Half the battle for businesses operating in the current market is getting the exposure needed to reach a wide enough audience to help turn a profit. As social media and decentralised technology becomes more prevalent, the power shifts into the hands of the consumer.

Therefore, as the owner of a a Shed Boss franchise, making the most of these advances will be essential to help push your custom built patios, garages and other products to the public. 

Deloitte's Katie McNamara said that more Australians are beginning to expect more from their stores, like being able to shop around and check prices from the palm of their hands. This can pose a challenge to small businesses unable – or unwilling – to adapt. 

"Meeting the needs of internal and external digital consumers often requires a change to the operating model and structures of a business. Creating new internal digital teams and capabilities is hard to do successfully as talent is scarce, the pace of innovation is rapid and performance metrics are hard to define," said Ms McNamara in a June 23 statement. 

How do you reach your chosen market today?

The name of the game is social media and being communicative with your customers. Communication between clients and service providers has changed from simply broadcasting one message out to the masses and waiting for them to flock. Instead, being in personal contact with individuals and their inquiries is becoming the norm. 

Through a maintained social media presence on websites like Facebook and Twitter, taking the initiative to open a dialogue with people will help create an approachable brand that clients are willing to use and – hopefully – talk about to their peers. 

These are just some of the things to consider when cultivating an online personality. But one thing is certain – this is an essential factor to consider in order to remain competitive in the coming future. 

Being discontented with employment is one of the most poisonous ways people live. If you're feeling negative about the place you're spending the majority of your waking hours, the doesn't bode well for physical, mental or spiritual health – for either you or your loved ones. 

There are a wide range of reasons why people might feel upset with their current job situation. In fact, a recent survey released by Morgan McKinley Australia highlighted some of the main reasons that people would consider leaving – or had left – their previous jobs. Unsurprisingly, a number of people had issues with money, with 15.7 per cent of respondents stating they were motivated to leave due to salary dissatisfaction. 

However, one of the most interesting points was that more than 60 per cent of people said that a lack of career progression chances was their main driving force for wanting to up and leave their current employment. Highlighting the motivation of people across the nation, this presents an interesting look at the current labour force within Australia – people looking to make something for themselves and progress based on merit. 

If you're feeling this way in your current job, now could be the time to consider a change. Have you ever wanted to be your own boss, responsible for ensuring a business runs smoothly and effectively? Now could be the perfect time to begin investigating your opportunities as a Shed Boss franchisee and begin your career as the provider of high quality custom designed sheds, workshops, patios and more. 

Right from the get-go, you're provided with everything needed to make the best of the situation, including access to a range of highly-skilled, well-respected builders, refined products and an established brand. With the room to breathe and grow at your leisure, this could be a great opportunity for self-motivated starters to burst into business ownership and take control of their lives. 

Employing people into your ShedBoss franchise is something you should expect to do during your time at the helm of a custom design shed business. However, it's important to take your time with these tasks and ensure you get the right person for the job. According to a Hays Recruitment survey, hiring the wrong person can have a negative effect on the overarching success of your business venture. 

In fact, 58 per cent of employers spoken to by the company stated the lack of the right skills could hamper operations, with another 68 per cent willing to sponsor or employ someone from overseas rather than run the risk of hiring the wrong person initially for the job. The highest areas suffering from these issues are in middle management and accounting and finances. 

Hays Managing Director of Hays in Australia & New Zealand Nick Deligiannis said the increasing rates of employment and expansion has something to do with this, as more employers began to rapidly grow without taking the time to consider all their options. 

"It's quite a paradox; for some job functions there is still a surplus of candidates yet in others, often those that require highly-skilled and experienced professionals, there is a shortage of suitable talent," said Mr Deligiannis in a June 17 statement. 

To avoid these complications as a franchise owner, take your time when interviewing and hiring staff. 

At ShedBoss, we maintain a high quality of building to ensure products don't just function well, but also look great. This means looking for staff that are talented builders to ensure that each product is built strong and built right. Other things you should look for include a great attitude, dedication to projects and willingness to learn. 

While it may take a little longer to find the right staff, this is preferable to either hiring the wrong person for the job or experiencing a high employment turn over rate heading into the future.

Shed Boss franchise owners interested in employment trends over the coming year should investigate the latest Hays Salary Guide, which has found that marketing, engineering and operational management are expected to see the largest permanent growth in numbers over the next 12 months. Out of the employers interviewed, 34 per cent intended to increase their staff numbers – which could be something to consider for your own custom designed garage franchise.

Marketing was the clear winner among Australian companies, with 56 per cent of businesses expected to expand their marketing departments. More advertising is a great way to help businesses connect with their customers and could be something to consider moving forward into 2014. Following marketing, IT and sales departments (37 per cent), project management (35 per cent) and human resources (31 per cent) are all expected to undergo expansion.

Managing Director of Hays in Australia & New Zealand Nick Deligiannis said that 41 per cent of those interviewed expect a more positive economic outlook to occur over the next 12 months, while 66 per cent are aiming to increase the level of business activity seen over the next year.

“With confidence returning it will be more likely that candidates are going to contemplate a career move in the next few months. This is good news for the businesses that plan to expand their headcount and make strategic hires to bolster their teams,” said Mr Deligiannis in a June 10 statement.

“But the key to attracting these high potential candidates still lies with finding them, engaging with them and making sure that they see the right opportunities at the right time.”

If you’re considering hiring more employees to facilitate the sale of custom designed workshops and other products, the coming 12 months are expected to be fruitful.

As another financial year comes to a close, now is the time for small and medium sized businesses to begin preparing their tax forms for the end of this work period. However, according to a recent survey released by the Commonwealth Bank, 29 per cent of Australian small and medium businesses have not started to prepare their tax statements – something which could lead to complications further down the track.

Furthermore, 30 per cent of those businesses prepared for the financial year end failed to maximise their tax liability over the last 12 months. Simple things like planning ahead and keeping track of all tax minimisation strategies are just two of the opportunities that many small businesses failed to take into consideration during the last 12 financial months.

Owners of Shed Boss franchises should take heed and create a plan to deal with the end of financial years heading forward into the future. As providers of custom designed sheds – both domestic and commercial – it’s important to keep a close eye on your business finances throughout the year in order to take advantage of the multiple opportunities for savings.

Commonwealth Bank’s Executive General Manager of Local Business Banking Adam Bennett said that while the end of June is often the busiest time for businesses preparing their tax documents, it’s an important and unavoidable aspect of being involved in the operation of a commercial venture.

“Some businesses are spending more than 40 hours preparing for tax time, so we understand this can put undue pressure on internal resources. By taking a number of simple steps and speaking with a professional adviser early, businesses can ensure they are using this time effectively and can potentially improve their financial position for the year ahead,” said Mr Bennett in a June 10 statement.

It’s not too late to get in contact with a financial professional to discuss the end of financial year options available to you and your Shed Boss franchise.