Working together we can achieve amazing results. Our Financial Peak Performance Framework has helped countless businesses increase profit, reduce stress, and create freedom for the owners.
Here is an example of just some of the work we have done with clients:
1) Commercial Cleaning business increased revenue by 100% and profit by 50% and freed up time so the owner could take off 2 days per week to focus on other things.
2) Construction business went from a $-6000 lossto a $100,000 profit in the first 2 months (that’s 16 times more profit). This journey is not over, we plan to double that again.
3) Emergency Trades business doubled profit and grew sales by 40%. More importantly, they had more money in the bank and felt more secure and less stressed.
4) Customer Call Centre business increased customer service from 49% to 99% and unlock 15% more capacity to better serve customers.
Feel you are working tirelessly with nothing left in the tank or the bank to show for it.
Believe you do much more but just need some direction to take the next step.
Need support and accountability to focus on the right things at the right time.
Feel trapped in the daily grind “on the tools” and can’t focus on growing your profit.
Lost the love for your business and want to get it back.
Get a competitive advantage with our proven framework. By customizing our Profit Growth Framework to your situation we accelerate your results.
We find opportunities faster, take action faster, and get results faster. Using a proven framework reduces your risk and makes our services more affordable (no need to build solutions from scratch).
We understand the challenges you face with cash flow, profit, finance, and staffing.
As a business growth consultant for 20+ years, we have worked with many businesses across all industries. We use the expertise gained to help solve the challenges you face every day.
When you partner with us and we will work together to identify growth opportunities to get you more money, more time, and more freedom.
Don’t wait jump on a no-obligation clarity call with us today.
I bet by simply getting clarity around your challenges, it will make this the best call you have today!
Problems We Solve
Time Management – you can’t be in 2 places at once when you’re focused on sales operations slip when on the tools sales drop off. It’s an impossible situation. We have the tools to help get you focused on the key things you need most.
Make More Money – Sales, money, and profit are bumpy – it’s feast or famine. You’re always chasing your tail and just can’t seem to get ahead. A clear and profit-driven pricing strategy is key here. But don’t forget about the Customer – it’s all about customer value.
Human Resource Management – Staff shortages, communication challenges, and lack of accountability, all drag down your profit performance, not to mention the mood and morale of your people. Don’t worry you don’t have to be an HR guru. We set up the structure to make managing your people easy.
Lost the love – once we take away the stress and you start achieving your goals you will get the love back again.
Running a business is like running a sports team. you need everyone working together to get the best performance.
Case Study: HOW A COMMERCIAL CLEANING BUSINESS DOUBLED PROFIT AND HAPPINESS
The Catalyst
Igor came to me frustrated. He had lost focus in his business, the fun was gone, he was tired and felt suffocated. Don’t get me wrong it was profitable but the workload was growing much faster than the profits.
He was the only decision-maker in his business, was working a lot more hours than he wanted to, and felt it was destroying his family life. Igor had been thinking about throwing it all in.
In a last-ditch attempt to rekindle his passion he reached out to me.
The Discovery
Igor was perhaps the nicest, most frustrated Business Owner I had ever met. Like many entrepreneurs, he had his fingers in many pies and was chasing a number of new shiny objects (that were not his core business).
Igor wanted to reduce costs because he’d identified he was over-paying staff for jobs, as each job was fixed and the staff was getting them done in record time.
However, during our Roadmap session, it became clear that neither his sales nor his delivery processes were aligned to the one thing he was known for in the industry Quality.
I had to find a way to explain that over-payment of staff was not his biggest concern, I didn’t think he should focus on reducing costs…. Let me explain…
The Prognosis
Igor is a process guy, he loves processes and he had them very well put together. However, After our review and some “back of the envelope” calculations I discovered that whilst staff were being overpaid for jobs the real gold was not in reducing costs but reallocating the lost time to create more revenue.
The job pricing contained a significant level of subjectivity. There is nothing wrong with adjusting pricing to win jobs, but they should start from an objective point.
The sales process was set as a low-cost, high-volume model. This is not suitable for a high-quality service provider. We had to change to attract and convert customers looking for the highest quality service, not the cheapest.
The Solution
Using our Financial Peak Performance™ framework, we restructured the sales processes to focus on quality and highlighted the already great processes in place.
We also created an extremely objective pricing model based on existing “perfect client” jobs. These changes are scary because they reduce the number of jobs in the pipeline you’re actually going to bid on.
The pricing model provided objective specific time allocation to jobs, this allowed us to reset the existing staff expectations on each job to a realistic workload estimate. Overall time was reduced on most jobs with staff being offered more jobs to compensate.
The Result
Igor wrote me an email right after our Roadmap session, I was touched by his message:
“Thank you for everything! I feel like we have done or at least touched on many things that can be improved. I feel like you have increased my lungs capacity and now I can breath better …”
Wow and we’ve just begun. That was the beginning of a great professional and personal relationship.
We revamped the sales process, Igor already had so many great processes; a quality audit process, job review regular before and after pics, staff job proof sheets, and very personal service touches. These were fantastic but not covered in his sales material.
The current pricing model was not focused on the quality that was offered, we changed the offering to a 3 tiered pricing model based on the level of quality. Igor was skeptical “In this business everyone is focused on price rather than the value”. But he was willing to give it a try.
Under the new approach, he disqualified more customers over the phone, however, the conversion rate for customers visited more than doubled, and 70% of new customers chose a higher level of service than increasing both the sales value and the margin.
With the new pricing model and the approach Net Profit on new customers increased by 100%.
Through the new pricing model, we also discovered that a segment of the existing customer base was highly profitable whilst others were actually losing money. This meant that some customers were propping up the business whilst others were dragging it down. We went through a repricing exercise to ensure the business no longer had loss-making customers – whilst this can be a risky undertaking we had a very clear strategic plan and approach making it hugely successful.
What about the staff over-payments you ask…?
Using the same pricing model we could accurately assess job times, Igor set about improving training and mentor-ship across the staff.
Over time the staff job payments started to come back into alignment, this was done slowly and deliberately as Igor valued his staff and did not want to lose anyone over this process. Once the staff understood what he was trying to achieve and why they were onboard with minimal disruption, in fact, some staff even came to the party by offering ideas to speed up the jobs without compromising quality.
Whilst he had increased profit on the pricing side, he also reduced job costs by 10% in a fair way (by improving effectiveness) – wow that’s a double whammy.
Net Profit, cash flow, and staff morale were up. Igor had the confidence and freedom to step away from his business (a key goal) reducing 5 days to 3.
When we caught up just before I was heading off to Europe of business, he said to me “I have gained energy and a spark back in my business. I have financial stability and time for my family. Thank you, I am enjoying my business and my life again!”
Want some help?
Do you want some help to grow profit, get off the tools, and enjoy the life your business can provide?
Discover a proven framework that can be customized for your business. You too can get the fantastic results Igor got – or maybe even better results…
Before increasing your prices, you need to know your actual charge-out rate. If the number underneath is wrong, raising prices blindly can still leave you under-recovering labour, overheads or profit.
Why “just increase your prices” is risky advice
You’ve probably heard it before:
“Just put your prices up”
“Charge what you’re worth”
“The right customers will pay more”
There’s some truth in that.
But without context, it’s incomplete.
Because price is only one part of how profit is created.
What most people miss:
If the job takes longer than expected, includes uncharged extras, or carries hidden costs, increasing the price doesn’t necessarily increase the profit.
