the Wyong Chapter has switched time / location and can now be found at Tuggerah Business Park on the 2nd Friday of the month. The Cafe serves excellent coffee and a fair selection of breakfast temptations ... just saying!

The focus of discussion today was around everyone's goals for the year and we had some 1:1 discussions before coming back together to talk about how to track one's progress.

I wish I'd had my camera ready to catch Sarah Cook's face when Harrison Freeland was describing the detail he's broken his goals down to What a ️ picture !!

See you next time!

Nico

And we're back!

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 06:33:42 GMT

The Summer Break seems so long .... but now we are back!

And it was great to see 15 people around the table at our inaugural 2024 meeting at Ettalong.

This was a casual networking morning over breakfast. SBNG knows from past experience that members and visitors like the friendly atmosphere and having the time to chat and get to know each other. Happy to provide!

May 2024 be a good one for everyone!

The Do's and Don'ts of Separation

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 00:27:58 GMT

It was a Girls Morning at Wyong NexusHub on Monday 16th October and we all leaned into Jacqui Bilson's presentation about some of the key issues that come to the fore during marriage breakdowns.

Whether you work with people, or whether you have friends in the process of separation, you would have taken some gems from hearing Jacqui speak. She's really passionate about her clients!

Some key issues she raised:

Authorities - is your client authorised to instruct you without the other party? Who will you contact if your client cannot contact you?
Contravention - is your retainer subject to Court Orders or a Binding Agreement?
Subpoenas - Are you at risk of being subpoenaed?
Domestic Violence - is your client's life at risk?
Fraud - a failure to disclose is fraudulent. Are you at risk of being complicit?
Limit risk - have you scoped your retainer?
Timing - acquiring or disposing of assets (even after separation) will impact the property settlement

Jacqui has compiled a free Subpoena Compliance Guide and has plans for a How To Guide as well - watch this space!

And for co-parenting families who need help trying to plan their life around who's going where, when etc, why not get them a Christmas Gift with this amazing 2024 Coasties Family Calendar

For more information and support

Jacqui Bilson

https://bilsonlaw.com.au/

Marketing 101: Unlocking the Power of Successful Marketing

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 01:43:37 GMT

Friday 22nd September:

What a fantastic turn out! With an astonishing total of 24 attendees, it was great to see so many visitors and members networking together this morning.

Our Special Presentation today was given by Sarah Cook from Atlantix Studios who covered multiple key strategies and samples of successful marketing. Sarah also spoke about the impact that marketing has on small businesses and how to harness the power of affordable & functional advertising.

We concluded with a fun filled game of trivia based on Marketing and Advertising. Some answers we truly found interesting and the winners were gifted Atlantix Studios branded treat boxes.

What a fantastic and informative presentation Sarah! Well Done!

For more information on Sarah and the services she offers:

Website: https://atlantixstudios.com.au

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlantixstudios/

Email: info@atlantixstudios.com.au

The Power of Your Personal Brand

Nicola Davies-Cooke — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 01:45:08 GMT

Friday 25th August 2023

It was great to see some new faces mingled with our regular attendees for today's networking breakfast meeting. We had a total of 18 people around that long table - and as this meeting becomes ever more popular we will be putting our heads together to make it more "user friendly" for hearing our speakers. Definitely a quality problem to have.

Our Special Presentation today was from Ingrid Sjodahl who spoke about how to make a powerful impact with our personal photos and selfies. Even those of us who felt a little clumsy and awkward with the idea of posing had a go with some snaps in the foyer!

It's amazing how much functionality there is on a phone these days when it comes to editing photos - it certainly pays to pay attention on these activities!

Share your photos! Let's see how good your 'selfies' are!!

For more information on Ingrid and the photo packages she offers:

Website: https://ingridphotography.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ingridphotography_brandyou/

Email: hello@ingridphotography.com.au

Understanding Professional Indemnity & Public Liability Insurances

Sat, 05 Aug 2023 01:00:00 GMT

Friday 4th August

We had a good turn out of members and visitors this morning at Bobby's Cafe, Ettalong Beach for our Peninsula Breakfast Meeting. Our special presentation was given by Mark Hanslow who covered off on some key points regarding two important insurance policies.

In brief, Professional Indemnity Insurance is a policy that any profession providing services or treatment for a fee should take out, and it covers you for financial losses incurred as a result of an error or omission by your business or a breach of your professional duty. Some key terms to look out for on the policy are Claims Made and Retroactive Date as these both impact the effectiveness of the cover.

Public Liability covers you against accidents which occur in your business, causing personal injury or property damage, such as slips/falls on your premises; damage to third party property; injury or damage caused by you or one of your employee's negligence and so on.

Mark shared several examples and there was some lively discussion on the topic.

For more information on insurance for your business contact

Mark Hanslow

HANSLOW INSURANCE GROUP PTY LTD

E: mark@hanslowinsurance.com.au

W:www.hanslowinsurance.com.au

PO Box 4102, Wagstaffe NSW 2257