Please browse through our frequently asked questions to find answers to any of your questions or please call or email.
Absolutely – we like to view business plans as ‘a live and dynamic’ plan. You will not find us helping you build a telephone book size plan! Most businesses need just a few pages in the dynamic business plan. Email us now.
Yes – we have a simple, quick test that lets you be the judge. It’s a bit of business fun. However, even though our Control Zone Self Assessment test is light hearted the results may surprise you.
Yes, our business plan skill test is online, it’s only 7 questions and takes less than a minute and we can assist if you email the test to Control Zone.
Yes – please go to Business Planning Page or our Resources page and download our free business plan.
Yes, is the simple answer. Brain storming usually always delivers results. We have been conducting brain storming sessions for small to medium businesses for many years and have yet to have a client not be pleased with the results. >> Money back brain storming guarantee go to our Brain Storming page.
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Clients range across all states and territories! We have clients in: Albury, Bunbury, Canberra, Devonport, Ettalong, Fremantle, Geelong, Hervey Bay, Inverell, Jindabyne, Kippa-Ring, Launceston, Maroochydore, Newcastle, Orange, Perth, Queensland, Ringwood, Sydney, Tamworth, Ulladulla, Virginia, Wodonga, Wollongong, Young, Zillmere to name a few. We also have clients in New Zealand and New Guinea. – yes, your right we don't have an X client!
Simple question – lots of answers, these are a few bullet points;
Let's TalkClever means =
C = Clarify the project
L = Leverage your knowledge and skills
E = Educate the team
V = verify the process and progress
E = Ensure optimum results
R = review prior to implementation
WHY? Well, if you just throw some documents together or purchase an "off the shelf” manual the excitement wains very quickly, as nothing changes except your bank balance - downwards! Reality is the introduction of change processes it's TRULY about involving people to be a part. There is an "Index" In the ControlZone Standard Operations Manual and in each of the sections we include "overview" statements of how we feel policies and procedures are best developed and introduced. Simply put, we have listed a couple of hundred items which a company MAY need to cover (and most people THINK they must do all). My 50 years’ sign industry experience dictates you may only need 20% - even 40%. So why have miles of energy wasted creating policies you will never use OR more importantly that you write and they never stick! So, the best and simple way is to grow slowly and change as needed. This includes the development of the following. Furthermore, we have learnt repeatedly that BEST practice is starting with:
N.B. any item on our index we will build or supply!! We also have a huge list of work instructions. We now offer a web site based SOP manual one a subscriptions service. Contact us now.
KISS = Keep it simple. Most business plans that don’t consider the KISS approach become too onerous and difficult for SME to ‘feel’ they are in sync or have any real bearing on the business owners after a short time. We take time to listen and develop YOUR list after our discussions into a well designed process our system, why not organise a free consultation? >> Contact us.
There are many methods, however here are a few key points – A business plan should: (ABPS)
A business plan should be - designed for your business
A business plan should be - in small easy to manage ‘chunks’ (one bite at a time)
A business plan should be - able to offer ‘rewards’ when you pass or complete a section
A business plan should be - able to look forward but remember the past
A business plan should be - visionary, however consider reality
A business plan should be – achievable.
Firstly, discover where you are right now! How ? Well there are many opportunities to explore business improvement opportunities
Working towards starting a business plan for your business is often the hardest thing you ill ever do! Most overthink it and exhaust themselves with months or work, take their eye of the business and everyone suffers! Many SME's think it is all too daunting to create your business plan, so they never start – if you think that already and are one of the 80% who are overwhelmed in day to day activities – the answer is easy – get expert help to write your business plan.
Read MoreA Control Zone Business Consultant Business Snapshot typically takes 3-5 weeks. From our past experiences at Control Zone we are somewhat reliant on the client doing their part of the Business Snapshot of course. A Business Snapshot is not a gruelling process, like the name Business Snapshot implies we aim to ‘grab’ a snapshot of your business. This approach delivers an overview very quickly allowing the results to be action based.
The best money you will ever spend to understand where you are right now.
