Running a small business in Australia comes with unique challenges. Tyson Orth, who’s built multiple
businesses, regularly receives questions from small business owners looking for practical guidance. Tyson
Orth’s answers to small business questions come from direct experience managing teams, operations, and
growth.
In this piece, Tyson Orth addresses the most common questions small business owners ask. If you’re
managing a small business, Tyson Orth’s insights on these questions offer practical solutions.
QUESTION 1: HOW DO I COMPETE WITH LARGER COMPETITORS?
Tyson Orth’s answer to this competitive business question:
Don’t compete on price. Compete on what big companies struggle with: personalization, agility, and culture.
Tyson Orth’s approach in Australia to competing shows that small businesses have advantages larger
competitors lack.
Tyson Orth recommends small businesses:
✓ Build stronger customer relationships: Know customers personally
✓ Be more responsive: Make decisions faster than big companies
✓ Create distinctive culture: People work for you because they want to
✓ Specialize: Focus on specific customer segment or service
✓ Deliver exceptional service: Big companies struggle with this
Tyson Orth’s perspective: Your size is an advantage if you use it right. Compete on what you can actually win
at, not where big companies dominate.
QUESTION 2: HOW DO I MANAGE CASH FLOW?
Tyson Orth’s answer to this critical business question:
Cash flow is more important than profit. Tyson Orth’s experience managing multiple businesses shows that
many failures are cash flow failures, not profitability failures.
Tyson Orth recommends cash flow practices:
✓ Track daily: Know your cash position every day
✓ Invoice aggressively: Get paid on time, charge late fees
✓ Manage payables: Negotiate terms with suppliers
✓ Keep cash reserve: 3-6 months of operating expenses
✓ Monitor closely: Cash flow problems appear with warning signs
Tyson Orth’s insight: Profitable businesses fail from poor cash management. Prioritize cash flow above
profitability in early stages.
QUESTION 3: SHOULD I KEEP WEARING ALL THE HATS OR DELEGATE?
Tyson Orth’s answer to this operational business question:
Delegate the things that don’t require your unique expertise. Tyson Orth’s philosophy on delegation is that
your time is most valuable when focused on high-value activities.
Tyson Orth recommends thinking about delegation:
✓ Identify your unique value: What only you can do?
✓ Document other tasks: Make them teachable
✓ Delegate progressively: Start small, build confidence
✓ Invest in training: Time to teach pays dividends
✓ Give clear expectations: People succeed with clarity
Tyson Orth’s perspective: Wearing all hats limits growth. Delegation is how you scale beyond your personal
capacity.
QUESTION 4: HOW DO I IMPROVE CUSTOMER RETENTION?
Tyson Orth’s answer to this revenue business question:
Retention comes from consistently exceeding expectations. Tyson Orth’s experience building businesses
shows that keeping customers is cheaper and more profitable than acquiring new ones.
Tyson Orth recommends for retention:
✓ Deliver on promises consistently: Reliability builds trust
✓ Ask for feedback: Understand what customers actually want
✓ Surprise with service: Go beyond what’s expected
✓ Build relationships: Customers stay for people, not just service
✓ Measure satisfaction: Track retention metrics actively
Tyson Orth’s insight: Your business is built on repeat customers. Treat retention as important as acquisition.
QUESTION 5: WHEN IS IT TIME TO HIRE PROFESSIONAL HELP?
Tyson Orth’s answer to this growth business question:
When the cost of not hiring is higher than the cost of hiring. Tyson Orth’s approach to bringing in professional
expertise shows that strategic hiring accelerates growth.
Tyson Orth recommends considering professional help when:
✓ You lack expertise: Accounting, legal, marketing—areas where mistakes are costly
✓ Your time is bottleneck: Professional takes work off your plate
✓ Growth requires scale: You can’t do everything yourself
✓ ROI is clear: Hire when investment pays back clearly
✓ Quality matters significantly: Professional delivers better results
Tyson Orth’s perspective: Hiring professional help is investment, not expense. It should multiply your capacity
and returns.