AFTER five years working flat out in her Mel-corp Breathalysers Direct business, Shirley Neale said the time had come to start working on the business.
Shirley and her daughter Carly were among 17 people who signed on for the final Young Entrepreneurs Program, funded by the Federal Government and being run by the Sim-shine Coast Business Academy.
Previous programs have been restricted to a younger demographic with less experience in their businesses, but the final program has been thrown open.
The first full-day workshop of the six-month program, covering business planning, was held in Maroochydore on Tuesday.
Presenter Rod Richards said research had shown as many as 85% of businesses did not have a
working business plan.
"Some people think they're too expensive, or they take too much time, or they simply don't know how to do one," he said.
"But they're a crucial part of any business... they're the road map, they provide measured outcomes. Without one it's hard to know where you're going."
Mr Richards said once a business plan had been developed (he said the minimum timeframe could be one year, but as many as three or five), it was crucial to monitor it daily, particularly cash flows, and review it monthly as a minimum.
Shirley said while her company, which sells five different types of breathalysers - largely to the mining industry but also to police forces and in increasing numbers to concerned parents wanting to test their teenage children - was doing well, she wanted to learn more about running the operation more effectively.
"There's no doubt I haven't been working on the business enough," she said.
"I did the Women in Business Coaching Program recently... I think you've got to learn everything you can."
The YEP course will include sessions on topics including marketing plans, risk analysis, customer service and financial plans.
As well as the workshops, the course includes one-on-one mentoring and networking.
