Q+A: The business health check every SME needs
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome to Fear and Greed Q&A, where we ask and answer questions about business, investing, economics, politics and more. I'm Sean Aylmer. The outlook for growth is a bit grim right now. This week, Deloitte Access Economics suggested Australia is facing its longest stretch of weak economic growth since the early 1990s recession. Yet stubborn inflation may mean interest rates need to rise even further. It's not surprising then that many small and medium-sized businesses are cautious heading into the new financial year. For some, however, this might be the time to invest for growth. Sam Tamaris is Head of Business Banking at Bank of Sydney. Bank of Sydney works with Blue Chip Communication, a great supporter of Fear and Greed.
Sam, welcome to Fear and Greed Q&A. Thanks for having me on, Sean. Sam, let's start with the mood.
How are small businesses describing their mood right now?
What are small businesses telling you right now?
Yeah, I'll describe the mood currently as cautiously optimistic. I think there's still a lot of uncertainty and a lot of changes to still play through. We see businesses that have experienced COVID and disruption previously. So they're a little bit probably more resilient than what we'd expect. They are being careful, but they're not standing still. They're continuing to move forward. So a lot of them that I speak to are starting to adapt to the market and really focus on the things that they can control. productivity, efficiencies, but also still looking at opportunities.
Okay, so tell me, you described the end of the financial year as a health check or a time for a health check.
Why should SMEs treat the end of the financial year as a business health check?
I'm sure that's the case this year.
Is it any different this year? No, I think, I mean, a health check for business is like, you know, having a personal one. It's just really checking all the vitals.
What financial metrics should businesses review during a health check?
So I don't think it's any different and probably it needs to happen a little bit more often than just at the end of the financial year. But at the very least, I think at that point in time is a great time to do it. It's an opportunity to really understand and delve into their financials, understand their position, looking at cash flow, looking at their funding, looking at whether they're profitable, costs, and really around whatever requirements they might have in the future. It's also a really good time just to ask some questions around their future and strategy. Where do they want to be in the next 12 months? Where are they looking to go in the next five years? Is it a year that they want to invest or grow or consolidate, diversify?
know do they have enough cash uh do they have the right funding in place you know do they have the right structure in place to move forward depending upon where they want to go but what we're seeing is that you know most importantly the the successful business of planning and having setting their goals at this point in time for the next year and then really understanding what action they need to take to move forward and achieve those goals
Is there much difference between sectors? Are there some sectors where people are more open to growth, whereas others are still kind of in defensive mode, trying to get over the last few years?
There certainly is. But what I am saying is it also depends upon time in business and some of the experience that they've had. And those that have actually experienced different economic cycles understand that this could be more of a time to find opportunities while resetting their whole business and being prepared for what's to come and some of the challenges.
Which sectors or business owners are more likely to pursue growth now?
But it really depends on, I'd say, two things is industry to a degree, but then certainly in their experience. Yeah. Okay.
And then when they're looking to invest or hire, particularly those more experienced managers, what is it that they're seeing? I mean, what do they know that those who've only been in the business a year or two don't know? Is it about cycles? Is it about growth or rates or what?
I think it's a combination of all of those things because having experienced that they would have probably experienced high interest rates previously, they would have experienced the different cycles and just really being able to get the right people around them to get the right advice to prepare for the future.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:05–0:54
2
How are small businesses describing their mood right now?
0:54–1:35
3
Why should SMEs treat the end of the financial year as a business health check?
1:35–1:45
4
What financial metrics should businesses review during a health check?
1:45–3:17
5
Which sectors or business owners are more likely to pursue growth now?
3:17–4:20
6
What are the biggest cost pressures hitting SME margins today?
4:20–5:29
7
What practical steps should SMEs take now to improve their chances over the next 12 months?
5:29–7:19
8
Will business confidence improve over the next few years and why?
7:19–8:50
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from FEAR & GREED | Business News
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