Keen to turn your side hustle into a fully fledged career? Thanks to a whole lot of help on offer from the South Australian Government, now is the time to become your own boss. Here’s what you need to know.
Quitting your job to back yourself and your side hustle is a huge step – we get it. But embarking on the journey of turning a hobby into a full-time job doesn’t have to be a scary, solo endeavour. With the resources and backing of state government initiatives, your dream business is within reach.
Small business is big in SA
When you go from moonlighting after hours to becoming your own boss, what you’re really doing is setting up your own small business. So let’s start out with a couple of definitions: Small businesses are defined as those with under 20 full-time employees. Many small businesses starting out only have one employee – the owner. These businesses are known as ‘sole traders’.
It’s useful to remember that many South Australians have been in your shoes before, setting out on their journey to create small businesses that have thrived – some for half a century or more. In fact, South Australia’s 155,000 small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They contribute $49 billion annually to the economy and are South Australia’s largest employer, providing jobs to 300,000 locals.
Who’s running our small businesses?
The number of female-led businesses in SA has grown by more than the national average in recent years, and 40 per cent of small businesses (unincorporated enterprises) are now owned by women, while 27 per cent of small businesses are owned and operated by South Australia’s vibrant immigrant population. Small business also plays a vital role in our regional economies and communities. There are 43,650 small businesses run by locals in regional Australia, which is 28 per cent of the state’s total.
A leg up to start your business
As Director, Office for Small and Family Business, Kathryn Calaby says, “owning a business can be hugely rewarding, but there’s a lot of work needed behind the scenes”. Kathryn’s expert advice is that before you jump into your new venture, you need to “make sure you do your research and draft a business plan that identifies your product or service, costs involved, funding needs, competitors, and market opportunity”.
If that all sounds a tad tricky, the state government’s Office for Small and Family Business is here to help, with a whole lot of practical assistance to give you the leg up you need to ensure your new business is a success. Kathyrn says it offers all the resources, information and guidance on starting and running a business in South Australia you need.
Its website is the place to start on your journey to turn your passion project into a business. There’s literally a page called how to start a business, which takes you through all the step-by-step information you need to know, complete with checklists and links to access support. Kathryn also recommends checking out the business tools and downloads page, where you’ll find webinars, templates, e-books and self-guided courses on all aspects of running and promoting your small business.
20 initiatives to empower small business owners
The Office for Small and Family Business is also the arm of the state government delivering the 20 initiatives in its $14.25 million South Australia’s Small Business Strategy 2023-2030. This is the plan driving the government’s funding support for small businesses into the future, and Kathryn says her office’s website is where you can find all the information about the strategy’s initiatives and support programs.
Whether you and your budding business need help with cyber-security, marketing, accounting or even stress management, you’ll find subsidised and free programs to support you thanks to the strategy, plus business support services that can also boost your business. Kathryn says a highlight of the strategy is the Small Business Fundamentals Program, which provides mentoring, coaching and support to help build your business knowledge through specialised programs, workshops and events, delivered by key partners across metro and regional SA.
If you’re looking for some one-on-one support, Kathryn also recommends getting in touch with the team of dedicated small business support officers. They are happy to provide tailored, in-person and online support to help you navigate government support services, connect you with resources in your area, or help you uncover tools to help your day-to-day operations.
Help for #girlbosses
The state government has dedicated $4 million funding to its Women in Business initiative to make sure female business leaders have everything they need to feel empowered and thrive. The programs on offer include the Women in Business Advisory Program scholarships, the Women in Business Foundations Program, and the Connecting Women in Business networking program.
The Women in Business Foundations program is specially designed for women new to running a business. Think of it as the friend with all the answers who’s there to support you successfully start your new venture – and cheer you on along the way.
The landmark program gives female founders the knowledge, tools and contacts required to succeed, as well as four hours of tailored one-on-one mentoring with industry experts. More than 1000 South Australian women have already taken part, accessing approximately $1350 worth of coaching and support hours for the subsidised cost of $88.
Irena’s flourishing small business
Irena Melino is one of those 1000 women who’ve benefited from the Women in Business Foundations program. After more than 15 years as a florist, Irena Melino started Wild Ivy Studio as a pressed floral business in 2022, turning her passion project of preserving bridal bouquets as bespoke floral artworks into a career.
When she started her new business, she was “a bit lost” about how to take her side hustle to the next level, and sought help from the Women in Business Foundations program.
“The insights and the connections I got from the program have been invaluable, especially the help with marketing. You just can’t do it on your own,” she says. For Irena, the program levelled up her business from “something that looked like a hobby” to a professional brand: “My business just skyrocketed after that”.
Irena is now booked out until May and says she would definitely encourage women starting a business to sign up to the program – “it’s just changed my business unbelievably for the better”.
Something for everyone
The support doesn’t stop there. The South Australian Government offers a heap of programs designed to guide every small business owner from the inception of your business idea through to expansion and scaling. These include:
Running from 29 April – 3 May, this is a week-long program of events, workshops and information sessions to help you strengthen and grow your small business. Sign up for the newsletter now and you’ll be the first to know when the full program drops and registrations open.
Cyber Uplift Step Program for small businesses
Delivered by the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre, this program allows you to work with a dedicated cyber coach. They’ll provide personalised guidance and coaching to boost your business’s cyber capability and give you how-how to secure your precious data.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Program
Starting a small business can be stressful! This new program will provide low or no-cost mental health and wellbeing support to increase your resilience and give you the tools to cope with mental health challenges. Sign up to be notified when registrations open.
For more information on all things small business-related, click here.
