Is the advice or assistance  good or bad?

As consultants we have to constantly ensure that the advice we give is good for our  small business clients. That means helping them do what they want, but also warning them of dangers and pitfalls. Because we have run our own businesses, at the same time as consulting clients all over Australia, we do know many of the dangers and pitfalls.

Government paid  advisers 

How good  is the government at governing? How good is it at telling you how to run your  business? What does it want to achieve by paying people to advise you. Will it  help you or  help itself? What are the government’s objectives Governments want increased turnover from you to give them increased taxes to spend. They seek increased turnover from you to pump up the economy and make the money go around faster. They value  debt so that you will be able to boost the economy with the money you borrowed. People in debt tend to  work harder and faster to cope with the burden of that debt.

Are you thriving or suffering?

There is nothing like a  small family business to pump sales proceeds straight through in expenses paid out to suppliers and government bodies. The point of business is not just to enjoy the fabulous freedom and lifestyle. It is to earn money to share with our family, to enhance their future, expand their horizons and provide them with enjoyment outside of the business. Has the advice or assistance you get increased the amount of money left over for you and your family at the end of each financial year. Or has all that adviser-driven expansion and borrowing in fact left the bank balance in the red? H

Haven’t done it, but advise others on it?

The government has never run a  small business. When governments lose money they just borrow more or increase taxes or both. Have your advisers  run their own businesses? We learned a lot by running  our own sub-division, equipment hire and art rental businesses, as well as working for global corporations and small businesses. There is merit in carefully assessing the advantages and disadvantages  acquired by using government resources including government-funded advisers. A small to medium sized family business requires special skills. Check the outcome No matter what we do or who we listen to, it pays to reflect on the result. Some of the advice I have received from government advisers has been superb but some of it has been  very costly. I have formed a view over my life that I get what I pay for. The person I pay works for me and with me, considers me first when giving advice. I pick them on the basis of experience, knowledge and past performance. Life is too short to find out later that the advice worked against me. The financial statements are a good indicator in any business venture, as are the people you serve. High profit is what to aim for. If your products or services are up to scratch and as good as your marketing says, your customers will know and spread the word. Good advisers help you make that happen.