In this episode, the last one for 2025, Sam chats with Jon from Mansfield Debt Recovery about the realities of debt collection for small business owners.

With more than half of Australian small businesses experiencing cashflow-negative months due to late payments, understanding when and how to engage a debt collector is essential.

Jon walks through the key moments to seek help, what the debt-collection process actually involves, the red flags to watch for, and the common myths around what debt collectors can and can’t do.

Mansfield Debt Recovery supports tradies and small businesses across North-East Victoria with a respectful, fair, and practical approach to getting businesses back into the black.

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Need some assistance with Small Business Debt Recovery - chat to Jon - 0455 629 621

Follow on Facebook or send an email to mansfielddebtrecovery@gmail.com

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If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe, share it with a fellow small business owner, and leave a review. It all helps more people find the show.

While you are on the website, check out my Small Business Kickstart Kit. It includes a one-page business plan, simple social media calendar, marketing checklist, and plug-and-play Canva templates. Instant download at samhicks.com.au.

You can also sign up for the 5-Minute Business Boost newsletter, or explore how we can work together on your business:

• small business consulting,

• marketing strategy,

• social media and digital marketing,

• workshops,

• mentoring, or a

• focused 1-hour training session.

New podcast episodes and the weekly newsletter drop every Wednesday at 10am.

Follow me on social media (@samhickscomau) and remember in small business, anything is possible.

#smallbusiness #smallbusinessconsulting #marketingstrategy #businessdevelopment #5minutebusinessboost #podcast #smallbiz #regionalbusiness #samhicks

In this episode of the 5-Minute Business Boost, I am unpacking one of the most important tools in your marketing toolkit: your value proposition. It’s the simple, powerful sentence that tells customers who you help, what problem you solve and why you’re the best choice.

If your messaging feels a bit fuzzy or you struggle to explain your business without rambling, this episode will help you sharpen your clarity fast.

You’ll learn:

• Why a strong value proposition matters more than ever

• the three questions every value proposition must answer

• the most common mistakes small business owners make

• a simple framework to write your own one-liner

• real examples across different industries

• a quick exercise you can do in under two minutes

This episode is designed to help small business owners simplify their message, stand out from competitors and create marketing that actually makes sense to customers.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe, share it with a fellow small business owner, and leave a review. It all helps more people find the show.

While you are on the website, check out my Small Business Kickstart Kit. It includes a one-page business plan, simple social media calendar, marketing checklist, and plug-and-play Canva templates. Instant download at samhicks.com.au.

You can also sign up for the 5-Minute Business Boost newsletter, or explore how we can work together on your business:

small business consulting, marketing strategy, social media and digital marketing, workshops, mentoring, or a focused 1-hour training session.

New podcast episodes and the weekly newsletter drop every Wednesday at 10am.

Follow me on social media (@samhickscomau) and remember: in small business, anything is possible.

#smallbusiness #smallbusinessconsulting #marketingstrategy #businessdevelopment #5minutebusinessboost #podcast #smallbiz #regionalbusiness #samhicks

In this episode, Sam demystifies the buzzword “omnichannel” and breaks it down into something practical, achievable, and genuinely helpful for small business owners.

If your Instagram, website, Google Business Profile, and email list all feel like separate versions of you, you don’t have an omnichannel strategy — you just have a bunch of channels.

Today, we fix that.

Sam unpacks what omnichannel actually means, why customers now expect it, and the simple steps you can take to create a consistent brand experience across all the places your business shows up.

What is covered:

– The difference between multichannel and omnichannel (and why it matters)

– Why consistency beats being “everywhere”

– How to choose the right core channels for your business

– Simple ways to make the customer experience feel seamless

– Light-touch data tips that don’t require complicated software

– How to “create once, distribute smart” to save hours every week

– A 30-day experiment you can try to get started

Who it’s for:

Small business owners, makers, service providers, and anyone juggling multiple online platforms and wanting a clearer, calmer way to market their business.

If you love the episode… subscribe, share, and like. I’d love a review, or let me know about a future topic.

While you’re on the website, check out my Small Business Kickstart Kit — it’s a one-page plan, social media calendar, marketing checklist, and Canva templates, all ready to go. Instant download at samhicks.com.au.

Sign up for the 5-Minute Business Boost ® newsletter, or see how we can work together to achieve your small business goals — whether through mentoring, attending a workshop, or a brief 1-hour course or even your choice of training.

Follow me on social media (@samhickscomau) and remember, anything is possible in business.