A business advisor and coach who has sat in your chair
I help owners of service-based businesses across Adelaide and regional South Australia build businesses that run well, grow in value and don’t rely on them for everything.
Sound familiar?
You are growing a new business and being pulled in all sorts of directions. Marketing, pricing, managing growth, expenses, employing people … it is hard to do everything and prioritising what is most important is challenging.
You're the one everyone comes to. Every decision, every problem and every "quick question" lands on your desk. The business is doing well, but it can't seem to do much without you.
Your team has grown, but not quite on purpose. Roles have blurred, good people are stretched, and you're spending more time managing than leading.
You know where you want to go, or you think you do. The plan is in your head. Finding the time to turn it into something real is another matter.
One day you might think about selling. Maybe in three years, maybe in ten. You're just not sure where to start, or whether the business would be worth what you hope.
If any of these ring true, you're in good company. They're the things I hear most often from business owners, and I lived every one of them myself.
How I help business owners
Running a business can feel lonely and overwhelming at times. I help owners think it through and move forward.
Why I became a business advisor
In 1998 I co-founded a recruitment business from a home office with one desk, a computer and a corded phone. Installing a fax machine was an exciting next step!
Over the next 25 years we grew it into a successful agency. We worked through the dot-com boom, GFC, a pandemic and plenty of other economic ups and downs. Over time we built a team to help run the business and in 2023 we sold it.
Building a saleable business didn't happen by accident. It took years of building systems, developing people and letting go of things I'd held onto tightly. It's also exactly what made the business worth buying.
Now I help other owners do the same. I draw on that experience and on more than 15 years on boards. My advice isn't theory. It's what I've tested, got wrong, fixed and learned along the way.
Build a business that relies less on you
No business runs entirely without its owner. But many depend on the owner far more than they need to. Every decision waits for you, key clients only want to deal with you and much of what keeps the business running lives in your head.
Owner dependency wears you down and holds the business back. Over six months we work out where the business leans on you most and then we move it piece by piece to your systems and your team.
Program outline:
A four-hour first session: We map where the business relies on you, agree what to tackle first and set out a plan.
Monthly three-hour sessions: We work through your priorities one at a time. You put them into practice in between.
A review at month three: We look at what’s changed and adjust the plan.
Support between sessions: Phone or email when you need it.
A business that relies less on you is also worth more. If you sell one day you will be ready. If you don't you will have a stronger business and more of your time back.
Business coaching, exit planning and advisory
As a business advisor and coach based in Adelaide, I work with owners across the city
and regional SA, in person or online.
Business coaching
Regular, structured sessions that keep you focused, accountable and moving forward. A sounding board with real-world experience behind it.
Business exit planning
Whether you're selling in three years, in ten or you are not sure what your exit plan is, I'll help you create a blueprint to build a business that's more valuable and less dependent on you.
Hands-on business advisory
For a key project, a gap in your team or a period of change, sometimes you need experienced help inside the business. That's when I roll up my sleeves and work alongside you.
What business owners say
Client Testimonials
"Her warm approach, combined with her depth of knowledge and practical guidance, has helped me take my business to the next level… and most importantly, increasing profitability."
Leah
"She brings excellent structure to each session, asks exactly the right questions, and delivers advice and intelligence that genuinely moves the needle."
Georgi
"What I love most about Jane is her ability to walk into a storm, calmly assess the situation and hand you back a clear, simple path forward."
Rachel
If you’re not sure, that’s a great place to start. There’s no hard sell, just an honest conversation about where your business is and where you’d like it to go.
Jane Carey 0417 817 781