Where increasing prices DOES help
Let’s be clear — pricing is a powerful lever.
It can improve profit quickly when:
your costs are well understood
your delivery is efficient
your value is clear to the customer
In that situation, increasing prices can flow straight to the bottom line.
The businesses that improve profit consistently don’t just change one thing.
They get clarity across three areas:
what their work really costs
what it actually makes
how it’s delivered
Then they adjust:
pricing
delivery
and job mix
Together.
That’s where the real improvement happens.
This is also where a business growth consultant should be helping — not just telling you to charge more, but helping you understand what’s actually driving your profit.
How to tell if this is happening in your business
You might be relying too much on pricing if:
you’ve increased prices but profit hasn’t improved much
jobs still feel harder than they should be
you’re not sure which work is actually worth doing
you feel like the business should be doing better than it is
Want to see what’s really happening in your numbers?
If you want to understand whether pricing, delivery, or job structure is holding your profit back, I can break down one of your recent jobs and show you what’s actually going on.
It can, but only if your costs, delivery, and job structure are already working properly. Otherwise, it may not fix the underlying problem.
Why didn’t my profit improve after raising prices?
Because other factors like time overruns, hidden costs, or inefficient delivery may still be reducing your margin.
What is value-based pricing really?
It’s about aligning your price with the value perceived by the customer — not just increasing numbers without improving how the offer is positioned or delivered.
What should I fix first — pricing or operations?
Start by understanding what your jobs are actually making. That will show you whether pricing, delivery, or both need attention.
Most business owners don’t actually know what their jobs are making.
They know what they invoiced.
They know roughly what it cost.
But when you break it down properly…
the result is often very different.
One of the biggest reasons this happens is that the business never had a proper charge-out rate to begin with. If you are not recovering wages, overheads and profit properly each hour, job profitability gets distorted fast.
Why job profitability is harder to see than it should be
On the surface, it feels simple:
Job Price – Costs = Profit
But in reality, a lot gets missed.
Things like:
non-billable time
travel
delays
small extras that don’t get charged
overheads spread across the business
So what looks like a “good job”…
can end up being average — or even losing money.
This is also why many business growth consultants focus on job-level profitability first — because it shows where the real problems are.
The real question isn’t “did we make money?”
The real question is:
“What did this job actually pay us per hour?”
Because that’s where clarity comes from.
Two jobs can both make $1,000…
one takes 10 hours → great job
one takes 25 hours → not so great
Without that visibility, it’s easy to stay busy doing the wrong work.
A simple way to think about it…
If you don’t know what a job made per hour, it’s very easy to mistake busy work for profitable work.
How to calculate job profitability properly
At a basic level, you want to look at:
total revenue from the job
labour time (real hours, not estimated)
materials and subcontractors
your true hourly cost of running the business
Then compare:
What the job brought in vs what it actually cost you to deliver.
If you don’t have a clear hourly cost, start here:
You need to compare total revenue against the true cost of labour, materials, time, and overheads. Most businesses underestimate their real costs.
What is a good profit per job?
It depends on your industry and structure, but the key is consistency — your jobs should consistently return a margin that supports your overall business profit goals.
Why do some jobs feel busy but don’t make money?
Because they take longer than expected, include uncharged extras, or are priced without fully accounting for costs.
Can better job tracking improve profit?
Yes. Tracking actual time and cost allows you to fix pricing, improve delivery, and focus on more profitable work.
This does not always mean your prices are obviously too low.
It often means pricing has not been built around:
real delivery costs
non-billable time
overheads
and a proper target margin
So even when the price looks okay on the surface, it still does not leave enough behind.
If you have never worked out your real charge-out rate, this is usually where the gap starts. Pricing can look okay on the surface and still leave you short once non-billable time, overheads and profit are properly accounted for.
3. The work is harder to deliver than it should be
Even with decent pricing, profit can still disappear through delivery problems.
That might include:
rework
poor planning
underestimating time
inefficient processes
extra work that never gets charged for
This is where many businesses get stuck.
They assume it is a pricing problem… when it is actually a delivery problem — or both.
Why working harder usually does not fix it
When profit feels tight, the natural reaction is often:
“We just need more work.”
But more work often just amplifies the underlying problem.
more jobs creates more pressure
more pressure creates more mistakes
more mistakes reduce profit even further
That is how businesses end up stuck in a loop:
busy… but not really building anything meaningful.
What actually fixes it
The turning point usually comes from getting clarity on three things:
If any of these sound familiar, there is a good chance your business has a profit visibility problem:
you are flat out, but the bank balance feels underwhelming
cash flow is tighter than expected, even when work is strong
you are not sure which jobs or services are worth doing
you feel like the business should be doing better than it is
you keep pushing harder, but the result does not change much
Want to see what one of your jobs is actually making?
If you are not sure whether your work is making money or just keeping you busy, I can take a look at one of your recent jobs and show you what it actually made per hour.
No pressure — just clarity around where things are at.
Usually because pricing, delivery, or job structure is not aligned with real costs and profit targets. Being busy does not guarantee profit.
Can a business be busy and still lose money?
Yes. If jobs are underpriced, take longer than expected, or carry hidden costs, a business can stay busy while making very little — or even losing money.
Should I just increase my prices?
Not always. Pricing needs to reflect real costs, delivery capability, and customer value. Simply increasing prices without fixing structure or delivery may not solve the problem.
How do I know if this is a pricing problem or an operations problem?
Often it is both. The best place to start is by looking at what your jobs are actually making and where time, cost, or effort is being lost.
Built for Aussie Tradies: Plumbers, Sparkies & More
What is a Charge-Out Rate? (2026 Definition)
A charge-out rate is the hourly price a trade business must charge to cover wages, overheads, and profit.
It ensures every hour worked contributes to both costs and profit.
Annual Wages & 12% Super: Total gross cost including the July 2025 hike.
Annual Billable Hours: Total job hours billed (paid hours minus leave, training, and unbillable travel).
Overheads (On-costs): Fixed expenses including rent, insurance, fuel, tools, software, and admin support.
Net Profit Margin: The buffer for growth and cash reserves (target: 15% – 25%).
Built for Aussie tradies — stop undercharging your work.
In Australia, most trade businesses charge between $90 and $190 per hour, depending on the trade, overheads and business structure. The ranges below show typical benchmarks for plumbers, electricians and other trades in 2026.
2026 Benchmarks & 2027 Profit Forecasts
Current market conditions are highly volatile. Between energy costs, labour shortages, and rising overheads,
your rates need to be forward-looking if you want to protect profit.
Trade Type
Current 2026 Benchmark
2027 Forecast Rate
Key 2027 Pressure
Plumbers
$130 – $190/hr
$145 – $210/hr
Fuel surcharges & specialised tool costs
Electricians
$120 – $170/hr
$135 – $195/hr
Compliance time & labour shortage
Painters
$90 – $130/hr
$105 – $145/hr
Consumable inflation & travel overheads
Note: Forecasts assume continued inflation pressure and elevated operating costs into 2027.
How to Calculate Your Charge-Out Rate (Step-by-Step)
If you want to set a charge-out rate that actually leaves profit behind, work through these four steps before relying on guesswork or copying competitors.
Step 1: Add up your real labour cost
Start with wages, super, workers comp, leave, payroll tax, training, uniforms, and other on-costs.