Read MoreControl Zone Business Consultants prides itself on offering realistic business mentoring programs to suit most small to medium businesses. We quote on your needs, therefore, whether it is 1 hour per week to 1 day per week we are flexible with our approach to business mentoring pricing. Lets talk about what your needs are and our free 1 hour Zoom meeting – if you don't like own pitch, well ask yourself – what have you go to lose?
Read MoreControl Zone Business Consultants prides itself on offering realistic Business Mentoring programs to suit most small to medium businesses. We quote on your needs, therefore whether it is 1 hour per week to 1 day per week we are flexible with our approach to business mentoring pricing. We can visit you for as little as 4 hours or arrange at time to suit you. At your office in business hours, after work confidentially – whatever suits. Its about getting the job done.
Read MoreFrankly, YES ! Even a business plan with a few planning bullet points on an A4 page is better than a blank business plan! We like to think of it as No Plan = No Roadmap to your business goals = it’s easy to become lost in your day to day business pressures.
Great question! Without trying to be too modest may we say our 40+ years of actually owning, building and running a small to medium sized manufacturing business, employing around 20-25 people for 30 years offers considerable strengths in many areas. We ran that business from 1972 – 2001 and from 1984 – 1993 operated a profitable distribution business in 2 states (NSW & Vic) employing 10-12 staff. From 1994, onwards we have developed a software business including databases, software and other graphic solutions. We developed trademarks and patents accredited to the Australian Technology Showcase. In 2001, we successfully sold the manufacturing business locally and the distribution business to a French company, after which I worked in USA, NZ, France, Singapore and other locations worldwide to set up a new division of the international Company – so strengths are;
What
‘what’ you are looking to achieve in your business
‘what’ focus you have now in your business
‘what’ focus would you like to take in your business
When
‘when’ did you notice a particular issue happen
‘when’ did you decide to leverage a mentor’s experience to help your business
‘when’ do you want to action to change your business
How
‘how’ are you doing it now
‘how’ long has a particular event been occurring
‘how’ did that issue raise it’s “ugly head”
Why
‘why’ are you seeking guidance
‘why’ is the issue happening
By now you are probably thinking just how many questions can Control Zone Business Consultants list in the How, When, What and Whys? Well it’s Control Zone’s mission to provoke, inspire and assist you in the process of achieving your aims!
Control Zone Business Consultants strategy is firstly to define your needs and listen to the How, When, What and Why’s of your personal and business objectives. Control Zone asks you;
In a nutshell – by personal experience using our own money and managing the risk to develop assets and profits!
Business improvement is a never-ending challenge for companies. Typically, businesses wishing to improve tackle questions like:
To ask a relevant question which endeavours to provoke many possible answers. Select a group of people from areas within the business to improve how their areas run. You then place the people around a table or seating area and we pose a single question to yield many answers. These are directed to the business area splits as shown in the download.
Typical Questions:
What is the process:
We set the scene with a personalised Power Point Presentation, it's a bit of fun and assists in preparing you and your staff to "let loose" and answer the one "killer" question aimed to highlight what issues are around the nominated question.
Why is the process so effective?:
Yes, you WILL be amazed that the answers are out there! Perhaps you have never asked?
Don't you owe it to yourself to make it easier on your business! Control Zone Business consultants offers free downloads to see if this process will help you ...click link below to download or ask for samples to be emailed. We challenge you: take the self assessment test!
At Control Zone we suggest our experience indicates the most immediate brain storming benefits are;
Business snapshots look at areas like control, reporting, business production or process areas and basically asks : Are you in control of your business or, is it in control of you ?
Signs of being out of control include;
You working longer hours for no greater return
Lower staff morale
Crisis management – constantly having to react to situations / problems.
If you can’t measure then you can’t manage. We believe it is mission critical for every business to occasionally regroup and review what their business is all about. Better yet if someone outside the business takes a look and provides an objective assessment. Sounds like a sales pitch – Well of course it is. We just ask you consider that even elite sports people engage others to assist them stay on top of their game.
Is your business built of bricks or straw? Do you have a formal structure that fits people to positions and not positions to people?
