A VERY MERRY  CHRISTMAS

In Decembers newsletter:

News from CEO David Baumgarten
Going away? How will decisions be made in your absence?
Are you a mature job seeker? Small business could be right for you.
Randwick City Tourism showcases 'Sports Coast'
Sponsorship and profile opportunities with the Business Enterprise Centre

BEC Networking Functions 2007
BEC Australia Update - Ezy Business Initiative
Tell us about your experience with our programs
Business Mentors required

How Growth Planning can help you take off
Master Class - The big step: taking on staff. Should I? Is the time right? Can I afford it? What about remuneration? Incentives?
Master Class - Yes I need to segment my market, but have I got it right? How do I position the segmentation?

Want referrals? List your business with us today
Position Vacant- Receptionist/Administrative Assistant - Bondi Junction

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Sorry, we are having a rest in December and January.

News from CEO David Baumgarten

As I write this newsletter, my mind is telling me that I should be in the Christmas countdown. The trouble is, my appointment book is telling me the opposite.

It is now two years since we expanded our operations. When I look back, I am amazed at what we have achieved. Just to give you some statistics, 28 Business Breakfast functions, 8 cocktail functions, 24 Business Skills workshops, 18 specialised workshops, 12 functions in partnership with strategic alliances and 13 Business Thursdays. In total, 4,360 people attended these events. In addition, we delivered on behalf of the State Government 6 Home Based Business Action programs and 2 Women in Business Programs.

We also saw over 5,800 clients for business assistance for an hour or more and fielded over 53,000 information enquiries. Though our training services we trained over 450 clients and assisted 390 businesses commence through the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme. We assisted and worked with many chambers of commerce, state and Federal Government departments, networking groups and local councils.

Our strategy for the next two years is to work on the business and develop programs, strategic alliances and other services that will support what we are already doing and assist you, our clients.

Of course, all this is not achievable without the support and trust of you, our clients, whether you are a department, chamber, alliance, local council or an individual seeking help and direction.

In 2007 you will see the emergence of a more visible national BEC network, working to bring the best business practices to as many operators that we can reach.

I would like to thank my staff for their dedication and support. They give me 150 per cent. I truly am a lucky person to have the support I have.

On behalf of my staff, my family and the Board of the Business Enterprise Centre I wish you a Merry Christmas and a fruitful business in the New Year.

We will be with you on the 2007 business journey.

Cheers

David Baumgarten
CEO

Going away? How will decisions be made in your absence?

Holiday time is getting close and you may have decided to take an extended break from your business, perhaps even somewhere out of reach of modern technology.

Have you thought about who could make important decisions in your absence or the process required to make this possible?

A `power of attorney' granted under the New South Wales Power of Attorney Act 2003, allows you to authorise someone in your organisation to do everything that an

attorney could be legally authorized to do. But the parameters of power of attorney are limited and may not be enough for your business purposes.

A power of attorney only gives your substitute or attorney powers to act instead of you in New South Wales, while you are alive. If you die while you are away, it is no longer valid. And there are some things your attorney is not entitled to do for you. Your attorney cannot substitute for you as a director of your company, cannot act as a trustee of your superannuation fund, or replace you as appointor of your family trust.

If you are concerned that there will be some deeds or important company business that only a director can sign or vote on while you are away, your company can agree to appoint an alternate director for you. You can decide on very specific terms and a time frame during which this nominated director can substitute for you. This also only works while you are alive, but applies to all geographic areas in which your company operates. You need a director's meeting or circulated resolution to approve this appointment before it can take effect.

The power of attorney still has a place in some circumstances, especially if you make it an 'enduring power' which continues even if you are incapacitated for some reason. For example, if you become unconscious, your attorney can operate your bank accounts and personal affairs so that bills are paid and your family can survive till you wake up.

It is also a good idea to re-look at your superannuation and family trust deeds while you are away, to ensure that these legal documents clearly set out how a trustee or appointor can be replaced if necessary.

Devolving decision-making power on important matters in your absence can be complicated depending on the extent of your business affairs. For guidance or for more information visit www.petertownsend.com.au .


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Are you a mature job seeker? Small business could be right for you.

Are you registered with Centrelink and not receiving a benefit?

Looking for business training and ongoing mentor support?

You may be eligible for support under the NAMA component of the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme. This is a great way to seek employment through self-employment.

Eligibility criteria apply. To take the first step to owning your own business contact stuart@easternsuburbsbec.com.au


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Randwick City Tourism showcases 'Sports Coast'

Now this is a treat! Twenty short movies of Randwick City that show off some of the best things to see and do in Randwick. The municipality has never looked better online.

You can check out the films at www.sportscoast.com.au


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Sponsorship and profile opportunities at the Business Enterprise Centre

In addition to membership the Business Enterprise Centre also has sponsorship and profile opportunities.

The returns for sponsorship reflect that we are a non-political business support organisation that is totally focussed on empowering small business operators. I look for sponsors that believe in our mission and are supportive of our activities.

We have just revamped sponsorship and profile opportunities and are now actively seeking support from people who want to help.

Download PDF details.


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BEC Networking Functions 2007

In 2007 our networking activities will include:

Business Breakfasts with our partners in Randwick, Burwood, Marrickville, Newtown, Bankstown and Canterbury

BEC Business Breakfast Inner West and Eastern Suburbs

Expanded Business Lounge for members, industry specific, peer support, and strategic alliances. Offered in City location with our partners

Business Thursdays offered in City, Bankstown, Bondi Junction

Cocktail networking functions

Specialised workshops on eBay, Google, fashion and topical issues

I hope that you will join us at one or more of these networking events. Remember, "we put on the event, your job is to do the networking".


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BEC Australia Update - Ezy Business Initiative

Following on from last month's newsletter I had many calls congratulating Business Enterprise Centres Australia (BECA) move towards a true national body. BECA is the national body for local Business Enterprise Centres and is committed to helping small and medium size businesses achieve greater success and prosperity.

I have also received a number of positive calls from those clients who have taken advantage of the BEC-Ezy Business Joint initiative.

If you would also like to gain free access (worth $99) to a national resource for information and networking simply register at www.becaezybusiness.com.au .

It's like having your own personal business advisor on call 24 hours a day!

Tell us about your experience with our programs

If you wish to promote your business, why don't you put yourself forward for use as a case study? We are particularly interested in stories that relate to your business development using BEC services. Email your interest to webmaster@clearlybusiness.com.au.

Business Mentors required

As you may be aware we deliver the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme on behalf of the Federal Department of Employment Work Place Relations. Details of the program can be found at www.easternsuburbsbec.com.au/esbec/NEIS/.

We would like to expand our mentoring services and are looking for people who are not seeking a big financial reimbursement but rather wish to share their knowledge, expertise and life and business experiences to assist a budding entrepreneur develop their own business.

It is a very rewarding experience and the knowledge sharing is so appreciated by the client.

The role would suit someone who is in business wind-down mode, perhaps a mother at home just returning to work and who has business exposure, employees who have a community business focus, or someone with business experience who would just like to give back.

Please email deva@easternsuburbsbec.com.au if interested.


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How Growth Planning can help you take off

The Accelerate Your Business Growth program targets service businesses that are 3 years plus . This stage in a business's growth is referred to as Take Off, and is typically a time when tailored help is needed to move the business into the next stage of growth.

The program shows participants how to use creative visualisation techniques to help them work out where they want to take their business, and then identify challenges to their success.

Accelerate Your Business Growth is facilitated by Clearly Business, who obtained funding under the Australian Government's Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business Program. For dates and further info on the Sydney program, please visit the Accelerate Your Business Growth page on our website or email growth@clearlybusiness.com.au.

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Accelerate Your Business Growth - issue-based master class

As part of our Accelerate Your Business Growth program we offer workshops on issues that are identified in the Growth Planning workshops.

The Program provides easy entry and exist pathways, and is driven by your needs and issues.

Following our initial Growth Planning workshop in November, we can now offer the following issues master classes.

Master Class  :  The big step: taking on staff.  Should I? Is the time right? Can I afford it? How about remuneration? Incentives?

This master class will look at the following:

• Staffing - should I / shouldn't I?
• At what point do I take on staff?
• Contractors and alternatives to taking on staff
• Recruitment
• Organisational structure
• Recruiting for values of the organisation
• Key accountability, action planning and measurement
• Staff deliverables and responsibility
• Why staff jobs exist
• Salary value added
• Remuneration/incentives for keeping staff.

The master class facilitator will be Victoria Sciacca. Click here for a profile on Victoria.

The follow up to this master class is a Brains Trust which will be anchored by Victoria Sciacca and supported by Allyson Cox (accountant) and Gary Meadows (senior solicitor, Koffel's Solicitors & Barristers) who has expertise in the new IR laws.

The Brains Trust will be held in January and the actual date will be decided by the participants attending the master class.

Master Class :  Yes I need to segment my market, but have I got it right? How do I position the segmentation?

Marketing segmentation for a growth business aged 3 years plus requires a different set of skills than for other stages of growth. When linked with the vision plan it becomes a very powerful tool to grow the business.

If you are fed up with being all things to all people? 

Time you started to focus on high profit, high desirability target markets? 

Market segmentation is the key to growing your business if you are in the 3 year plus phase. 

 Find out how to segment your existing client base, how to evaluate potential markets and how to get more of the clients you want and less of the ones you don't. 

This practical master class will give you a chance to work through the process with your client base, learn why not all clients are equal and set goals for building profit through target markets. 

 This session will also tackle the tricky topic of positioning. 

 Learn how to evaluate your competitors and position your business towards your competitive advantages rather than compete head to head. 

Another practical diagnostic will help you see how you stack up in the positioning stakes.

There will be plenty of opportunities for discussion and time allocated for practical exercises.

The master class Presenter is Linda Hailey. Click here for Linda's profile.

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Want referrals? List your business with us today

A feature of our monthly e-newsletter is a summary of new listings in our online business directory.

This month we welcome the following businesses to our directory:

Leah Clarke: Pet Project is the online designer dog collar store that gives back the puppy love! $1 from each sale goes to charity.

Trisha Gorring: FREE website health check to members. We design and build high quality websites that tie in with marketing strategies to make the most of your business.

Remember, one of the benefits of being listed on the directory are our referrals. We receive a lot of calls to the city and Bondi Junction offices for referral to a particular industry or professional. As we have an extensive network we find it easier to refer to our online directory.

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Position Vacant - Receptionist/Administrative Assistant, Bondi Junction

We have the above permanent position vacant. If you are a self motivator and a team player we would love to have you on board.

The BEC environment gives you diversity in the job, a great learning environment and as a bonus, you cannot help but learn about small business.

The successful applicant will be our initial face to all our clients.

To express interest or receive a job description email nichole@easternsuburbsbec.com.au.

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Newsletter edited by Harvest Communication

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