When starting RIKKA in 2022, I was full of excitement to bring my vision to everyone in Australia. Being a mum juggling three kids I was excited to have found a product that fit in my life in many ways. I wanted everyone to find out about the practical and stylish solution that allows us to go hands-free while having our phone secure and close by: the crossbody phone strap.

When sourcing a manufacturer for my phone strap, I went with a big company promising everything I wanted: the perfect fit, quality products and a smooth manufacturing process. It was expensive, but I was happy to invest to get it right.

Working with large companies

Unfortunately, I did not have a good experience with the large manufacturing company.

The person assigned to me as my point of contact changed four times in three months causing huge communication problems. Each time, I had to start almost from scratch, explaining my vision for RIKKA.

The timeline blew out, and in the end, I called it quits. This came with a significant loss in time, and cash, as this business took all the money I paid upfront.

The next step? Advertising. I thought a big company = experience. Signing on with a large advertising business, I overlooked their aggressive advertising style and their promise of results that seemed too good to be true. I assumed bigger companies had more resources and therefore could quickly deliver the results I was after.

It was a huge investment as I had to sign a long-term agreement. The company promised me a minimum revenue that I would see each month.

After the first two months didn’t go as planned, I was still assured that things would take a bit more time and once we hit the right target, we would reach the promised results. This never happened. Once again, I paid for this mistake with lost time and money. The larger operations meant my brand didn’t receive the attention and a tailored strategy.

A harsh realisation

Both experiences made me rethink my strategy of using big brands. From then on, I decided to start using small, and if possible, local businesses.

The difference was night and day! Small businesses genuinely cared about the success of my business and took the time to understand my brand and goals.

I found another manufacturer that was a much better fit for me, and finally the day came to launch my business and show Australia my game-changing accessory.

The benefits of working with other SMEs

Small companies are a lot more flexible with their approach and it’s easier to adjust timelines and strategies. The open communication feels more like a partnership than a transaction, with a lot of attention to detail. The investment is mutual as our success directly impacts theirs.

Working with independent small businesses such as photographers, graphic designers, web developers, and social media managers has allowed my business to shape an authentic brand instead of the one-size-fits-all approach from larger brands.

It has also helped me to increase my network with other small businesses leading to new collaborations and brand awareness.

I initially held reservations about the perceived lack of experience with small businesses. But in my experience, they have a high level of communication and commitment to make the collaboration successful. You cannot compare the passion and genuine care of a small business with some larger brands.

Obviously, it’s different for everyone. Large brands might work well for some, and others don’t see the value in smaller businesses. The important point is to do your research and ask a lot of questions. If the business is happy to take its time to understand your business, it might be the right fit.

The post I stopped working with big companies as a small-business owner. Here’s how it’s helped me grow appeared first on Inside Small Business.

That’s when I discovered the marketing ‘guru’ I’d engaged to help grow my business was changing the bank details on invoices, re-directing them to himself.

The fall out was brutal – and, to make matters worse, it wasn’t the first time I’d been burned by trusting the wrong person.

The first time, I’d found a business-savvy partner to help me run operations for my brand new business. After discovering vitamin IV treatments were commonplace in the US, but barely known about in Australia, I had launched a business bringing them here. Things were going really well until my vision diverged from my business partner’s. We parted ways, and she became a significant competitor in my industry.

In both instances, I was left broke; on the edge of losing everything I’d worked for.

But in both cases, I pulled through. My former business partner’s venture eventually faced challenges and closed. I rebuilt my business after the damage caused by the marketing ‘guru’. From both processes, I gained the comforting realisation that I could always rebuild.

Here are the lessons I learnt after rebuilding my business twice.

1. Do your homework on all potential partners and contractors

Business partnerships should never be entered into lightly. Take the time to understand potential partners, their strengths, and their motivations. Shared values and aligned goals matter just as much as skills and experience. And most importantly, always have clear agreements in place from day one.

Trust must be earned, not given blindly. Whether it’s a new business partner, a marketing agency, or even a key hire, verifying credentials, checking references, and setting clear expectations can prevent costly mistakes.

2. Beware of promises that sound too good to be true

A slick marketer who made big promises about skyrocketing my business, only to drain my bank, was an expensive lesson in due diligence.

Scammers and opportunists exist in every industry. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always research thoroughly, seek recommendations, and never make major financial commitments without proof of results.

3. Find mentors who have been where you want to go

After my second failure, I knew I needed guidance. My father, a seasoned business leader, became an invaluable mentor, helping me refine my strategy and avoid repeating past mistakes. His insights gave me the confidence to rebuild in a smarter, more sustainable way.

