At Shanahan Swaffield Partners we pride ourselves on offering value-added services and advice to keep clients on top of their businesses and ahead of their competitors.

SSP Business Services Pty Ltd, managed by Rhonda Jones, our Business Development Manager, will focus on helping to drive your business to greater heights.

We work with YOU to build and grow YOUR business.

Government and other Grant Applications - These applications can be complex and time consuming. Whether the application is for Interest Subsidy for a drought affected primary producer or a COMET application through AusIndustry for a new and emerging company, our staff are experienced and we charge a flat rate based on the application.

SSP Business Services Pty Ltd is now an ecoBiz Facilitator. Recently Rhonda Jones attended training and SSP Business Services Pty Ltd entered into an agreement with the Qld Government Dept of Environment and Resource Management to become an ecoBiz Facilitator.

SSP Central Qld Business Cluster - SSP Business Services Pty Ltd was recently successful in applying for a ClimateSmart Business Cluster. As a result Rhonda Jones has been appointed ClimateSmart Business Cluster Leader and is working closely with 20 small business clients to ascertain their current environmental footprint and to look at ways to reduce that footprint in the future.

Business Management and Development Plans - Many businesses plan to fail by FAILING TO PLAN.

• If you are looking for finance to expand your business or looking for government grants to assist with exporting or just want to control your business management - you need a business management and development plan.
• If you are a rural client and are looking towards climate change and drought management – you need a business management and development plan.
• If you see a value in the intellectual property of yourself and your staff in your business and need to record this information for future successors – you need a business management and development plan.

Business Analysis - Are your sales increasing, new business coming through the door but you are still battling to make ends meet? Your overheads increasing, the taxman knocking on your door and you can’t seem to see the light at the end of the tunnel? Struggle to understand the financials? You are not alone. We can help... by analysing and assisting you to understand the impact of your decisions on your financials, managing your cash flow and prepare a Business Plan.

Business & Industry Benchmarking - In sport, in life and in business, we set targets. These targets - or benchmarks - focus our energy and attention. They guide our decision-making. Gradually we get closer to achieving the target. Benchmarking can show business owners the right targets to aim for: margins, costs or productivity. Any business can improve - achieve a ‘personal best’ - and in doing so, become WINNERS.

Business Valuations - Whatever the reason you need a valuation of your business it is essential that this is accurate and up to date. By utilising the most up to date industry benchmarks and data available our professionals can provide you with a valuation for your business.

Succession Planning and Facilitation - Recent US figures reveal that almost 90% of companies are family owned, yet only 30% of family run companies extend to the second generation and only 15% survive to the third generation. The reason for this is solely put down to the lack of succession planning.

It is estimated that over the next six years more than half of all family business CEOs will retire yet two thirds of these CEOs have not identified their successor and only one quarter have a documented succession plan in place. Whether your eventual goal is ownership succession (selling the business) or management succession (finding a new CEO but retaining ownership and some level of income) you will need to structure the company so that it can function without you.

The best and most effective succession plan is to record intellectual property for future use – whether it is on a farm or in a business – you need a Business Management and Development Plan.

Other Services offered

Fire Evacuation Plans - from 1 July 2009 all businesses will need to have a physical Fire Evacuation Plan and hold at least two fire drills a year. To assist business owners we are offering to assist in this area – we will consult with you and draw up your evacuation plan for a small fee. Please contact us for more information.

SEEDS OF A GOOD SUCCESSION PLAN MUST BE SOWN EARLY FOR THE BEST OUTCOME TO BE ACHIEVED.