Despite her success in the hospitality industry, Lara had always dreamed of being self-employed. She started advertising her cleaning services online with positive feedback but needed more confidence to take her business to the next level.
Lara was already providing house cleaning services to earn extra income when she decided to grow her customer base and turn it into a profitable business. As a sole parent of five children, she’d encountered obstacles like balancing work and training, and familiarising herself with online business strategies and using technology. With the help of Workforce Australia Self-Employment Assistance (Self-Employment Assistance) and Self-Employment Assistance Provider Asuria, she was given the necessary tools and confidence to give her business the best possible start.
Lara was offered flexible support services to further develop her existing business such as completing the Microbusiness Skillset course, followed by Small Business Coaching. Working with Business Mentor Jane, Lara was able to complete a business plan and was ready for 12 months of small business coaching.
“I did learn a lot about planning and running a business, all the time guided by Jane and that has given me confidence and structure in my cleaning business,” Lara said.
Lara was also able to share her business aspirations with Jane, where she wanted to expand her business so that she can hire others. Together they worked out how to service her customers and agreed that once she reaches capacity with her existing customers, she would then explore trainee options. Jane also helped Lara break down her goals into practical milestones such as expanding her cleaning business, maintaining a positive online presence and nurturing customer relationships.
Looking into the future, Lara is keen to further her digital presence by starting an Instagram account for her business. Currently, Lara has 7 regular monthly cleaning clients and is now well on her way to achieving her financial business goals.
Self-Employment Assistance helps eligible Australians turn their business idea or existing small business into a viable business. The support available includes:
- Exploring Self-Employment Workshops
- Business Plan Development
- Accredited Small Business Training
- Business Advice Sessions
- Business Health Checks
- Small Business Coaching
More information
Have a business idea but don’t know where to start? Looking to improve your business but need advice and guidance? Make sure you check out the following support provided by Workforce Australia Self-Employment Services: