Flying Solo Flying Solo
  • Hi!
  • My account
  • The book
  • Events
  • Forums
  • Directory

Login

I forgot my password
  • Home
  • Startup
  • Marketing
  • Live smart
  • Work smart
    • Growth
    • Innovation
    • Measuring success
    • Using surveys
    • Performance
    • Productivity
    • Business plans
    • Processes
    • Decision making
    • Outsourcing
    • Problem solving
    • Professional development
    • Time management tips
    • Project management
    • Office organisation
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • .Gov
  • Spotlight
  • Video
More Links
  • Growth
  • Innovation
  • Measuring success
  • Using surveys
  • Performance
  • Productivity
  • Business plans
  • Processes
  • Decision making
  • Outsourcing
  • Problem solving
  • Professional development
  • Time management tips
  • Project management
  • Office organisation



Member Spotlight

Rachel Abdy, Pace Administration

Rachel Abdy, Pace Administration

Pace Administration offers administrative services to micro and self-employed businesses in Adelaide specialising in services for self-employed psy... Read more

Paul Coelho, Slidemaster – Professional PowerPoint Design

Paul Coelho, Slidemaster – Professional PowerPoint Design

Slidemaster is a PowerPoint specialist company offering comprehensive PowerPoint Presentation designs and solutions, which leave lasting impression... Read more

Felicity Van Rysbergen, Well Versed Copywriting

Felicity Van Rysbergen, Well Versed Copywriting

Well Versed Copywriting specialises in creating corporate web content, information architecture and analysis, and marketing documentation for a bro... Read more

Donna Garrett-Young, Home Building Made Easy

Donna Garrett-Young, Home Building Made Easy

Donna Garrett-Young has been a passionate renovator and builder for nearly 20 years, and is the author of the book 'Home Building Made Easy - Five ... Read more

Amanda Pearce, Amanda Pearce Bookkeeping

Amanda Pearce, Amanda Pearce Bookkeeping

Amanda Pearce is an Australian MYOB bookkeeper and virtual assistant who works with small companies. Read more

Maria Pantalone, Infinite Growth

Maria Pantalone, Infinite Growth

Infinite Growth works with individuals and businesses to improve their communication skills so that they can professionally present their products ... Read more

Keagan York, Compass Global Markets Pty Ltd

Keagan York, Compass Global Markets Pty Ltd

Compass Global Markets can help you with any aspect of the Foreign Currency transfers and Commodity markets from corporate hedging to wealth creation. Read more

Bob Jones, an SEO Company

Bob Jones, an SEO Company

'an SEO Company' provides authentic SEO services for small businesses in Australia. Read more

Michael Vincent, Sports Partners

Michael Vincent, Sports Partners

Sports Partners is a free, fun site where people can find other people, clubs, or businesses for sports and hobbies. Read more

Gabriel Dukes, Shelcom Corporate Services

Gabriel Dukes, Shelcom Corporate Services

Shelcom Corporate Services help make the government registration process of starting up a company simple, fast and faultless for new business owners. Read more

Alison Taylor, Cloverlea Designs

Alison Taylor, Cloverlea Designs

We are a small online retailer that sells gorgeous babies and children’s bed linen and homewares to Australian mums. Read more

Nick Humphries, Akitso Web Design

Nick Humphries, Akitso Web Design

Akitso Web Design is a web design company that sells fully-featured professional websites to small businesses. They make getting a website for your... Read more

Kalindi Chirmuley, Mulayam Products

Kalindi Chirmuley, Mulayam Products

Mulayam Products manufactures natural skin care products for all ages and all skin types. It helps to take care of the skin and enhance its beauty. Read more

Kate James, Total Balance

Kate James, Total Balance

Through her business coaching and life coaching, Kate James works with the concepts of mindfulness, creativity and authenticity to help people chan... Read more

Karen Curran, Unicorn Graphics

Karen Curran, Unicorn Graphics

With Unicorn Graphics, you get agency quality graphic design solutions at a lower investment with a person who has the ability and knowledge to do ... Read more

Karen Wickham, That’s Creative!

Karen Wickham, That’s Creative!

