Free, tailored business advice

from Business Connect

Business owners seeking free tailored support with starting, building, running or even exiting a business can receive up to eight hours’ assistance through Service NSW Business Connect.

22 May 2024

 

THIS practical and customised service is operated through the newly formed Service NSW Business Bureau, which is aimed at supporting business owners at all stages of their business journey.

 

Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch MP encourages business owners to utilise this free service.

 

"Operating a business can be a challenging and sometimes isolating experience. Getting informed, relevant support, in the form of fresh eyes from an independent advisor at the end of a phone line, or in person, can make all the difference," Ms Tesch said.

 

“Business Connect’s independent advisors can give business owners confidential advice based on individual business goals via one-on-one sessions, such as financial advisory. These capable business advisors have successfully run businesses themselves, so they speak the language of business owners."

 

Figures from the NSW Government indicate almost 96% of business owners are satisfied with the service and likely to recommend it to others.

 

One such business owner on the Central Coast is Joanne Stanes, owner of Paint Station, a creative art class studio based at Point Clare. Paint Station provides art tuition, art parties, after-school classes and adult classes from her Point Clare studio.

 

Ms Stanes, a trained textile designer and artist, received support from Business Connect to help demystify the process of restructuring her business.

 

“When I restructured my business, moving from a partnership to going out on my own, it was a steep learning curve. I needed to start from the very beginning – learning how to access and manage my bank accounts, restore various logins and to devise a business plan to help ensure my business was structured soundly for long-term growth. To develop a good business in which I had to make all the financial decisions on my own,”  said Joanne Stanes.

 

Business Connect’s one-on-one coaching helped Ms Stanes rebuild and restructure.

 

“There are some incredible people at Business Connect who are waving the flag for you and really having your back. I was so fortunate to come across Business Connect when I was getting my car registration completed," Ms Stanes said.

 

“Business Connect is a fantastic resource for businesses. Having someone cheering you on, being alongside you while you operate a business and to help you realise your business dreams is so empowering.”

 

From her art studio in Point Clare, Jo provides professional art tuition for up to 100 people each week.

 

“My passion is helping children, teens and ladies unlock and nurture their creative talents…to produce artworks that are so beautiful that they don’t need to be relegated to the storage cupboard alongside the Christmas tree ornaments,” Ms Stanes said.

 

Her classes, suitable for beginners to advanced, range from acrylic and ink, to landscapes, still life, portraiture, watercolours and even gold leafing techniques. Ms Stanes also teaches art history, theory, and fashion illustration.

 

“During the recent school holidays my studio was filled with students coming up from Sydney and down from Newcastle to study fashion illustration," said Ms Stanes.

 

“I am so proud of what I’m achieving these days. I often teach children who are arty, some who are sporty, and many who are somewhere in between, who may not necessarily perceive themselves to be good at anything.

 

“I often find that once students complete a Paint Station class, their smiles are wide and their eyes light up when they realise that they may be create after all!”

 

Ladies’ paint and sips classes are held on the last Saturday of the month from 5:00-7:30pm.

 

“Somewhere, in one of my classes, a student may just turn out to be our very next Christian Dior or Coco Chanel,” said Ms Stanes.

 

Paint Station is located at 22 Priestley Parade Point Clare. Information on classes can be found through Instagram at jostanesartstation.