Did you know that 60% of all businesses (registered for GST) do not employ ANY staff? Known as a Sole Trader or Partnership, this is the most popular type of business structure used today.

Usually they start as a side gig, but soon turn into a six figure income. If they survive the first 2 years, that is… This used to be called creating a “job” for yourself by other business owners, which is partly true. The difference is, unlike employees, “Contractors” have more flexible work hours and charge for outcomes, not a per hour (low) rate.

This takes different skills to working as an employee, and the ATO does consider this a “real” business (for tax purposes). Even if you are not registered for GST (which most don’t when they start out), the Government has law in place to protect contractors from abuse through the ATO, Fair Work Ombudsman, and agencies like the Small Business Commission to settle disputes.

But unlike employees, when contractors get better at their job and can take on more work, they get a pay rise by getting work done faster, and then can afford to sub-contract work if they get more customers, or even put on their own employees to create jobs and access Government funding to do that.

They may have started out that way, and you can see the history on their website at https://smallbusinessexpos.com.au/about-small-business-expos/

These days, Big Business and all three levels of government have Billions of Dollars in their budgets to spend with small business, as they should. Small Businesses make up almost 98% of the total number of businesses in Australia. The Expos create a level playing field where businesses of all sizes can talk on the same stage. 

The decision makers of big business come to the small business expos to form collaborations to fill the gaps in what they can’t do. By inviting them along, and making them feel welcome, you are more likely to pick up clients from them, and other referrals, so why would we want to exclude them?

By being part of the Business and Jobs Expos, “The Pitch” aims to provide a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas for community support or social enterprise businesses.

This event offers a unique opportunity for older entrepreneurs to turn their passions into profitable ventures while positively impacting disadvantaged individuals in their local communities.

There is no better way, online or offline, to promote what you do to the mass market in any industry than at face-to-face events. And you can do it at a fraction of the costs in just 1 day.

This is a yes and no answer, depending on why you are coming to the Expos.

No, you don’t have to pay to come along to the Expos if you are looking for work or to get help with your business. There are even free speaker workshops you can attend.

But if you are not a stallholder, you can’t go around handing out flyers to the public attendee. Plus, the stallholders are there to sell to you, not buy from you. If you take up their time when they could be talking to customers, anything you given them would go in the bin, so a waste of your time and money.

If you can’t afford a trade table, or don’t have promo material to fill it, then yes you would still be better off paying for a mini stand (2 person table) for under $300.

The stand comes with a free online workshop that tells you how over the last 10 years we’ve found out how our Expos generate leads and convert into Millions of dollars in sales. Which if you think coming to Expos and handing out Business cards and brochures gets you sales, then you absolutely need to attend the stallholder’s pre-expo workshop.