This gives you the real cost of having that person on the books — not just their hourly wage.
Step 2: Add your business overheads
Include the overheads that keep the business running: vehicles, fuel, insurance, software, phones, admin support, rent, tools, marketing,
and anything else that has to be paid whether a job goes well or not.
Step 3: Work out your true billable hours
This is where many trade businesses get it wrong. You do not recover your costs across every paid hour.
You recover them across the hours you can actually bill after allowing for leave, travel, quoting, admin, rework, training, and downtime.
Step 4: Add your target profit margin
Once you know your true cost per billable hour, add a proper target profit margin.
That is what turns a recovery rate into a charge-out rate that protects cash flow and builds a healthier business.
People Also Ask: Your Hardest Pricing Questions Answered
Most calculators give you a number but do not explain the why. As a CA, I see the same mistakes killing trade profits every day.
Here is the reality behind the numbers:
1. What is a normal charge-out rate for 2026?
In 2026, standard hourly rates for licensed trades such as plumbers and sparkies in Australia typically range from $120 to $180+ GST. If you are charging under $110, there is a good chance you are not fully recovering overheads and super.
2. How do I calculate a call-out fee?
A call-out fee should cover your unbillable travel time and vehicle running costs.
In many cases, a standard Australian call-out fee falls between $80 and $150.
3. Should I charge differently for apprentices?
Not automatically. Your charge-out rate is for the business to recover costs.
An apprentice still uses a van, tools, supervision, and insurance. You bill for the result, not just the wage rate.
4. What is the true cost of an employee at $45/hr?
An employee on $45/hr can cost the business roughly $82/hr once you factor in super, workers comp,
annual leave, sick leave, and unbillable downtime.
5. Why is my profit not showing up in my bank account?
This is usually due to the productivity gap. Many tradies pay for 38 hours but only bill 28 to 30 hours.
If your pricing does not account for those lost hours, the expected profit never lands.
About the Developer: Brad Horan (CA)
Brad is a Chartered Accountant and the founder of Lucrature, with over 25 years of experience in financial modelling for Australian trade businesses.
This tool was built to replace generic software blog posts with real, cost-based accounting logic.
Brad specialises in helping trade owners identify profit leaks and build sustainable, scalable pricing models.
Financial Disclaimer: The information provided on this page and by the 2026 Charge-Out Rate Calculator is for general informational and illustrative purposes only.
It does not constitute professional accounting, legal, or financial advice. Specific business outcomes vary.
Do not act on this information without seeking independent advice from a qualified professional tailored to your business needs. Lucrature accepts no liability for losses resulting from use of this tool.
Unlocking the Secrets to Explosive Business Growth with Expert Consultants
Unlocking the Secrets to Explosive Business Growth with Expert Consultants
Are you a business owner seeking to take your company to new heights? Look no further! In today’s fiercely competitive market, tapping into the expertise of consultant services can be the key to unlocking explosive business growth. With their wealth of knowledge, experience, and fresh perspectives, expert consultants guide businesses towards success with proven strategies and innovative solutions.
While it’s tempting to think that only large corporations benefit from consultant services, the truth is that businesses of all sizes can experience significant growth with the help of these professionals. From developing comprehensive marketing campaigns to streamlining internal processes, consultants bring a wealth of specialized skills to the table, empowering companies to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities.
By incorporating the right pricing and operating model specific to your industry, these introductions can boost your bottom line and attract a more of your ideal customers. Don’t miss out on the untapped potential of explosive business growth – unlock it today with expert consultants by your side.
The Role of Expert Consultants in Business Growth
Expert consultants play a crucial role in driving business growth. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, helping businesses overcome challenges and seize opportunities that may otherwise go unnoticed. These professionals have a deep understanding of various industries and are equipped with the latest trends and best practices. By leveraging their expertise, businesses can effectively navigate the complexities of the market and make informed decisions that propel them towards growth.
One of the primary reasons why expert consultants are so valuable is their ability to provide a fresh perspective. Often, business owners and managers can become too close to their operations, making it difficult to identify areas for improvement or innovation. Consultants, on the other hand, have an outsider’s viewpoint and can spot inefficiencies or untapped potential that may have been overlooked. This fresh perspective can be a catalyst for explosive growth, as it encourages businesses to think outside the box and explore new strategies.
Furthermore, expert consultants bring specialized skills to the table. Whether it’s developing comprehensive marketing campaigns, optimizing supply chain processes, or implementing cutting-edge technologies, these professionals have the expertise to drive tangible results. They can identify gaps in a company’s operations and provide tailored solutions that align with the business’s goals and objectives. By leveraging their specialized skills, businesses can streamline their processes, improve efficiency, and ultimately drive growth.
Benefits of Hiring Expert Consultants
Hiring expert consultants offers a range of benefits for businesses looking to achieve explosive growth. Firstly, consultants provide an objective and unbiased assessment of a company’s operations. They are not influenced by internal politics or preconceived notions, allowing them to provide honest feedback and recommendations. This objectivity is invaluable, as it enables businesses to identify and address potential weaknesses or blind spots that may be hindering growth.
Secondly, expert consultants bring a wealth of experience to the table. They have worked with a diverse range of clients across various industries, giving them a deep understanding of what works and what doesn’t. This experience allows them to leverage proven strategies and tactics that have driven growth for other businesses. By tapping into this knowledge, businesses can avoid costly trial and error and fast-track their growth initiatives.
Another significant advantage of hiring expert consultants is their ability to bring in fresh ideas and perspectives. These professionals are constantly staying up-to-date with industry trends and innovations, allowing them to introduce new strategies or technologies that may be game-changers for a business. Their outside perspective can challenge the status quo and push businesses out of their comfort zones, encouraging innovation and driving growth.
Lastly, expert consultants can provide businesses with the necessary skills and knowledge to sustain long-term growth. Through their guidance and mentorship, they can upskill internal teams and equip them with the tools needed to drive growth independently. This knowledge transfer ensures that businesses can continue to thrive even after the consultants’ engagement is over.
Common Challenges Faced by Businesses in Achieving Explosive Growth
While achieving explosive growth is the dream of many businesses, it is not without its challenges. It’s important to understand these challenges and how expert consultants can help overcome them.
One common challenge is the lack of a clear growth strategy. Many businesses struggle to define their growth objectives and develop a roadmap to achieve them. This lack of direction can result in wasted resources and missed opportunities. Expert consultants can help businesses define their growth objectives and develop a comprehensive strategy that aligns with their vision and values. They can conduct market research, analyze competitors, and identify niche opportunities that can be leveraged for growth.
Another challenge is the inability to adapt to market changes. In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, businesses must be agile and adaptable to stay ahead. However, many companies are resistant to change and struggle to pivot their strategies when needed. Expert consultants can provide businesses with the necessary guidance and support to navigate market changes effectively. They can help identify emerging trends, assess the impact on the business, and develop agile strategies that capitalize on these changes.
Additionally, resource constraints often pose a challenge to explosive growth. Many businesses lack the internal expertise, manpower, or financial resources to drive growth initiatives effectively. This is where expert consultants can make a significant difference. They bring the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to the table, allowing businesses to overcome these constraints and execute growth initiatives with confidence.
The Qualities to Look for in an Expert Consultant
When hiring an expert consultant, it’s crucial to look for certain qualities that set them apart from the rest. These qualities can greatly influence the success of the engagement and the overall impact on business growth.