No entrepreneur has all the answers, and the best way to fast-track your success is to learn from those who have already walked the path. Seek out mentors who align with your vision, join networking groups, and be willing to take advice from people who have real experience.

4. A strong team is your greatest asset

The biggest turning point in my business came when I finally assembled the right team. Finding employees who shared my vision, took ownership of their roles, and were invested in the company’s success made all the difference. A business isn’t just about the founder – it’s about the people who help bring the vision to life. A dedicated team will push your business forward, support you during tough times, and contribute ideas that help the company grow.

After losing everything twice, I could have given up. But instead, I chose to rebuild with a new approach: being more selective about partnerships, protecting myself from scams, and investing in the right team. Those changes didn’t just help me recover – they helped me thrive.

If you’ve faced business setbacks, know that failure is only final if you let it be. With the right people, a smarter strategy, and a commitment to learning from past mistakes, you can rebuild stronger than ever.

The post A partner became a rival and a ‘guru’ stole from me – here’s what I learnt about business appeared first on Inside Small Business.

Laura shares, “Isaac’s Snacks is in a unique position as a wholefood, plant-based snack brand that does not contain nuts, so is lunchbox friendly.  We are also Australian-made and have a clear purpose to improve the eating habits of our children.”

Believing in the brand’s potential, Laura set out a lofty goal: for Isaac’s Snacks to be available in every lunchbox in Australia. Achieving this goal would entail having to spend a lot of resources in order to amplify brand awareness across the country, resources which they did not have initially. So she decided to utilise various marketing campaigns, including paid and organic social media, Google Ads, and partnerships with influencers and businesses.

One of the most integral parts of this marketing strategy is the tapping of brand ambassadors which Isaac’s Snacks call ‘Mumbassadors.’ Laura says, “We love our Mumbassadors! They’re the reason why Isaac’s Snacks exists – to give busy parents a better choice when it comes to kids snacks.”

There is also the partnership with retailers and stockists. Laura says that authenticity is important in building such relationships. “The most important factor when pitching to new retailers is to communicate a true authenticity and clear vision for your brand.  Knowing who your customer is and the unique way your product will service that customer gives a buyer a clear value-add to their category,” she explains.

She adds, “The advantage of being a small business is that we are building a brand from the ground up.  We take our retailers along on our journey and so they become part of the wins and growth, they are truly rooting for us and want us to do well which is wonderful.”

Laura also values the connection the brand has with its partners. “Alignment is so important,” she says. “We connect with like-minded mums to help us spread the word about Isaac’s Snacks because they’re our exact target demographic. Mums are also very social beings, whether it’s at school pickup, a WhatsApp group or a Saturday birthday party, there’s so many opportunities for them to speak with other parents and share recommendations.”

As the venture continued to grow, Isaac’s Snacks also set up an equity funding campaign not only to further its growth but also to get more people who share the business’  vision on board. “Crowdfunding is a fantastic way to raise money because it makes funding accessible to everyone, not just those with connections to banks or wealthy investors,” Laura says. “We really wanted a way of raising money that would involve people who shared our vision for the brand and believed in what we are doing.”

The equity funding was a massive success. Isaac’s Snacks managed to raise $157k from 109 investors. With this fresh capital infusion, the brand is poised for further growth in the next year as it plans to expand its number of stockists and take part in more family-friendly, health food events that will introduce the brand to a wider audience.

“As a founder-led brand, it’s important to me that we’re out there and meeting potential customers,” Laura says.

The post How partnerships and equity funding are driving the success of Isaac’s Snacks appeared first on Inside Small Business.

ISB: How did the idea for Nature’s Farmer Sea come about?

JR: Benji and I met working for a business and started a personal journey towards healing through natural means. Frustrated by the lack of quality health products claiming to be all-natural and effective, we were driven to create our own solution. I had cancer and Benji had a brain injury and it was a wake-up call for us, to look after our overall health by prioritising natural nutrition. After extensive research and testing of Sea Moss from around the world, we chose St Lucia in the Caribbean to source our sustainable ocean harvested Sea Moss for its rich volcanic minerals soil, vast mangroves and abundant seagrass beds, providing the perfect environment for a premium nutrients dense Sea Moss. That’s how Nature’s Farmer Sea was born.

ISB: What makes sea moss effective as a health supplement ingredient?

BD: Sea Moss is a superfood! It is a sea plant that has almost all the 102 minerals that our body needs for optimal health, making it the most nutrient-dense superfood on the planet. Being highly bioavailable, it is easy for our body to absorb because we use no synthetic ingredients, fillers, artificial flavours and it is free from dairy, gluten and GMOs. Our Sea Moss is made fresh daily and delivered on the same day, making it a very unique and potent superfood like no other.

