Starting a small business requires planning for various aspects such as goals, systems and processes, marketing, team culture, and financial management. It is important to understand why you are starting the business, develop a unique selling point, and put in place organizational structures before hiring employees. While the client may not always be right, prioritizing customer experience is crucial. Networking, continuing education, and applying for opportunities and awards can help the business grow. Mistakes are an inevitable part of the learning process and should be viewed as opportunities for improvement.

1. HOW TO START A
SMALL BUSINESS
What to expect when you take the
plunge into entrepreneurship
David McCarthy
Director, McCarthy Plumbing
Group

2. Table Of Content
2
My business journey
What I wish I knew before
starting my business
The importance of team
culture
The client isn't always right
Business Development
What's the point?
Systems and Processes
Cash(flow) is King
Opportunities
Making mistakes
On your marks, get set..
Marketing

3. My business journey
3
-2005 Finished Plumbing Apprenticeship in working for a sole trader in rural Victoria
-2006 Gained plumbing license, got an ABN
-2007 Moved to Perth, worked as a subcontractor plumber
-2009 Moved to London, worked on large-scale complex developments
-2012 Moved to Melbourne, worked on Tier 1 developments and commercial maintenance
-2013 Started own plumbing business as a sole trader in Oct
-2014 Worked on The Block and the business gained traction
-2015 Put on first staff member
-2016 Won our first business award, had a team of 6 plumbers
-2019 Won our first National award
-2021 Became a National Councillor with Master Plumbers Australia
-2022 Have a team of 16 team members

4. My business journey
4
McCarthy Plumbing Group is a community focused plumbing business based in Laverton North and is
owned and managed by myself and my wife Cat. Established in 2013, our business philosophy is to provide
an excellent plumbing service to our clients, delivering a customer experience with family spirit by our
happy, talented team.
We pride ourselves on excellence and were recently named 2021 Australian Small Business Champions
Plumbing Champions. We won two other National awards prior to this including the 2019 and 2020
MyBusiness Awards National Trades Business of the Year.
We have a team of 16 plumbers providing residential and commercial plumbing maintenance across
Melbourne and have an annual turnover of $2mill.

5. My business journey
5

6. - Award wins
- New offices
- New team members
- Purchasing equipment
- Gaining new clients
- Our community reputation
- Project handovers for valued clients
- Industry recognition from Master Plumbers Associations
- Apprentices gaining their qualifications
My business journey
6
The highs...

7. - Working with the wrong clients
- Costly errors
- Increasing insurance premiums
- Vehicle break-ins/theft
- Accounts going on stop/ caveat
- Cashflow issues from growing too fast
- Losing jobs to competitors based on price
- Team members getting poached
- Injuries
- Never being able to switch off
- Lockdowns and ongoing Covid interruptions
My business journey
7
The lows...

8. My business journey
8
Is it all worth it?

9. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, sometimes it would be
nice to have a crystal ball and look into the future.
Do I wish I never made the business mistakes I did?
No, because I believe you need to go through it to
grow through it.
But less costly mistakes would've been made, and
therefore less stress, if I had followed the actions on
the following slides.
What I wish I knew before starting my business
9

10. - Why are you starting a business?
- You need to set some goals, business and personal
- What is your Unique Selling Point (USP)? What will
make your business different to everyone else?
- A vision board is helpful
Suggested Reading - Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Action 1 - What's the point?
10

11. - Before you employ any staff, you need to write down
every business role and every task
- Organisational charts, recruitment processes, OHS
procedures, scripts etc
- Software (eg. xero, job management software, CRM's)
Suggested Reading - The E-Myth Revisted by Michael E. Gerber
Action 2 - Systems and Processes
11

12. - Don't just rely on your Accountant, you need to know your
numbers
- Create a budget forecast and monitor regularly
- Price for profit
- Collect fast, pay slow
Suggested Reading - Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
Action 3 - Cash(flow) is King
14

13. - Create a website and facebook page
- Ensure your marketing matches your business goals
- Always ask your clients for google reviews
- Only post good or relevant content. Nothing political, no
swearing or anything offensive
- Be consistent
Suggested Watching- Dragon's Den
Action 4 - Marketing
13

14. - As your team grows, decide on company values together
- Invest in your team
- Provide regular feedback
- Social catch ups
- Reward and Recognize
Suggested Reading - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey
Action 5 - The importance of team culture
12

15. - But it doesn't matter, it's better off for your business long
term by prioritising your clients, especially the tough ones
- Provide a premium experience for your client;
a repeat client costs $0 in marketing
- A happy client may tell 1 person, an unhappy client
will tell 10...
Suggested Reading - Delivering Happiness by Tony Hseih
Action 6 - The client isn't always right...
15

16. - Networking is important in getting your name
in the community and meeting potential clients
- Join local networking groups, chamber of
commerce, your industry associations, linkedin
Facebook support groups etc
- Find a business mentor
Suggested Reading - How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Business Development
16 Larana, Inc.

17. "Success is about taking advantage of
opportunities" - Mike Ditka
- Attend as many workshops/seminars as you can
- Apply for grants and nominate for awards
- Build your network
Opportunities
17

18. "Don't just Go through it, Grow through it" - Joel Osteen
- Making mistakes is good for business
- It helps you identify weaknesses and inadequacies
- It encourages innovation and the ability to be
adaptable to change
- All feedback is useful
Mistakes
18

19. Question Session
9
Do you have any questions?
www.mccarthyplumbinggroup.com.au
THANK YOU