First and foremost, a good consultant should have a deep understanding of your industry. They should be well-versed in the nuances and challenges specific to your market, allowing them to provide tailored solutions. This industry knowledge is essential for developing effective strategies that drive growth and deliver results.
Secondly, a consultant should possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills. They should be able to quickly assess a business’s operations, identify bottlenecks, and develop data-driven solutions. This analytical mindset ensures that decisions are based on facts and insights, rather than assumptions or gut feelings.
Furthermore, effective communication skills are vital for a consultant’s success. They should be able to clearly articulate their recommendations and insights to both senior management and front-line employees. This ensures that everyone in the organization understands the rationale behind the proposed strategies and is aligned with the growth objectives.
Additionally, a good consultant should be adaptable and flexible. They should be able to navigate changing circumstances and adjust their approach accordingly. This adaptability is crucial in today’s dynamic business environment, where market conditions can change rapidly.
Lastly, a consultant should have a track record of delivering results. It’s important to ask for references or case studies that highlight their previous successes. This gives businesses confidence that the consultant has the necessary skills and experience to drive growth.
How to Find and Hire the Right Expert Consultant for Your Business
Finding and hiring the right expert consultant for your business can be a daunting task. However, by following a systematic approach, you can increase your chances of finding the perfect fit for your organization.
To begin, clearly define your objectives and the specific areas where you need assistance. This will help you narrow down your search and find consultants with the relevant expertise. For example, if you’re looking to drive growth through digital marketing, you’ll want to focus on consultants with a strong background in this area.
Next, leverage your professional network and ask for recommendations. Reach out to business associates, industry peers, or trade associations to see if they can recommend any consultants they have worked with in the past. Personal referrals are often the most reliable way to find trustworthy and competent consultants.
Once you have a shortlist of potential consultants, conduct thorough research on each candidate. Review their websites, LinkedIn profiles, and any other available information to get a better understanding of their background, experience, and track record. Look for testimonials or case studies that highlight their previous successes.
After conducting your initial research, schedule interviews with the top candidates. Use this opportunity to assess their industry knowledge, problem-solving skills, and communication style. Ask them about their approach to driving growth and how they have tackled challenges similar to yours in the past. Be sure to also discuss their availability and pricing structure to ensure they align with your requirements and budget.
Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of chemistry and trust. A consultant will be working closely with your team and will have access to sensitive information about your business. It’s crucial to choose someone who you feel comfortable with and can trust to act in your best interest.
Case Studies of Businesses that Achieved Explosive Growth with the Help of Expert Consultants
To illustrate the impact that expert consultants can have on business growth, let’s take a look at some real-life case studies:
Case Study 1: Cleaning Star – From Struggling Startup to Market Leader
Cleaning Star, a small startup in the Commercial Cleaning industry, was struggling to gain traction in a crowded market. They had a great product, but lacked a clear growth strategy and were unable to effectively communicate their value proposition to potential customers.
They decided to hire Lucrature – business growth consultants with experience in their industry. The consultant conducted a thorough financial and market analysis and identified a niche segment that was underserved. They developed a targeted pricing & marketing campaign that highlighted the unique benefits of Cleaning Star’s approach to cleaning for this specific segment.
As a result, Cleaning Star saw a significant increase in leads and conversions with each job providing more profit. Their net profit grew by 100% within the first year, and they quickly became a market leader in their niche. The consultant’s expertise and strategic guidance were instrumental in their explosive growth.
Case Study 2: Need A Skip Now – Streamlining Operations for Scalable Growth
Need A Skip Now, a medium-sized waste management company, was experiencing stagnant growth but was struggling to keep up with the increased costs. Their internal processes were inefficient and were hindering their ability to address changes in the market.
They hired Lucrature – business growth consultants, an expert consultant who specialized in operations management. The consultant conducted a comprehensive review of their processes, identified underutilized equipment, and developed a plan to streamline operations.
By implementing the consultant’s recommendations, Need A Skip Now was able to maintain production efficiency and reduce costs by 32%. This allowed them to meet demand without compromising on quality or customer satisfaction. The consultant’s expertise in operations management played a pivotal role in their ability to increase profit.
Further analysis of key customers and markets identified more opportunities. By focusing in on specific areas where they could beat the competition at competitive but highly profitable prices Need A Skip Now was able to increase revenue by 20% but whilst increasing profit by 559% in 12 months.
Case Study 3: BFHA Australia – Accelerating Growth Through Customer-Value Transformation
BFHA Australia, a well-established chain of trades and food businesses, was facing declining sales and stagnating growth. They realized that they needed to transform to stay competitive in the market.
They enlisted the help of Lucrature – business growth consultants with a background in turning around trade businesses. The consultant conducted a digital audit of their customers and value proposition, identified gaps, and developed a comprehensive growth strategy.
By implementing the consultant’s recommendations, BFHA experienced a significant increase in sales and customer engagement. Their revenue grew by 150% within the first year, and they were able to expand their market reach beyond their physical stores. The consultant’s expertise in business transformation was instrumental in their explosive growth.
Key Strategies and Tactics Used by Expert Consultants to Drive Business Growth
Expert consultants employ a range of strategies and tactics to drive business growth. While the specific approach may vary depending on the industry and business objectives, there are several key strategies that are commonly utilized.
Firstly, customer and market research and analysis play a crucial role in driving growth. Consultants conduct thorough customer/market research to identify trends, understand customer needs, and assess the competitive landscape. This research forms the foundation for developing effective growth strategies and allows businesses to make data-driven decisions.
Secondly, consultants often focus on optimizing internal processes to improve efficiency and productivity. By identifying bottlenecks and streamlining workflows, businesses can reduce costs, increase output, and deliver better results. This operational excellence is a key driver of growth, as it allows businesses to scale and meet increasing demand.
Thirdly, expert consultants often emphasize the importance of customer-centricity. They help businesses develop a deep understanding of their target audience and create personalized experiences that resonate with customers. By delivering exceptional customer experiences, businesses can build brand loyalty, drive customer retention, and attract new customers through positive word-of-mouth.
Moreover, consultants often leverage the power of technology to drive growth. They help businesses adopt and implement cutting-edge technologies that streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and gain a competitive edge. Whether it’s implementing advanced analytics tools, adopting cloud-based solutions, or leveraging artificial intelligence, technology plays a pivotal role in driving growth in today’s digital age.
Lastly, expert consultants prioritize ongoing collaboration and communication with businesses. They work closely with key stakeholders to ensure that growth strategies are aligned with the business’s goals and objectives. Regular check-ins, progress updates, and feedback sessions allow for adjustments and refinements along the way. This collaborative approach ensures that businesses stay on track and make informed decisions that drive growth.
The Importance of Ongoing Collaboration and Communication with Expert Consultants
Collaboration and communication are vital components of a successful engagement with expert consultants. While consultants bring valuable expertise and insights to the table, businesses must actively participate in the process to maximize the impact on growth.
Ongoing collaboration allows businesses to provide valuable input and ensure that the consultant’s recommendations align with their vision and values. By actively participating in the decision-making process, businesses can take ownership of the growth initiatives and drive them forward with conviction.
Regular communication is also essential to keep everyone aligned and informed throughout the engagement. Consultants should provide progress updates, share insights, and seek feedback from key stakeholders. This ensures that businesses have a clear understanding of the consultant’s approach, the impact on operations, and the progress towards growth objectives.