ISB: Coming from diverse backgrounds, how have you managed to effectively transition into your roles as entrepreneurs?

JR: The key to our partnership is trust, values and transparent communication. From an early stage, we defined our roles in the business and we support each other daily to be the best versions of ourselves as business partners and leaders in the industry.

ISB: How important is it for you to ensure sustainability in all aspects of the business?

JR: The essence of Nature’s Farmer Sea products lies in their dedication to eco-friendly and sustainable practice. The first thing we decided was to make a health product available that grows in abundance. The Sea Moss plant itself is incredibly sustainable – breaking a small branch off you can replant and continue the growth cycle. The second critical decision we made was to source Sea Moss from a nutrient-dense location that is ideal for Sea Moss to grow healthy. That’s why we have chosen St. Lucia in the Caribbean, an island with mineral-rich soil, large stretches of seagrass beds, extensive mangroves forest systems and marine reserves with clean and clear water. All these components allow our sea moss to grow clean, healthy, and strong. Also, our glass jars are 100 per cent recyclable, all of our cardboard shipping boxes are Australian-made, eco-friendly, and 100 per cent recyclable, our bubble wrap contains Ecopure, an organic additive that makes polymer plastics completely biodegradable within 3-5 years, and we also use 100 per cent biodegradable starch-based loose fill material made from corn, which is completely compostable and fully dissolves in water.

ISB: What is your vision for Nature’s Farmer Sea in the next couple of years?

JR: By April 2025, we’ll be producing our sea moss gels from our own 925 sqm factory, a huge step toward making our Sea Moss Gels a household staple. My goal is to bring the benefits of sea moss to as many people as possible, helping them embrace natural ways to support their health and feel better. We are also looking forward to expanding into the U.S. market, with plans to set up a factory there by 2027, making it easier to connect with our American customers. It’s especially meaningful to us to partner with the St. Lucian government along the way, supporting the growth of their sea moss industry and contributing to sustainable practices that honor the ocean’s gifts and showcasing the incredible bio diversity St Lucia has to offer. I want Nature’s Farmer Sea to be a trusted source of natural wellness, making a genuine difference in people’s lives for years to come.

ISB: If there is one lesson you’ve learned in this business journey that other entrepreneurs should heed, what would it be?

BD: Every single situation that is presented to you on your journey is an opportunity for growth. Never stop growing. Welcome the challenges as much as the successes – you will always get your greatest lessons in challenging times, they build resilience and an unbreakable mindset if you do the work. Additionally, always be available to help those around you, by helping others through tough times you grow not only personally but as a leader – compassion, understanding and speaking truthfully is what the world needs more of. Take massive action!

The post Q&A: How Nature’s Farmer Sea is harnessing the health benefits of sea moss appeared first on Inside Small Business.

As Vernon Sanders Law wisely observed, “Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.” Fortunately, I never made the same one twice. Each misstep taught me valuable lessons, shaping my journey and making me a better entrepreneur.

Here are some of the biggest mistakes I made when starting a business and what I learned from them.

1. Falling in love with my great new idea

When I first started, I was thrilled with my great new idea. I had researched and proven that it was an excellent concept: new to the market, unique in its value proposition, improved efficiency, and good for the environment. It seemed like pure gold. 

But there was one problem—I needed a customer. For my idea to scale, it required a complete alignment across multiple industry sectors that were notoriously resistant to change. My innovative solution, vermicast fertiliser harvesting, failed to gain the widespread acceptance it needed.

Lesson learned: A startup needs to be needed by others, not just admired for its innovation.

2. Missing the social discord about an industry

Another mistake I made was launching an online business model to replicate an inefficient sales process in an industry I knew well. I had years of experience and saw an opportunity to improve efficiency through technology. However, I didn’t anticipate the growing social discord surrounding that industry. The government responded by halving the size of the industry. Suddenly, my efficient new model was irrelevant because the public wasn’t interested in efficiency—they wanted the industry reduced.

Lesson learned: Even when you know a business intimately, you must double-check whether your idea is still applicable to an industry with a valid social license; otherwise, you risk being behind the market.

3. Being too far ahead of the market

With an eye on future trends, I predicted that environmental concerns would become a significant issue. I believed agriculture would shift towards sustainable practices, using natural fertilisers instead of toxic chemicals. It seemed like an obvious improvement, but I was ten years too early.

At the time, few people understood the concept, and even fewer cared. It took a decade for the market to catch up to the idea of using natural fungicides but by then, others were already leading the charge.

Lesson learned: Timing is everything. Being too far ahead of the market is as bad as being too far behind.

