Hi Everyone,

Our Networking Group (BIG Network) is hosting a Free networking event in Bulimba on Thursday 30th May 6pm at Citris Cafe.

Free drinks and nibbles will be provided and there is no cost for the night - it's completely on us!

(We're a not for profit group - so the occasional networking evening, like this one, is sponsored by current members)

We are putting on this night as an informal way for business owners, professionals and generally people looking to grow their business to get together, meet a few people and make some new connections.

That said - it's not for everyone.

We're not looking for people who want to race around, throw their cards at people and run away.

It is going to be a fairly intiment evening with the opportunity to start building real business relationships with others looking to grow and expand their business.

We will have people at the event with expertise in:
- accounting
- business growth and development
- construction estimating / cost planning
- tax depreciation
- building design
- residential building / construction
- legal
- personalised travel
- online marketing
- superannuation
- financial planning
- insurance
- business banking
- residential real estate
- book keeping
... to name a few.

If you know creating an alliance with one or more of these types of people / fields would make a difference to your business - we would love to have you along!

We do need numbers for catering purposes so - to secure you spot simply reply below - or click on my name to email / PM.

Thanks and look forward to meeting you there!
Simon

PS - We do need definite numbers for catering purposes so you are coming along please make sure you let me know.

PPS: On that note, the venue does have limited capacity and I can only guarantee spots for 2 people.

I have bought a few domain names for my new business, but the one I really want is owned by one of the big domain buyers, who wants $3000 for it. A third party purchasing agent (likely the same company, isn't it always the way) says they will negotiate.

Has anyone purchased a premium domain name, and if so, how much did you haggle down the price?

Any tactics?

Was it worth it?

Thanks...

Hi All,

I already own the .com extension of my desired website. My question isn't whether I should get .com OR .com.au

but

Should I get .com AND .com.au

Are there any ranking benefits or will that all be lost if I list the .com and simply redirect .com.au traffic. Any thoughts?

Note: website is promotional info only to link to Amazon sales -- not reliant on Australia.

Hi All,

I have purchased some web domains as a sole trader, and even thought they asked for the 'Registered Business' name and ABN etc, on WHOIS it is still the legal name (my personal name) that comes up on the WHOIS search.

There doesn't appear to be any way around it as a sole trader -- it looks as though I am obliged to register it under the legal owner (my name). I understand starting a company and registering it under them would fix it, but that's not the point.

I don't want my name visible. Any way around this? Does the privacy option you can purchase through the domain seller actually hide your details and if so, is this a good idea?

Thanks...

Hi all,

I'm in the early days of business, and have like most here begun as a sole trader.

If in the future I change the business structure and become a company, can I use the same name?

As an example lets say I register the name XYZ Books. Can I simply call my company the same name i.e. XYZ Books Pty Ltd?

Do I have to transfer my Registered Business Name to the company or simply cancel it? Can I use the same logo?

Thanks in advance

Hi guys,

Newbie here.

I have just decided to register a business name, which I did last week. After a week of debating and further research, I feel a very slight adjustment to the name would be better suited:

1. It sounds better
2. If Googled, no other businesses have this new version (there's a wordpress blog already out there with the original name)
3. The .com domain extension is available for this new name (someone already owns the .com of the previous version)

Can I change the name I registered last week without paying a new fee, or do I need to register this new name and cancel the other?

Do I have to cancel... Can I keep them both? That is, if I am not actually using the original version and only ever trade under the new version, can I keep the old one anyways? I realise I can have multiple names registered; just wondering if I am obliged to actually do business under all registered names, each year or whether they can just sit there.

Hope to hear from you soon...

Hi Soloists,

Starting an importing company bringing in soaps and the like from Europe.

Any recommendations for transit insurance on air freight??

