

Owner To Owner Podcast
Michael Kerr
Owner to Owner is the boldest business podcast for Australia’s SMEs. Host Michael Kerr gets raw and real, talking to business owners like you. Exploring the everyday struggles they face and the different pathways they tread to success. Forget the slick stories of tech titans and out-of-reach solutions from people who’ve never put their hopes and livelihood on the line. Owner to Owner dives into the wins and losses, pitfalls, luck and moments that made a difference.
You’ll find grit, laughs, maybe a few tears and hard-won lessons only available from others who’ve been where you are—whatever your stage of ownership.
Every business owner has a compelling story to share. Join us to listen and learn.
You’ll find grit, laughs, maybe a few tears and hard-won lessons only available from others who’ve been where you are—whatever your stage of ownership.
Every business owner has a compelling story to share. Join us to listen and learn.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 3, 2020 • 28min
Kerry Anderson, regional Agent-For-Change, explains how regional communities can become more sustainable.
Business, and especially small business, is central to the ongoing sustainability and vitality of regional and rural communities. Getting it right requires a community-led, and 'whole of community' approach. Kerry Anderson www.kerryanderson.com.au and @ruralentrepreneurs is an author, speaker, and facilitator. In 2018 she was named as one of Australia's Top 50 Regional Agents-for-Change. Her mission is to empower businesses, groups and communities to embrace change and take control of their own destiny.Kerry champions the critical role business plays in regional and rural communities. She encourages a 'whole of community' approach in dealing with local businesses as a better way to ensure long-term viability for everyone in the community.In this episode we talk about;why you shouldn't put all your business eggs in the big business basket! Or put another way, why encouraging a strong, local, #smallbusiness eco-system is a better, less risky strategy for the communityher approach to helping communities take control of their destiny, from working with school students, local community groups, local government as well as #smallbusinesses her current optimism for #smallbusiness in #regionalaustraliawhat she has learned from studying how local communities engage with their local #smallbusinesses in the USA how learned innovation (from overcoming past challenges) will continue to help businesses adaptthe pathway to #selfemployment in #ruralandregionalaustralia by buying an existing business or starting a new onewhy 'Entrepreneurship: It's Everybody's Business' the title of her 2016 book really sums it up
Thanks for listening. Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au

Sep 26, 2020 • 28min
Joh Lyons from Gippsland Social Enterprise Collective talks about social entrepreneurs solving societal problems
Joh Lyons @johblogs from Gippsland Social Enterprise Collective @gippsend talks about how #SocialEnterprise enable entrepreneurs to solve societal problems while creating sustainable jobs and businesses.Joh is based in Traralgon. She has a diversified professional career spanning teaching, running small businesses and being actively involved in the #socialenterprise, #notforprofit and #forpurpose sectors.In the episode we cover;Some of the successful social enterprises operating in the La Trobe ValleyConnecting purpose with businessCreating your own job in the face of a difficult traditional employment marketThe opportunities for social entrepreneurs of all ages - from school leavers to baby boomersThe natural life cycle of social enterprises and how founders deal with that for the benefit of the businessThe need for succession planning for social enterprises
Thanks for listening. Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au

Sep 20, 2020 • 28min
Andrew Clements, Chair, Employee Ownership Aust. on using employee ownership for greater business success.
Employee Ownership has many advantages that can result in greate business success. It's a major opportunity for both owners of SMEs and employees. Andrew Clements is a legal consultant in the global law firm King & Wood, Mallesons and Chair, Employee Ownership Australia . He has over 30 years’ experience in relation to both the tax and legal issues associated with employee share schemes. He is also the current chair of Employee Ownership Australia (EOA). EOA is an independent not-for-profit member-based organisation promoting employee ownership in Australia. More recently Andrew appeared before the Parliamentary Inquiry into Employee Ownership Australia by the Tax and revenue committee.In this episode Andrew talks about;The use of employee ownership in both established and start-up businessesHow owners can use employee ownership;To improve business performance through greater employee engagement, collaboration, and a shared visionAs part of their planning to exit the business, either partially or totallyHow employees can benefitHow businesses using employee ownership are better placed to survive challenging business conditionsThe UK's experience with employee ownershipEmployee Ownership Australia has a wealth of resources on their site to help owners and employees.https://employeeownership.com.au/https://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-publications/staff-research-papers/the-performance-and-characteristics-of-australian-firms-with-employee-share-schemeshttps://employeeownership.co.uk/http://employeeownership.com.au/eoa/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/nuttall-report.pdf
Thanks for listening. Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au

Sep 14, 2020 • 28min
Rob Pierce, CEO Wrays, on how Intellectual Property (IP) underpins business success.
Intellectual Property isn't just for big companies. IP can make your small business more successful and more valuable.IP can be as simple as a logo, and as complex as a radical new manufacturing process.Rob PIerce is the CEO of Wrays International and an Intellectual Property (IP) expert. He breaks down IP into it's simplest form. He defines what IP is and explains why you need an IP strategy, just like you need one for marketing.A well-executed IP strategy can make a small business more profitable, more valuable and easier to sell, when the time comes. If you think you or your business has something special or unique, or you're considering starting a new business based on a unique idea or process or business model then it's worth creating an IP strategy. And the key steps to get started on your IP strategy are;IdentifyCaptureProtectManagehttps://www.wrays.com.au/And remember to contact Wrays for a free half hour consultation. Tell them Michael and David from www.smallbusinessbanter.com sent you!https://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/understanding-iphttps://www.australianmade.com.au/
Thanks for listening. Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au

Sep 14, 2020 • 28min
David Gregory, CEO SBMS, on using an external mentor to improve your small business.
Small Business Mentoring Service (SBMS) has 180+ experienced mentors available to help small business owners. SBMS CEO, David Gregory provides a rundown on the low cost services offered and how to access them. SBMS matches current business owners, in need of some expert advice or support, with 180 uniquely experienced business mentors who are a mix of retired and still active business owners and executives. SBMS now has mentors in most states of Australia providing marketing, financial and planning advice to help;Start a businessGrow a businessRun a businesshttps://www.sbms.org.au/https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/
Thanks for listening. Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au

Sep 14, 2020 • 28min
Anthony Turner from SBMS on surviving a small business disaster.
Small business is harder than it has ever been. One disaster after another. Practical tips for surviving from an experienced mentor and past business owner.Anthony Turner from Small Business Mentoring Service co-authored **Are U Ready? Surviving Small Business Disaster ** a valuable resource for any small business owner in understanding the important steps that can be taken to protect their business from disaster.Anthony has experienced first hand the highs and lows of owning and running a small business. He has also mentored over one thousand other owners. In this episode Anthony shares his personal wisdom and practical advice to help owners better deal with the up's and down's and we specifically discuss;1. Taking time in this current environment to re-evaluate your business to ensure it is still relevant to your customers and to identify what needs to change2. The importance of financial budgeting and making sure owners understand what the business needs to deliver to support the owners lifestyle3. Why it's important for owners to reach out to customers, suppliers and some of the other large number of support services available, to look after their own mental health and wellbeing4. How owners can restructure their business operations to make it easier to run and more profitable5. Anthony's experiences that led to him co-authoring the Victorian and National Resilience Australia Awards winning book - available herehttps://www.sbms.org.au/are-u-ready.html6. The potential opportunities that can arise from disasters7. Where owners can go for further information (links below)https://www.sbms.org.au/free-resourceshttps://www.ato.gov.au/general/covid-19/https://www.business.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19/business-support/coronavirus-business-informationbb.org.au/SupportingSmallBusiness
Thanks for listening. Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au


