Innovest SME Business Mastery Program
6-day SME Business Mastery Certification Course
2 day Business Ownership Practitioner Certification
Pre-Requisite included in Course, total 8 days.
Business Ownership?
The #1 one reason for business failures is NOT trading losses or lack of capital; it’s the lack of essential business skills.
This lack ultimately causes 96% of new businesses to fail in the first ten years of business.
Whilst the most successful business owners are reading 60 or more business books a year, the average business owner reads none…
Why? Because he or she is too busy putting out fires all the while struggling with cash flow that barely keeps them afloat.
Now even with over 2 million small businesses in Australia, there isn’t any certication available for Business Ownership, UNTIL NOW.
What exactly do we mean by essential ‘Business Skills’?
Mastery Curriculum
Innovest Co-working space
An open plan professional co-working space is made available to our members at a subsidised rate. In addition, residents will have access to educational lectures, networking, meet-ups and Masterminds.
Co-working allows for dynamic interaction between resident companies, provides a vibrant social experience and optimises opportunities for collective support and input to SME members from mentors and management.
Innovest co-working space is located at Innovest Head Office in Kingsgrove in Sydney’s inner west
Want a copy of our Business Success for Life book? Request one below
Case Study
Rick Chisholm
Tala Chisholm
We are Rick and Tala Chisholm, separate people,separate skill sets. We have founded and run over 35 small to medium businesses over the last 30 years. Between the two of us, the direct sales revenue has well exceeded $300 million. Our experience spans across many different industries including Retail, Wholesale, Importing, Manufacturing, Installations, Hospitality, Franchising, Rental and e-commerce. If there was anyone that has tried and tested small business, it is us two!
A few years ago, our businesses were turning just under $20mil per year and were the market leaders in their niche. And then, the GFC hit. Bricks and mortar retail was hit by online businesses and our importing was hit by eBay, Amazon, Alibaba and factories drop shipping from China directly. Discretionary spending plummeted and the future of the businesses looked bleak.
After a gruelling few years, we both managed to pull our businesses back out of difficulty. Not only did the businesses recover, we became significantly more profitable than we were before the GFC. Scoring a whopping $750k turnaround in profitability over a 4-year period, things finally looked up again. The dark circles under our eyes eventually dissolved and our stress levels resembled normality (this stuff is not magic, we’re still in business you know). So there you have it.
If there’s anyone out there who understands the struggles of business ups and downs, staff challenges, cashflow droughts and how to invent and re-invent your business, it would be us. Hands down!
Here are a few of the startups we have helped get off the ground:
Results?
The Mentors
Apart from the founders Rick Chisholm and Tala Chisholm, we have amassed a formidable team of mentors. Innovest mentors are experienced professional entrepreneurs from a variety of business backgrounds and industries. It is because of our highly relevant experience and mentor team that we are confident that you can find answers to most of your burning business questions and receive the critical feedback you need.
The Training
The Topics we have selected for the training are based on our extensive business experience. What
you learn has a direct relationship with where you’re at now. No nonsense or overload of irrelevant information is bothered with. At this stage of your business it is essential that you acquire the business skills to grow, leverage and scale. We give you all the tools to ensure that your effort, time and money are NOT going to be wasted making mistakes and that your path to success is CONSIDERABLY accelerated.
The Participants
You will join the training with like-minded similar-sized businesses who share your challenges and stresses. We believe that business owner have to be self motivated and whilst we do provide training and accountability ultimately the onus is on the business owner to make the hard decisions and not have his or her hand held every single step of the journey.
The Facilities & Resources
Along with training we also make available Co-working space, 3rd-party logistics warehousing, online training materials as well as access to our own team from VA’s, graphic designer, web developers, programmers, video editors, marketing specialists and social media experts. They can be made available to our members at subsidised rates.
Tom Hanly
Australian Business Edge
“I have known Rick Chisholm for a number of years professionally through his business interests as a leader in Australia’s audio- visual industry. Rick is direct and intense in his business dealings, as a person most passionate about his subject matter with a business knowledge which is extensive – including launching multiple businesses, creating a national franchise, engaging a significant team of staff, developing and launching retail models for distribution and online marketing”
Alex Tees
Lawyer and Entrepreneur | Legal Exchange
“Prepare to be dazzled by two amazing business growth specialists that have seen it all. They will inspire you to grow your business asset, bottom line and achieve your goals by leveraging the benefits that should come with being in business. Kick-Ass Growth Secrets is all about making more profits by genuinely solving customers’ needs and nurturing them for life. Kick Ass is loaded with straight forward examples and simple to execute strategies you can use immediately
Hayder Shkara
Neat Law | Olympic Athlete 2013-2016
“When you first start working with Rick, you’ll immediately feel his contagious energy. Rick gave me advice that had an immediate impact on my business. Over the past months, his guidance has been critical to the growth of my firm. I’ve had plenty of sports coaches, so working with a business coach made perfect sense to me. I’m happy to say that it has definitely paid off!
Veronica Avila
Co-owner | The Latin Store
“Rick helps us focus on what we’re good at, stay on course and implement new strategies, cut costs, and not make the same mistakes him himself made in his many businesses over the last thirty years. He also helped expand our wholesale arm by licensing our brand to other retailers whilst maintaining total control. He’s also taught us about the importance of KPl’s and how to formulate internal systems to reduce my time in the business so I can spend more time ON the business.
Rogelio Ernesto Moreno
ABC Squash and Fitness
“Rick has helped me concentrate on working on my business and to focus on the KPl’s and building a team instead of just working 80 hours a week in the business. The value in Rick as a coach is sitting down once a month and having to answer the hard questions about the business. He’s helped me cover areas of business such as our unique value proposition, who our customers really are, and what they really expect. He has so many strategies that cost absolutely nothing yet create fantastic results!
Raghid Alchikh
Australian Immigration Law Advice | Translator
“Rick has been my coach and mentor ever since I met him a few years ago.He has always been a great resource for me and helped me review my path many times along the way. I cannot thank him enough for his guidance and motivation. He has helped me with my business and personal development and I will owe him for a long time to come!
Before you apply
This is not a get rich scheme on our part (or yours for that matter) but a subsidised alternative to the airy-fairy soul-searching so-called business training where we get right down to business and give you realistic and actionable guidance. There is NO substitute for GRIT and desiring a business built on RESILIENCE. No amount of fist pumping, board breaking or fire walking can beat getting the job done in a no-fuss alternative on a budget, with real leadership and experience provided by your principals.
The SME businesses accepted into the program have usually been in business for a minimum of 2 years or have completed Innovest Accelerator. Often they will have staff and an existing revenue stream. INNOVEST SME Mastery is the ideal step in your business growth and scaling journey. We don’t take equity (or a financial share) of your business unless there has been a prior arrangement, which is not often.
The Innovest IP, processes, training, mentorship and leadership has as an SME Accelerator assisted and supported hundreds of SMEs. Lets Talk!
All applications need be submitted below