Many SME’s, as they grow and need more staff, plug the most obvious gap, but do not formalise all job descriptions. The outcome can eventually lead to disruptive overlaps in responsibility and more importantly accountability.
As part of an objective review, we prepare a company structure that enables you to reassess and build on job functionality; requirements of the position that considers the attributes of the employee.
Are the risks you are taking providing a reasonable reward ? Compliance requirements are increasing but often not considered mission critical – until something goes wrong ! She’ll be right or, I will get “Round To-it” when I have time, no longer cuts the mustard for topics such as Work Cover, Department of Fair Trading, ASIC and other regulators. Compliance may not seem mission critical to assist satisfying your client demands however, the penalties associated with “Non” compliance may mean you no longer even need to even think about your clients or your business.
As part of an objective review, we identify areas of concern and suggest a list of non associated experts, qualified to look at the relevant issue.
Are your employees sweaters, bruisers or bleeders?
Current low unemployment translates to having to work harder to attract and retain the best staff possible.
Are you a preferred employer?
Is staff morale currently at an all time high?
Are your employees more concerned with “outcomes” than “inputs”
How do you measure and communicate productivity ?
We work with you to build on internal communication, that assists build a strong team with a common set of business objectives.
Brain storming is usually best described as an interactive meeting of people or groups to develop ideas and answers to a “business improvement question”.
In the early days of www we invested our own money (around $120,000.00) to develop four web sites ... cutting edge, more like bleeding edge! Yep, the 'dot com bubble' burst! Interestingly, all four sites survived and eventually prospered and are still live to this day and I'm told returning their investment from 2003 our approach is focused on ROI! Yes - Return on Investment, to make your website and eMarketing work for you. As a small boutique web building businesses, our Control Zone Online has built and successfully manages around 100+ web sites and eMarketing campaigns for business as diverse as - manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, hotel and accommodation, fitness and health centres, associations, government departments etc.
Brain storming is usually best described as an interactive meeting of people or groups to develop ideas and answers to a “business improvement question”.
Various Australian surveys and statistics range anywhere from 70% - 90% + DO NOT have any planning processes in plan. Our experience confirms those ‘no business plan statistics’. Another way of looking at it could be Pareto's principle – the 80/20 rule on business plans, again seems to confirm Pareto's concept of 80/20. Its definitely new format, live, agile and active – let us help you start your journey now.
Control Zone is Sydney based - Phone 0418 161600 Free Call 1300 546 276 We have found after 20 years of consulting in the sign and print business the smart way is to business is either remote via phones, Zoom or emails and when required it is far more cost effective to decide on the clients location or other at the time of the meeting. We do have Sydney offices however with Covid and lockdowns we found it more prudent to lease our offices out and travel to clients where they need us.
Control Zone’s approach to business consulting is to firstly listen to your business needs, evaluate your comments and position and develop practical methods to help you achieve your goals. There are many reasons to use specialist and sign and print industry specific consultants.
These are a few;
Business Mentoring can offer many benefits including improving your personal business skills, developing new or fine tuning business knowledge and even someone you can trust to bounce ideas off! Business Mentoring should be designed to work with you, for you and above all deliver a range of business tools you gain for your business tool box. Read more.
Interesting question, isn’t it? From our point the answer is a resounding “yes, business plans improve business!” However, there is a caveat, a business plan needs to be a dynamic live document, rather than a business plan that sits in a filing cabinet gathering dust. Read more.
Yes, we will our clients range across all states and territories! We have clients in; Albury, Bunbury, Canberra, Devonport, Ettalong, Fremantle, Geelong, Hervey Bay, Inverell, Jindabyne, Kippa-ring, Launceston, Maroochydore, Newcastle, Orange, Perth, Queanbeyan, Ringwood, Sydney, Tamworth, Ulladulla, Virginia, Wodonga, X=?, Young, Zillmere to name a few and will travel anywhere! Well as you can see we haven’t been to Xanitppe however as its 3 hours north of Perth I’m not sure there would be any sign shops there?