Cheers,

Sandra :)

I need some help getting some fun, colorful pics of my baby-clothing line to put on the e-commerce store at www.littlemexican.com.au
Can you recommend anyone able to do it as skills exchange or at low rate?
- Kellie
@LittleMexTienda

hey there,
as of monday i will be working as a sole trading carpenter, working predominantly for a builder monday to friday.
I am trying to get my head around a lot of things, one being insurance. What do i need, what dont i need.

i am living and working in queensland and as far as i know it is up to the builder to have public liability to cover trades on his job site, correct me if i am wrong!

so does that just leave me with income protection in the case of sickness or injury?

any links to relative threads or general advice is greatly appreciated!!

Hi Everyone.

I work from home and have done for the past 2 and half years. I own 5 successful websites. I think creating a business online can be quite time consuming. But the rewards really can be life changing as they were for me. I started my most recent website life-starters because I found when I first got started it took up alot of my time going from site to site searching for not only ways to get started but on how and the best tips and advice so I really wanted to start a website where its like a one stop shop of every thing you need to become successful

When I first got started even in a small business there was so much to do from

Finding Targeted Traffic Methods,
Advertising
Website Building
Blog Writing
Money making systems and advice

and for alot of people it can really be quite frustrating. But I love what I get to do and I think it is a really rewarding job. There is so much freedom in not only working for your self but working from home.

My best advice for anyone would be advertising. Advertise in every country you can and every place that you. Go into detail and always keep your website and the information about your website refreshed and up to date.

Hi All,

We joined flying solo today and many of the threads have already been helpful! Thank you to everyone that has shared their knowledge.

I've taken a few days off of my JOB to organize a game plan moving forward. And brainstorming is one of my many jobs for today.

So I write this in the hope that you guys might advise or answer some of our nagging questions?

Where we are -

- Product samples have been tested and the response is good! This product is not currently sold here in Australia but is popular elsewhere.

- Brand and name organized, the story beyond the brand.

- The customer (who will buy our product).

- Marketing/Advertising (Online resources, ie facebook, twitter, papers, magazines etc)

- The customer will purchase the product through e-commerce (website) to begin and then through kiosks when the brand is better known.

- The Why. We believe for anything to succeed at a higher level it needs to be about more than us!

- USP this is a big focus and passion of ours. i.e service (going above and beyond the customers expectation).

As I write this message the product samples sit next to me on my desk. The name of the brand and the back story is clear in my mind. But the visual chain of events to take this to the customer is still muddled. A muddled mind generally gets muddled results, so your feedback would be gratefully received.

Which comes first (could you put these into the correct order as you see it? If we have missed anything please add).

1/Build the website?

2/Order the product? How much product to order?

3/Trademark the brand name. How much does this cost?

4/Work on a strong brand identity.

5/Get the team in place i.e web designer, photographer, online marketing guru. (we realised early that a strong passionate team with certain skills is a must)!

6/Systems in place (what systems would be needed)?

7/ Budget - working out the costs to get the above done and the product to market.

We are focused on bring in young guns from uni that are skilled in these areas and would like to become part of the team and share in it's success.

It would be incredible helpful to get feed back from people that have been where we are and have successful or unsuccessfully taken a product to market. Hopefully this way we can learn from your experiences.

Thank you in advanced for any advise offered.

Have a brilliant day.

Danny

Hi Soloists,

I am requiring Business Liability cover for a small start-up importing business - apparently as an importer I become the manufacturer.

Unsure of who to insure with...any recommendations please as my first quotation seems high.

Cheers,

Sandra :)

I didn't want to Hijack Jenny's thread thread .

If a you set up a client on a 12 months retainer which receives a x% discount for the prepayment and after 7 months the clients wants to end the retainer.

Do you refund them the remaining 5 months?
Do you refund them the remaining 5 months + the discount?
Do you not refund them because they are locked in a 12 month contract?

I know this may very depending on business to business but I'm looking for best practice.

Thanks.

Hi All,

Great to be here with lots of interesting and like minded people!

My names Danny and I've been living in Perth for 18 months now. Currently working in advertising but looking to run a business alongside the 9 to 5! With the intention of being out of the Job by the end of the year!

We have products and a brand we would like to bring to Australia, so exciting times ahead.

Hoping to be able to advise and add value here and in return learn and grow.

All the best

Danny