Furthermore, communication facilitates knowledge transfer and upskilling within the organization. Businesses should actively engage with consultants to learn from their expertise and develop internal capabilities. This ensures that businesses can continue to drive growth even after the consultant’s engagement is over.
Lastly, ongoing collaboration and communication foster a strong working relationship between the consultant and the business. This partnership is built on trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to achieving growth. By nurturing this relationship, businesses can leverage the consultant’s expertise to drive long-term success.
Measuring and Tracking the Success of Your Business Growth Initiatives with Expert Consultants
Measuring and tracking the success of business growth initiatives is crucial to ensure that the consultant’s strategies are delivering the desired results. By implementing effective measurement and tracking mechanisms, businesses can make data-driven decisions, identify areas for improvement, and optimize their growth strategies.
One of the key metrics to track is revenue growth. This metric provides a clear indication of the impact of the growth initiatives on the business’s bottom line. By monitoring revenue growth over time, businesses can assess the effectiveness of the consultant’s strategies and tactics.
Additionally, businesses should track key performance indicators (KPIs) that are aligned with their growth objectives. These KPIs can vary depending on the industry and business model but may include metrics such as customer acquisition cost, customer lifetime value, conversion rates, or market share. By regularly monitoring these KPIs, businesses can identify trends, track progress, and make data-driven decisions.
Another important aspect to measure is customer satisfaction and loyalty. By conducting customer surveys, analyzing feedback, and monitoring customer retention rates, businesses can gauge the impact of their growth initiatives on customer experiences. Positive customer feedback and high retention rates indicate that the initiatives are resonating with customers and driving loyalty.
Furthermore, businesses should assess the impact of the growth initiatives on internal processes and efficiency. By tracking metrics across key parts of the business you can create more staff engagement and extract more innovative ideas.
At Lucrature – Business Growth Consultants we have a very specific set of KPI that you use that tracks the business from a customer value point of view across all keys areas. When used with Human Active Management this is very powerful for driving positive change in your business. (you can learn more about our KPI approach here).
Here are a list of AI Assistants (Custom GPTs) we are building and refining.
Whether you need a Bot, Robot, or assistant we have you covered. We are making business support easy with our AI driven technologies.
1. Lucrature Business Consultants | Business Strategy
As Lucrature Business Consultants | Business Strategy Bot, my role is to guide you in developing a concise and effective business strategy. I do this by walking you through a series of strategic questions from Lucrature’s Strategy Kit, helping you reflect on and articulate your business goals and plans. Here’s a summary of what I can do for you:
1. **Initiate Strategy Building:** I’ll start by asking if you want to build a strategy right now. The goal is to craft a strategy within 20 minutes, drawing from Lucrature’s methodologies.
2. **Five Key Questions:** We’ll go through five critical questions from the Strategy Kit, covering aspects like your vision for the business, where you want to compete, how you plan to win, what needs to be true for success, and what currently isn’t true but needs attention.
3. **Deep Dives Where Needed:** If any area requires more detail, I’ll ask specific questions to delve deeper, ensuring a thorough understanding and effective strategy development.
4. **Strategy on a Page:** Using your responses, I’ll summarize the strategy into a concise format, grouping information into relevant categories for clarity and actionability.
5. **Guidance and Support:** If you need further assistance, you can book a call with Brad Horan for personalized guidance.
6. **Use of Provided Materials:** I’ll utilize the Strategy Kit, the “Why I am in Business” worksheet, the Strategy Kit Alignment Worksheet, and the Strategy on a Page template to structure our discussion and the final strategy document.
7. **Focus on Business Growth:** The process is designed to uncover and leverage the insights you already have about your business, with an aim to foster growth and improvement.
In summary, I’m here to facilitate a strategic thinking process that helps crystallize your business vision, competitive approach, and actionable steps forward, all condensed into a clear strategy on a single page.
2. Lucrature Business Consultants | Price Right Bot
As PriceRightBot, I specialize in offering expert business coaching, focusing on guiding you towards effective pricing strategies to maximize your profit and customer value. Here’s a summary of how I can assist you:
1. **Personalized Pricing Review**: I can perform a detailed pricing review for your business. This involves analyzing factors like business turnover, staff numbers, profit or profit margin, and average salary. I use specific benchmarking formulas to assess your pricing strategy.
2. **Pricing Strategy Guidance**: Based on the “Perfect Pricing Strategy Playbook,” I can guide you through steps to improve your pricing strategy. This includes understanding your customer value, analyzing competition, crafting and testing your pricing strategy.
3. **Profit Margin Advice**: I’ll advise you to target a profit margin between 15-25%, which is above the average, to ensure resilience and growth potential for medium businesses.
4. **Further Assistance and Expert Consultation**: If needed, I can direct you to book a 15-minute appointment with a Lucrature pricing specialist for more personalized assistance.
My approach is to provide direct and empathetic guidance within a four-point limit for clarity and brevity. If you have specific business details like turnover, staff numbers, and profit margins, I can start with a pricing assessment. Let me know how I can assist you further!
I’m like a specialized assistant for business topics. My job is to quickly find and provide business advice and information, especially from a website called chat.openai.com. I can help with things like business strategies, setting prices, coaching for business owners, and using social media effectively. If you need specific business information, I can search for that too. Plus, I always make sure to show info from Lucrature Business Consultants first. Think of me as a quick, smart helper for all sorts of business questions and needs.
Grow Your Business by at least 35%, with our World-leading Customer-Value KPI Framework™.
In this KPI masterclass, I will answer all of your KPI questions. I give you the KPI Meaning in Business, and all the tools, KPI examples, and KPI dashboards you need to create the very best KPI for your business.
Putting the right KPI in your business combined with clear actions WILL increase profit (customers usually achieve 50-75%), reduce stress, reduce staff turnover, and take your business to the next level.
One of the most practical KPI foundations is knowing your real charge-out rate. If your hourly rate does not properly recover labour, overheads and profit, the rest of your KPIs can look busy without showing what the business should actually be charging.
The point of KPI metrics in your business is not to measure but to understand, and ultimately take action to improve.
In this Masterclass I will show you:
The KPI meaning in business – Key Performance Indicator
How to measure KPI Metrics – different types of KPI metrics
KPI Examples – using the power of Customer Value KPIs
KPI Dashboard – the same one we use to increase profit by 50-75%
How to implement KPI in your business
1. KPI Meaning in Business
Typically we think of KPI in a business sense but that is not the only place they are used. We use them in sports e.g. batting/bowling averages for example.
We even have KPI in our technology – battery performance, and energy consumption (cars/appliances) are all areas in our everyday life where we use KPI without even thinking about them.
There are also other “newer” versions of KPI – OKR, KRA, GMH.
OKR: Objective and Key Results
KRA: Key Result Areas
GMH: Goals Methods Habits
KPI: Key Performance Indicators
To be honest these are all trying to do the exact same thing – set a goal, measure outcomes, and drive action towards achieving the goal.
Which approach you use (KPI, OKR, KRA, GMH) is far less important than how you use it. I suggest to clients use whichever concept resonates well with you and your team but make sure you develop an actionable framework around it (clients use our Profit Growth Framework to do this).
As you will see later in this article developing a Goal or Objective and taking habit-forming actions are just as important with KPI as they are with OKR, KRA, and GMH.
KPI Meaning breakdown
KPI is short for “Key” “Performance” “Indicator”. Let’s break this down before we look at it in total.