That's Creative! provides graphic and website design services to clients right across the world. Currently Ebook Design is their most popular servi... Read more

Emma Wilson, Upclose & Virtual

Emma Wilson, Upclose & Virtual

Upclose & Virtual provides professional, cost effective, secretarial services for businesses and individuals throughout Australia to reduce the bur... Read more

Nicole Leedham, Black Coffee Communication

Nicole Leedham, Black Coffee Communication

Black Coffee Communication helps clients increase sales and improve brand recognition through compelling business writing. Read more

Deb Pilgrim

Deb Pilgrim

Deb Pilgrim helps small business owners start, grow and lead their business, so that they can create the life they want. Read more

Amy Barry, Pendle Party and Event Hire

Amy Barry, Pendle Party and Event Hire

Pendle Party and Event Hire is a family business that offers party and event equipment for hire to south east Queensland. Read more

Rachel Abdy, Pace Administration
Paul Coelho, Slidemaster – Professional PowerPoint Design
Felicity Van Rysbergen, Well Versed Copywriting
Donna Garrett-Young, Home Building Made Easy
Amanda Pearce, Amanda Pearce Bookkeeping
Maria Pantalone, Infinite Growth
Keagan York, Compass Global Markets Pty Ltd
Bob Jones, an SEO Company
Michael Vincent, Sports Partners
Gabriel Dukes, Shelcom Corporate Services
Alison Taylor, Cloverlea Designs
Nick Humphries, Akitso Web Design
Kalindi Chirmuley, Mulayam Products
Kate James, Total Balance
Karen Curran, Unicorn Graphics
Karen Wickham, That’s Creative!
Emma Wilson, Upclose & Virtual
Nicole Leedham, Black Coffee Communication
Deb Pilgrim
Amy Barry, Pendle Party and Event Hire
Marketplace

What say you?

  • Online Poll
  • Latest Results
Do you take on friends/family as customers?
68% - Sure! The more the merrier.
25% - Sometimes, but tread with caution
5% - No, best to avoid wherever possible
Do you take on friends/family as customers?
 



HomeWork smartBusiness plans

Work smart | Business plans

Creating business vision statements and writing business plans are often discussed in the context of a start-up business, but in reality it is relevant to all businesses both new and old. You?ll find time planning your business direction and writing business plans is a very worthwhile investment.

In this section you will find practical advice on mind mapping, creating a business vision statement and writing a business plan through to the importance of setting long term business goals, business succession planning and developing business exit strategies.


Writing a cracking business plan

12 Apr 12 | Brad Callaughan

A business plan can mean the difference between having a good business and having a great business. Here’s how to make yours a cracker. Read more

Comments: 4

Benefits your small business plan should deliver

01 Oct 11 | Marcus Tarrant

When undertaken as a regular process, small business plans can provide substantial benefits. This article discusses four of the most important. Read more

Comments: 6

Business plans: Do you like flexibility or framework?

26 Jul 11 | Jayne Tancred

If free-forming works for you, then by all means go for it. But I have to say, I don’t understand the appeal of being a soloist without a business plan at all. Read more

Comments: 22

Quarterly review: What’s next?

21 Jun 11 | Robert Gerrish

Every quarter, Sam, Peter and I contemplate Flying Solo’s future. We’ll laugh, banter …we may even shed a tear. It’s all part of the fun of a quarterly review. Read more

Comments: 15

Is it time to crack the WIP?

15 Mar 11 | Peter Crocker

A mate of mine kicked off this year by escaping the office to develop new plans, products and growth strategies for his business. What happened was unexpected. Read more

Comments: 11

Steps for putting your business plan into action

17 Jan 11 | Rhys Roberts

I don’t know a single small business owner who doesn’t plan. On the other hand, implementation isn’t always a strong point. Read more

Comments: 7

The joys of uncertainty

04 Jan 11 | Robert Gerrish

Like a number of other businesses, Flying Solo operates in a sector that is evolving at high speed. It can be hard to plan for the year ahead when the future refuses to give up its secrets. But that’s half the fun. Read more

Comments: 12

Offsite business planning days – solo style

12 Nov 10 | Madeleine Shaw

Getting away to clear the head, think differently and create your plans is not just for corporate bunnies. Here’s how to have an offsite business planning day on your own. Read more

Comments: 14

The soloist’s flight plan

07 May 10 | Mark Moore

Will your version of flying solo involve soaring above the clouds or spinning out of control and coming back down to earth with a thud? A good flight plan could make all the difference. Read more

Comments: 1

Do you know when to quit?

04 Feb 10 | Mark Moore

Never giving in can sometimes lead to flogging a dead horse. But knowing when to quit and when to stick is a business skill that many of us struggle with. Read more

Comments: 4

The one-page strategic plan

11 Jan 10 | Stacey Barr

Does your strategic plan sit on a shelf gathering dust? If it’s full of abstract goals, vague strategies and useless key performance indicators (KPIs), then I bet it does! Here's how you can create a one page strategic plan. Read more

Comments: 16

Creating a vision board

14 Dec 09 | Robert Gerrish

Now is the perfect time to capture your vision for the year ahead by creating a vision board. Read more

Comments: 19

Five excuses for a lack of business vision

24 Sep 09 | Zern Liew

A successful business vision is the ultimate carrot to steer your life’s work by. It should be aspirational and inspiring. Are you inspired by your business’ current vision? Does it bring tears to your eyes?! If not, read on... Read more

Comments: 0

Business vision: Remember your big picture

09 Aug 09 | Megan Hills

Even when business is going well there’s often a larger business vision we want to reach. But with day-to-day distractions, it’s easy to forget the bigger picture. Read more

Comments: 6

Could you sell your business?

