Plan and prepare for business success in 2020 with BizHub workshops

With the new year upon us, so too is the opportunity for small and emerging business owners to plan and prepare for success in 2020.

Whether you’re embarking on a new enterprise or trying to grow your existing business, Council’s BizHub team, located at Realm, provides a series of training workshops and seminars to help improve your business skills and knowledge.

New and established business owners can attend practical workshops on a whole host of topics, from starting a new business and marketing for growth, to taking your business digital and managing cash flow.

Take advantage of free and low-cost monthly workshops being offered throughout the year led by experts and industry professionals, while also allowing you to network with other business owners.

All BizHub workshop sessions require advanced booking. Please see the BizHub website for details or call BizHub on 9298 4679.

BizHub is located within Realm, Ringwood Town Square, 179 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood.

What’s on in February at BizHub Small Business Clinics

The Small Business Clinics are free (fully subsidised by Maroondah City Council), confidential, one-on-one 45-minute mentoring sessions which are available to businesses who would like to talk to a business expert.

Mentors from Small Business Mentoring Service will assess your current situation, provide advice about key issues and give you a brief plan to help move your business forward. Mentors have backgrounds in marketing, sales, finance, manufacturing, retail and franchising.

All businesses in Maroondah can register but bookings through the Small Business Mentoring Service are essential as places are limited.

When: Tuesday 11 February (session times: 10am, 11am, 12noon, 1.15pm and 2.15pm) Where: BizHub at Realm, Ringwood Town Square, 179 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood. Cost: Free ($80 value, fully subsidised by Maroondah City Council). Enquiries: Call the BizHub team on 9298 4679 or email at [email protected]

Book online

Finance fundamentals: how to keep cash flowing

Even a profitable business can have issues with cash flow.

Learn to identify what’s driving your own cash flow and what you can do to keep cash pumping into the parts of your business that need it most.

Get on top of the fundamentals, including the difference between profit and cash, the role of marketing and how the working capital cycle can impact your business.

In this two-hour workshop, you will learn the tips to manage stock, suppliers and debtors and how to prepare a cash flow forecast so you can avoid any pitfalls.

In the workshop, you'll learn how to:

tell the difference between profit and cash understand the working capital cycle improve customer relations manage stock, suppliers and debtors avoid a cash flow crisis prepare a cash flow forecast access tools, templates, support and resources in future.

When: Wednesday 12 February, 9.30 to 11.30am Where: BizHub at Realm, Ringwood Town Square, 179 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood. Cost: $20. Bookings essential Facilitator: Small Business Victoria

Book online

Employer Essentials for Small Business

Do you have employees, or are you thinking of employing workers? Here’s your opportunity to understand your tax and superannuation obligations as an employer.

You’ll learn about:

What to do when you hire workers, and how to determine whether they’re employees or contractors. Pay as you go (PAYG) withholding, annual reports and payment summaries. How to report fringe benefits for your employees. Superannuation reporting and due dates. Taxable payments reporting for the building and construction industry.

You’ll be provided with online tools and resources and have the chance to ask questions. Please bring a pen and calculator.

When: Wednesday 12 February, 1pm to 2.30pm Where: BizHub at Realm, Ringwood Town Square, 179 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood. Cost: Free. Bookings essential Facilitator: Australian Taxation Office  

Book online

Create an Ecommerce website with Shopify

Attend this workshop to learn how to create a simple, easy-to-maintain online store with Shopify. Setting up an online store with Shopify will save you the time, money and stress of building an e-commerce website from scratch.

Shopify is a simple, user-friendly service for beginners. This workshop will start you off with how to set up an account and chose a template that best suits your business.

You will also learn how to add your products, customise your store, set up a domain, and activate your payment processor – everything you need to know to enable you to confidently press that ‘launch website’ button!

This workshop is being run as part of the ASBAS Digital Solutions Program.

When: Wednesday 26 February, 9.30am to 12.30pm Where: BizHub at Realm, Ringwood Town Square, 179 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood. Cost: Join the ASBAS Digital Solutions Program and book in for a once-off fee of $55.

Booking online