K is for Key – in the case of KPI key means “of crucial importance”. These are only the things that are critical to success in your business. This is an extreme focus on a specific outcome! (This is the same Key for OKR, KRA)
P – is for Performance. The typical definition for performance is the execution of an action to accomplish something, to achieve the goal. (This is the same as Objectve for OKR, Result for KRA, Goal for GMH)
Whilst “Key” is designed to focus on a specific outcome, “Performance” is focused on the execution of the action to accomplish that outcome. This means a single KPI must be measuring both the execution and the outcome.
I is for Indicator. Think of an indicator as a gauge or meter. It gives you status but does not provide the full picture. E.g. think of your petrol/gas gauge in your car. You want to know how much gas you have, if you run out you won’t reach your destination. It indicates roughly how much gas you have in your car – it doesn’t tell you how much you need to reach your destination…
The Indicator will point to something, it doesn’t give an exact result and does not solve the issue. You must take ACTION – We’ll get to that later. (This is the same as Result for OKR and KRA, and similar to Habit for GMH)
Note: A few (4-6 only) very targeted KPI metrics in your business are far better than a scattergun approach trying to cover all scenarios.
I see some businesses that create a tremendous number of ”KPI” in the hope that the result will tell me exactly what’s wrong and give me a solution.
Sorry, that is not going to happen! Having more KPI will simply confuse the issues.
More KPI will not give you the solution it simply dilutes the “Key” in KPI making it confusing for staff to understand what is most important.
It is important to remember that the point of KPI metrics in your business is not to measure but to understand, and ultimately take action to improve.
2. How to Measure KPI Metrics
There are literally thousands of KPI out there but about 99% of them are not effective. Either because the people trying to impact the KPI doesn’t understand it or they simply don’t address the crucial aspects of the business.
Remember from our definition we want to measure both the execution and the outcome.
For example, a good way to look at performance is by using the formula output divided by input (p=o/i). Output is the outcome and input is the execution.
I see many businesses using sales $ as the KPI. But this only measures the outcome, not the execution.
Let’s consider this in this real KPI example to explain:
Bob and Joan are both salespeople at ABC company. Bob is old school, and although almost retired he has not let up at all. He achieves the highest amount of sales every month. He has a lot of connections within the industry and makes sales primarily through face-to-face meetings, coffees, lunches, and the like.
Joan is new age she loves digital, her sales are primarily through zoom meetings, phone calls, and online chat. She has a young family and works part-time.
Joan has good sales but not like Bob.
Last month Bob’s sales were $80,000, Joan’s were $60,000
If our KPI is Sales $ – Bob is the clear winner.
But let’s look deeper… Using the formula p=o (output)/i (input) where o = Sales $ and i = hours worked. This KPI Example is Sales $ per Hour Worked.
Bob worked 200 hours last month. Joan was part-time and worked 120 hours.
Bob’s sales $80,000 divided by 200 hours = $400 of Sales per Hour.
Joan’s sales $60,000 divided by 120 hours = $500 of Sales per hour.
Joan is actually 25% more efficient and effective than Bob.
If Bob could do $500 per hour he would make $100,000 of sales ($20,000 more) each month.
You can see from the graphs that when we use just sales Bob is the star, but when we use Sales per hour Joan is the star.
If I had a choice I would want to employ more Joans and less Bobs in my business.
But even better what if Bob and Joan can learn from each other and perhaps we can increase the performance of both…
3. KPI Examples
There are so many KPI examples out there you can easily find thousands of examples. What I will share here are the key “Crucial” KPI Metrics that work extremely well in Service Industry businesses.
These KPI Metrics work extremely well with our Ultimate Customer Value KPI ™ model.
People don’t buy on price, they buy on value. Value is different for everyone but we still buy on value.
A tradesman is likely to expect higher levels of quality and reliability from his tools than your average DIY enthusiast because any job downtime costs money, time, and energy that would be better spent on the job.
When we meet Customer Value expectations we make sales, more sales means is usually good for business. Therefore it makes sense that our KPI Metrics would also track Customer Value.
The psychology of a purchase is made up of both emotional and analytical triggers.
In our KPI examples (this list is the exact KPI our clients use within our profit growth Framework), we focus on the analytical, non-emotional triggers because we can measure them.
There are 4 things humans weigh up with each purchase; Cost, Quality, Speed, Customer Service. We analyze these things incredibly quickly often without even realizing it.
It happens so fast and it is so ingrained in our subconscious that we automatically put certain brands into that category. There will be a brand that you associate with as the lowest-cost provider, another the highest quality, another the best service etc.
You will likely assume that position for everything they sell (despite it not always being true)
Bringing in KPI metrics to measure this subconscious customer buying pattern is incredibly powerful! It will change your business!
By measuring these 4 KPI metrics not only can we hold ourselves accountable to the customer value we provide but we can also use these as a tool when we make changes to our business.
e.g. Cleaning business invests in a new super-fast floor scrubber to speed up jobs and provide a better quality finish. You can see the results quickly in your KPI dashboard. Perhaps initially speed goes down – you can investigate what is going wrong.
Maybe there is a problem with training, or
Perhaps the new machine is heavy and awkward and takes more time to get to client sites, or
What if this machine uses more detergent and staff run out because they forgot to bring extra.
Using these KPI metrics will quickly highlight where things are not meeting the Customer
Value expectations you have set for your business. You can quickly take corrective action.
Note these KPI Examples work extremely well for most Service Businesses, however, KPI should be tailored to your business. Please do not blindly follow these examples and expect the best result.
4. KPI Dashboard – the same one we use to increase profit by 50-75%
The point of KPI metrics in your business is not to measure but to understand, and ultimately take action to improve.
You can choose the best KPI metrics in the universe but they won’t make a shred of difference if nobody sees them and/or takes action on them.
KPI dashboards are a great visual tool to help everyone in your business see exactly where things are at. You can see the progression over time and a good dashboard will clearly show the target you are trying to achieve.
The key to an effective KPI dashboard is simplicity and understanding. It should be:
Easy to read
Clear in its message – performance and target
Designed to be understood in 3 seconds
Easy to update and manage
Scientific – i.e. based on real, accurate data
SIMPLE
Frequency Matters!
How often you calculate and review your scorecard will have a direct impact on how well you achieve your goals.
Your dashboard should help drive decisions. By reviewing the dashboard you and your team can identify anomalies and opportunities and take ACTION to improve.
Decisions happen every day.
If you have a monthly scorecard you have given yourself 1 chance in a month to take action. That means you have potentially missed the other 30 days of opportunity.
Unfortunately, human memory is not very accurate. Can you remember everything you did last weekend? I can’t.
The less time has passed the better chance you have to get an accurate view of what happened, therefore you’ll have better decision making.
In most cases, we recommend daily “stand up” sessions for 10-15 min to review the scorecard and come up with actions. This gives you a great result!
Visual Cues Enhance Problem-solving Outcomes
Many businesses simply use reports but the problem is that they are not quick and easy to understand – whilst they may be a good tool for the management team, they are a terrible tool for managing the team.
Humans are incredibly visual beings. The human brain can process images up to 60,000 times faster than words. Pictures are not only more effortless to recognize and process than words, but also easier to recall.
(See how difficult it is to read the report compared to the KPI dashboard.)
By creating a simple and clear visual depiction of the results people can focus all of their time and energy on understanding the issues and coming up with innovative solutions – rather than using that brainpower to focus on understanding the word and numbers on the report.