22 Jun 09 | Peter Crocker

You’ve worked hard, built up a good customer base and established a profitable niche for your business, but is it actually worth anything? Could you sell your business? Read more

Comments: 39

How to prepare for disaster

17 Jun 09 | Robert Gerrish

In this video interview, I talk to Flying Solo contributor Greg Pritchard on the topic of how to prepare for disaster. For many soloists, most of their valuable information and data is kept in one place and that's the very place where disaster can strike. Read more

Comments: 1

Nine ways to disaster proof your business

18 Nov 08 | Greg Pritchard

A disaster doesn't need to signal the end if you plan ahead. Here are nine tips to help you disaster proof your business. Read more

Comments: 9

How a business planning day can work for you

21 Aug 08 | Kate Tribe

You have heard it numerous times – you should be working on the business as well as in the business. Business planning is just one of many aspects vying for your attention. You know it is essential, but fitting in time for planning is difficult. Read more

Comments: 6

Business plans: Writing a business plan

01 Jan 08 | Megan Hills

‘Business plan’ remains a dusty, conceptual notion for many soloists. Here’s how to bring business plans to life so you can start achieving this year's goals right now. Read more

Comments: 14

Exit strategies: is it right to quit your business?

02 Aug 07 | Michele Hackshall

It's natural to think about leaving your solo business. Whether you're tempted due to financial, stress-related or personal reasons, you need to consider alternatives before deciding. Read more

Comments: 5

Business planning: How to make the most of July

01 Jul 07 | Karen Morath

July is either the beginning of a new financial year or the middle of a calendar one. But whatever way you look at it, it is a great month to review our business planning and take stock of how our business is tracking. Read more

Comments: 2

Practical creative planning with mind mapping

13 May 07 | Megan Hills

Does your ‘to do’ list feel like an endless treadmill set on high speed? Practical creative planning with mind Mapping could be the answer. It can help you get back into control, plus it wil inject a bit of colour into your working day. Read more

Comments: 9

Strategic business planning: Vision, mission and values

10 May 07 | Peter Morgan

When setting out on their solo journey, some people undertake strategic business planning, while others set off blindly, with no clear direction. Many soloists take the more haphazard approach, and this results in what I call business misery. Read more

Comments: 11

Business succession planning: Developing an exit strategy

03 Apr 07 | Grant Hyman

Not many soloists give a good deal of thought to business succession planning and developing an exit strategy, yet one of the key requirements of a successful business is to know how you want your involvement to end up. Read more

Comments: 7

Strategic review: The soloist 'away day'

08 Jan 07 | Peter Crocker

If you've been around a corporate environment, you'll be familiar with the concept of the 'off site', 'away day', 'strategic review', 'conference', or 'executive retreat'. Read more

Comments: 7

A brand new approach to writing a business plan

22 Sep 05 | Megan Tough

A business plan is an essential documents that we are all meant to have, right? So why do so many solo professionals not have one? Here's a new approach to writing a business plan. Read more

Comments: 0

 

  • RSS Feed
  • Follow Flying Solo on Twitter
  • Receive our weekly newsletters
  • About |
  • Contributors |
  • Advertising |
  • Survey |
  • Forum |
  • Contact |
  • Become a member |
  • Login |
  • Terms, Conditions & Privacy Policy |
  • © 2005-2012 Flying Solo Pty Ltd
  • Web design by Sharkey Media
Copyright © 2005-2012 Flying Solo Pty Ltd · Web design by Sharkey Media

                                                 

Small Business is Australia's fastest growing sector – this business community site was created for those running a small business of one to five people. Here the solo and micro business owner will find small business forums, a small business directory, free resources, help, tips and advice on: starting a small business; working smarter when working from home; effective small business marketing; small business networking; the solo psyche; staying balanced as a small business owner; small business technology advice and small business finance tips.

Business Class: $19.95/month. No contracts. Money-back guarantee.


  • Browse benefits:
  • Priority search results
  • Detailed business listing
  • Boost your credibility
  • Multiple member promos
  • Member shout-outs
  • Shine in the Spotlight!
  • Member-only discounts
  • Exclusive resources
  • A free copy of our book
  • Testimonials
  • FAQs

Member shout-outs

Shine in the Spotlight

Member-only discounts

Exclusive Resources

Flying Solo Book

Testimonials

FAQs








Join today »

  If you're already a free member, you can upgrade to Business Class through 'My account'.