As you start your new business, you'll be asked many, many (did I say "many"?) times, "What do you DO for a living?", "What business are you in?". I'm sure you have passion about your new enterprise, you're highly skilled, extremely qualified ... but you stammer and stutter and can't quite come up with a blurb that sounds professional as well as showing your great enthusiasm for your business.

Being able to clearly state your profile is often called an "elevator" pitch (it has to be able to be stated when you're in an elevator before doors open!), a "sales" pitch, a "30 second" or "3 minute" speech or spiel ...

What's secret of elevator pitch?

Well, it helps if you can clearly and concisely explain what your business does - in a maximum of 3 minutes. Remember - NO negative words, only positive words! Fill in form on page, show it to friends & associates, revise it, say it over and over until it comes easily off tongue ... and won't that impress new people you meet!

................................................ What are benefits? ................................................

It costs you nothing, it helps clarify WHO you are and WHAT you do, it attracts new customers, and shows how professional you are in regard to your business.

"I'm shy!" I hear you say ... If you're trying to find new customers, you have to learn to be confident - you don't have time to be shy ... follow steps listed below and fine-tune your pitch, repeat it often until you sound great! Test it on friends, family, business associates - listen to their suggestions and rewrite until it's just right.

Suggestion :: type it or write it on back of business card or something small to keep in your wallet, where you can see it often and practice it.

................ SAMPLE ................ Good morning, I'm Debbie Goodie-TwoShoes and I am owner of Tappitty Tap Tap Shoes. I provide smallest tap dancing shoes in country. I've reached a new audience of pet actors and people from all walks of life. My tap shoes for pets provide hours of fun for audiences in theatres and in movies. ................ end sample ................

Think you can do better than this? Give it a shot ...

................................................ Let's get started! ................................................

1. Who are you?

By Christopher Raynal www.masteraccountants.co.nz

________________________________________ One of decisions that all businesses have to make not long after starting up is when and if to register for GST.

The first consideration is do you have to register? In New Zealand, threshold is turnover or sales of $40 000, while it is $50 000 in Australia. However, that does not have to be end of story.

If business is profitable, and it registers for GST, it will be likely to pay GST to taxation authority. Being profitable is not a bad thing. Quite to contrary. However, it does change scenario from a loss-making business, where you might choose to register for GST in order to claim GST refunds. This provides another source of capital for a growing, loss-making business. This was subject of an earlier article.

Your business competes with other businesses. If your turnover or sales are close to threshold, or not far past it, you might consider not registering for GST. In case of being over threshold of $40 000 for New Zealand, or $50 000 for Australia, you might consider breaking up your business into two discrete business units.

If your business is competing with larger businesses that have to pay GST, imagine benefit to your business if you can offer a price that does not include GST? Or imagine if you charge same price as other businesses but do not pay GST. The unpaid GST component represents increased profit.