4. Misjudging a partner

One of my most challenging experiences came from choosing the wrong partner. I teamed up with a brilliant technology guy who shared my passion for innovation. However, over the years, his eccentric habits turned into excessive indulgences, leading to personal and professional conflicts. His escalating needs and wants ultimately destroyed personal relationships and jeopardised our business. I left the partnership, and not long after, the company we built from scratch was placed into administration.

Lesson learned: Fun and charismatic partners aren’t always good for business. Choose your partners carefully.

Moving forward

These experiences taught me to approach my great new ideas with less emotion and more critical thinking. I began following current affairs more closely to gauge whether the community would accept the business I was investing in. Additionally, I minimised the number of partners I took on and prevent having another eccentric personality onto the board.

Mistakes are inevitable when starting a business, but each one provides a valuable lesson. The key is to learn from them, adapt, and move forward with greater wisdom and clarity.

The post Four mistakes I made when starting a business appeared first on Inside Small Business.

The cookie will be offered in all Nespresso Boutiques around Australia every Saturday between 17 August and 6 September. Customers can buy the freshly-made treat alongside any Nespresso coffee purchase until stocks last. Brooki Bakehouse already has a large and loyal following for its famous cookies, but will bring its flavours to a wider audience with the Nespresso collaboration.

Brooki Bakehouse created the cookie to pair with two of Nespresso’s new blends: Bianco Piccolo and Venezia. Founder Brooke Bellamy said that bakery patrons can expect “a rich chocolate cookie dough complete with dark and milk choc chips and a silky caramel crème filling”.

Bellamy said, “I’m a huge fan of Nespresso coffee, so creating the perfect cookie pairing came easily! I chose sweet, rich flavours to complement the intense, caramel notes of Nespresso’s Bianco Piccolo and Venezia coffees.”

Nespresso’s coffee ambassador, Mitch Monaghan, who co-created the Bianco Piccolo coffee with the Australian palate in mind, worked closely with Brooke during the recipe development.

“We’re thrilled to bring this exclusive pairing to Nespresso customers across the country,” said Monaghan. “Every Nespresso boutique will have a limited supply of Brooki cookies available, so run, don’t walk, as they won’t be here for long!”

The post Brooki Bakehouse and Nespresso launch new cookie appeared first on Inside Small Business.

But which one is right for you, and how do structures differ? Here are four common business structures you might consider.

Sole trader

Sole trader arrangements are a low-cost option for people starting out in business. Sole traders are responsible for everything that happens in their businesses, including 100 per cent of the business’s liabilities, which can be recovered from their personal assets. Sole traders declare their business income (or loss) as part of their personal income tax return and are taxed at the same rate as an individual. While a sole trader arrangement may be suitable at the start of your business journey, as you grow, take on more risk, or add other people to the business, you should then consider the other options available.

Partnership

A partnership is a bit like a sole trader with more than one person. When starting out with two or more people, a partnership can be attractive due to the low costs of setting up. A key thing to consider is that a partnership is not a separate legal entity. Generally, in a partnership, all partners will be equally responsible for the management and liabilities of the business. Usually, each partner will have unlimited personal liability for the debts and obligations of the business. If the partnership cannot meet its debts, creditors can seek to recover loss from the personal assets of one or more of the partners.  This may mean that if one partner has more assets, they will bear the responsibility for the partnership’s loss. If one partner has limited personal assets and another owns their home for example, a creditor may recover some or all their loss by requiring that one partner to sell their home.   It may seem like the last thing you want to do when starting a new business venture, however, it is prudent to consider what should happen if the partners want to part ways or are otherwise in dispute.

Company

Using a company structure can mean increased setup and ongoing costs, as well as more complex reporting requirements and administrative burdens. A company is said to have a ‘corporate veil’, which means that the company is a separate entity from the individuals behind it. A key benefit of this, which makes it the most popular business structure, is protection for those running the business. A company structure seeks to balance the interests of those behind the business, by encouraging growth while shielding the individuals from risk (by limiting their liability for business affairs). There are limited circumstances where those behind a business can have personal liability, and if you are setting up a company, particularly if you are to be a director, you should be aware of your duties and responsibilities.

Trust

A trust structure can also be implemented within a business. A trustee is responsible for the trust’s income and losses and can be an individual or a company. To maximise tax benefits, family businesses often use trusts to distribute income between members. Your business is held in trust by a trustee for the benefit of the beneficiaries.  Trusts can be complex and require an initial trust deed to establish them.

It is important to explore your options when setting up your business to find the right structure for you. Importantly, discuss business structures with your accountant and lawyer, so you can make an informed decision about which will suit your specific needs.

The post Which business structure is right for you? appeared first on Inside Small Business.