Once you have the KPI dashboards in place and your teams are reviewing it regularly, investigating issues, and taking action, you can start to routinely increase targets when you are consistently achieving them.
When done right the staff love increasing targets! We have a whole process around team problem-solving and innovation – we call it Active Management™ (this will be covered in another masterclass).
5. 6 Tips – How to implement KPI in your business
Remember the point of KPI metrics in your business is not to measure but to understand, and ultimately take action to improve.
It’s not about the KPI score it’s about the discussion and resolution it’s about moving the KPI in the direction that you want the business to go in.
Just like there are thousands of KPI it is likely there are also thousands of ways to implement them in your business.
These tips and this approach are my way of implementing with my clients. I don’t know if it’s “the best way”, it’s the way I know, and it works really well, and really fast.
#1 Keep it simple
I see some businesses that create a tremendous number of ”KPI” in the hope that the result will tell me exactly what’s wrong and give me a solution. It won’t. Just stick to the 4 Ultimate Customer KPI we showed you here – no more, no less.
#2 involve your people
These KPI metrics are from your staff to achieve, get them involved from the beginning, the more they are involved the better they w understand them and more they will feel responsible for achieving them.
There have been a ton of studies into happiness within the workplace and one of the key things is that employees want to know their work is valued and are even happier when they’re rewarded for achieving highly valued work.
Involving your staff will strengthen their sense of purpose and happiness in your business.
#3 Set realistic targets
I like to use the best repeatable score that was achieved as a starting point. Look at historical data if you achieved something more than once why not again?
Don’t be greedy! It’s better to overachieve on a goal staff believe in (then increase it) rather than set a goal staff does not believe they can achieve. This will lead to low morale and poor results.
#4 Expect change
Don’t expect to get it right 1st time. It’s ok to change KPI metrics if they are not working. Remember this is about managing behaviors to achieve a target. If it’s not working revisit it with the team.
#5 Take action
All the KPI metrics in the world will not help you if you don’t take action to make improvements in your business.
Set up a clear action log. Ask staff for ideas (2 heads are better than 1). But remember YOU make the final decision on which ideas you will run with and the order of priority.
Every action must have 1 owner and a due date. It should be followed up on regularly.
Don’t be tempted to take ownership of all actions yourself, start to allocate to staff members, this is the start of you being able to step away from the daily activities as your staff takes more ownership.
Spread the love assess how well each person manages their task. Set clear expectations, follow up, and support, but do not take over!
#6 Align to your strategy
This is super important! Once you set the KPI dashboard in action, in my experience results shift very quickly – within hours and days not weeks.
If your KPI is not aligned with your strategy your business can shift very quickly in the wrong direction. If people are achieving the KPI targets but are not aligned with your strategy things can go wrong very very fast and be very hard to pull back.
Hi I’m Brad Horan, I’M THE BUSINESS PROFIT GROWTH EXPERT.
I’m not your typical Accountant. I’m creative, I’ve more than 10 friends, and people (sometimes) laugh at my jokes.
Over the last 2 decades, I earned a reputation for solving complex business problems by applying both analytics and creativity to identify simple, successful solutions.
I’ve always been focused on helping businesses succeed but about 13 years ago something remarkable happened…
Before this remarkable event, I helped businesses around the globe and got great results, but something was missing…
I was working on a solution to free up branch staff time, improve purchasing power and productivity. We set the solution in motion but it just wasn’t working.
I was lost. Why wasn’t it working? Was it the culture, was it language issues?
No, it wasn’t any of that…
Then I remembered a discussion I’d just had with a friend about how local manufacturers use data to drive decisions. I called him and we put our heads together.
Ahh huh, we needed different data to help people make the right decisions, and we needed a framework to manage the decision-making process.
It hit me this is the “missing link”!
So simple! I can’t believe I’d overlooked this.
We knew we were onto something and we started working together consulting to major businesses across the world with phenomenal success…
Today I use the framework to help business owners like you get more profit, more time, and more flexibility from your business.
If you want to learn about how the framework might help you and your business Book an appointment.
We’ll see if we’re a good fit to help you. If not we will try to recommend someone who can.
The 30-Minute Business Reset: How to Cut Through the Noise and Reclaim Your Focus
Most business owners feel like they’re constantly ‘on’—even after the tools are down. You’re juggling staff, chasing payments, and trying to plan for next month, but the constant mental gear changes are exhausting.
Real business clarity isn’t just a corporate buzzword; it’s the only way to stop reacting to problems and start leading. Here is the exact 30-minute reset we use to help you lift the mental fog and get back to what actually makes you money.
Your 10-Step Clarity Blueprint (30 Minutes)
Originally, this was a one-hour exercise. But who has that kind of time? We’ve distilled it into 30 minutes of high-impact focus. Rule #1: No Phone. No Laptop. No Distractions.
1. Clear Your Diary
Block out 30 minutes. Don’t “squeeze it in”—treat it like a high-value client meeting. This is a recurring appointment with your future success.
2. Find a “Zero-Noise” Zone
No phone, no tablet, no PC. If you need music to think, make sure it’s instrumental. Your brain needs space to breathe, not more input.
3. Go Old School
Use pen and paper only. There is a psychological connection between handwriting and problem-solving that a keyboard simply can’t match.
4. The 5-Minute “Future Think”
Spend the first 5 minutes just thinking about where you want to be. Don’t worry about the “how” yet. Just visualize the end game.
5. The Brain Dump (3-5 Mins)
Write down every thought, emotion, and frustration currently in your head. Do not plan yet. Just get the weight off your chest.
6. The 10-Minute Strategic Break
Walk away. Stretch, grab a coffee, or look out a window. This allows your subconscious to start processing the mess you just dumped on the paper.
7. Outcome Mapping (5 Mins)
Revisit your notes. Circle the 3 items that actually drive outcomes ($, hours saved, or stress reduction). These are your “Success Factors.”
8. Secure Your Thoughts
Put that piece of paper in a safe place. You’ve done the work; now let it sit.
9. The 48-Hour Review
Give it a day or two before you look again. Your subconscious will have “solved” half the problems while you were sleeping.
10. Prioritize and Execute
Now, and only now, you create the plan. What is the one thing you must do this week to move the needle?
Finding clarity is Step 1. Fixing the leaks is Step 2.
Now that you have the headspace to see the big picture, let’s look at the numbers. Most businesses find their biggest “clarity gap” is actually a pricing gap.
Want a second pair of eyes on your numbers? Book a free 15-minute Profit Audit.
We’ll look at your top-level data together and find exactly where you’re losing profit.
Running a trade business is high-pressure work. While this 30-minute reset helps with business clarity, sometimes the weight of the “mental load” requires professional support. If you or someone in your team is struggling, please reach out to professional mental health support services immediately.
TIACS (Tradies in Tech): 0488 846 988 – Support specifically for tradies.
What Does a Business Growth Consultant Do? (Fixing the “Busy But Not Profitable” Problem)
You’ve got work coming in.
Your team’s busy.
You’re doing the hours.
But somehow… the money in the bankdoesn’t reflect the effort.
That’s usually the point where business owners start asking:
“Do I need a business growth consultant… and what do they actually do?”
Quick Answer: What does a business growth consultant do?
A business growth consultant helps a business improve profit by identifying where money is being lost and fixing the parts of the business that affect pricing, delivery, cash flow, and growth.
That can include:
working out which jobs, services, or customers are actually profitable
improving pricing so each job supports profit properly
reducing inefficiencies that leak time and margin
improving cash flow so profit shows up in the bank, not just on paper
helping the business focus on the right work, not just more work
In simple terms, a business growth consultant helps turn hard work into better financial results.
A simple way to think about it…
If your business feels busy but the profit is not there, a business growth consultant helps you work out why — and what needs to change first.
What is a business growth consultant?
A business growth consultant is someone who helps business owners improve profit, cash flow, pricing, and overall business performance by identifying where money is being lost and fixing it.
That might involve looking at numbers, pricing, operations, delivery, job structure, or how cash is moving through the business.
The goal is not just more activity. The goal is a better business — one that works harder for the owner, not the other way around.
Who usually looks for a business growth consultant?
Business owners usually start looking into this when things feel busy, but the results don’t match the effort.
That might sound like:
“We’re flat out, but profit still feels too thin.”
“We’re doing more work, but cash is still tight.”
“I know we’re working hard, but I’m not sure what’s actually making money.”
“We’ve grown, but it still feels messy.”
“I want more freedom from the business, but I can’t see a clear path.”
If that sounds familiar, the issue usually isn’t lack of effort. It’s lack of clarity around where profit is being made, lost, or delayed.
What does a business growth consultant actually do in real life?
1. Finds where profit is being lost
Most business owners don’t have a clear view of:
what their work really costs to deliver
which jobs or services are making money
how much time is disappearing into non-billable work
where margin is being lost through poor structure or inefficiency
The first step is making that visible.
Because when the numbers aren’t clear, it’s easy to stay busy without building real profit.
2. Fixes pricing — but not the way most people think
This is where many business owners get nervous.
They hear “pricing” and think it just means putting prices up.
That’s not the point.
Good pricing is not about picking a bigger number and hoping people will pay it.
And value-based pricing does not mean charging whatever you want just because you’ve heard the service is valuable.
Good pricing sits in the middle of three things:
what it actually costs you to deliver the work
the value the customer sees in what you do
how well your business actually delivers that service
If one of those is off, pricing usually won’t hold.
So yes, pricing is a big lever — but only when it is built properly.
Even if pricing is right, profit can still disappear through delivery problems.
That might include:
rework
poor estimating
inefficient processes
jobs taking longer than expected
extra effort that never gets charged for
This is one of the biggest misconceptions in growth.
It’s not always a pricing problem.
Sometimes it’s a delivery problem.
And often it’s both.
4. Improves cash flow
You can be profitable on paper and still feel broke.
That usually comes down to things like:
invoicing too late
poor payment timing
jobs structured badly for cash flow
not seeing gaps coming soon enough
A business growth consultant should help improve not just profit, but how and when cash actually lands in the bank.
5. Helps the business focus on the right work
Not all work is equal.
Some jobs run smoothly, pay well, and fit the business properly.
Other work creates stress, eats time, and leaves very little behind.
A good consultant helps the business understand:
what good work looks like
what should be fixed
what should be priced differently
and what might need to be let go
When should you hire a business growth consultant?
You should usually look at hiring a business growth consultant when the business is active, but the results are not flowing through the way they should.
That often happens when:
you are working hard but not seeing enough profit
cash flow feels tighter than it should
the business has grown but become harder to manage
you cannot clearly see which jobs, services, or customers are making money
you feel stuck in the day-to-day and cannot step back properly
It is usually better to get help before things become overwhelming.
In many cases, the earlier you identify where profit is leaking, the easier it is to fix.
What a business growth consultant does not do
A good business growth consultant is not just there to hand over a shiny report and disappear.
They should not be:
giving generic advice with no link to your numbers
focused only on revenue with no attention to profit
pushing growth without fixing the structure underneath it
telling you to “just charge more” without understanding value and delivery
selling theory that sounds good but is hard to apply in the real world
Why business owners stay stuck
Most business owners don’t have a motivation problem.
They’re already working hard.
What’s often missing is a clear link between effort and profit.
That’s why so many businesses end up in the same frustrating spot:
more work
more pressure
more complexity
but not enough left over at the end
How to choose the right business growth consultant
If you’re considering working with one, look for someone who can help you understand:
what your business is actually making
where profit is being lost
what needs to be fixed first
and how those changes will be implemented in the real world
It also helps if they:
can explain things clearly, without hiding behind jargon
focus on practical results, not just ideas
have experience with businesses like yours
are willing to look at both numbers and operations
care about outcomes, not just deliverables
Credibility matters too
This is exactly the kind of work I do with business owners every week.
I’m a Chartered Accountant, but I don’t do tax returns or compliance work.
I work with service and trade business owners to break down:
what their jobs are actually making per hour
where profit is being lost
and how to fix it in a practical way
Over the years, I’ve seen the same pattern again and again:
business owners working hard… but not seeing the return in their bank account.
Want to see what this looks like in your business?
If you’re curious what this looks like in your business, I can take a look at one of your recent jobs and show you what it actually made per hour.
No pressure — just a clear picture of where things are at.
A business growth consultant helps a business improve profit and performance by identifying problems in pricing, delivery, cash flow, structure, and growth strategy.
What does a business growth consultant do for small businesses?
For small businesses, a business growth consultant usually helps improve profit, cash flow, job or service pricing, delivery efficiency, and decision-making clarity.
Is a business growth consultant the same as a business coach?
Not always. A business coach may focus more on mindset, accountability, or leadership, while a business growth consultant is often more focused on solving practical business problems and improving measurable business results.
When should a business owner hire a business growth consultant?
Usually when the business is busy but not profitable enough, when cash flow feels tighter than it should, when growth feels messy, or when the owner wants clearer answers about what is and is not working.
Can a business growth consultant help with pricing?
Yes — but good pricing work is not just about increasing prices. It should consider delivery cost, customer value, positioning, and whether the business can consistently deliver what it is promising.
Can a business growth consultant help if the problem is operations, not pricing?
Yes. In many businesses, poor delivery, inefficiency, rework, or bad job structure are just as damaging as poor pricing. A good consultant should be able to look at both.
Typically we think of KPI in a business sense but that is not the only place they are used. We use them in sports e.g. batting/bowling averages for example.
Whilst “Key” is designed to focus on a specific outcome, “Performance” is focused on the execution of the action to accomplish that outcome. This means a single KPI must be measuring both the execution and the outcome.
Note: A few (4-6 only) very targeted KPI metrics in your business are far better than a scattergun approach trying to cover all scenarios.
There are literally thousands of KPI out there but about 99% of them are not effective. Either because the people trying to impact the KPI doesn’t understand it or they simply don’t address the crucial aspects of the business.
Bob and Joan are both salespeople at ABC company. Bob is old school, and although almost retired he has not let up at all. He achieves the highest amount of sales every month. He has a lot of connections within the industry and makes sales primarily through face-to-face meetings, coffees, lunches, and the like.
If Bob could do $500 per hour he would make $100,000 of sales ($20,000 more) each month.
In our KPI examples (this list is the exact KPI our clients use within our profit growth Framework), we focus on the analytical, non-emotional triggers because we can measure them.
KPI dashboards are a great visual tool to help everyone in your business see exactly where things are at. You can see the progression over time and a good dashboard will clearly show the target you are trying to achieve.
(See how difficult it is to read the report compared to the KPI dashboard.)
