FREE GUIDE · MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
The Small Business Health Check
A plain-English checklist to help Australian small business owners work out what's actually working, what isn't, and where to focus next. No jargon. No sales pitch dressed up as advice. Just the questions a good consultant would ask on day one.
How to use this checklist
There are 30 statements across six areas of the business. For each one, tick it if it's honestly true today. Don't count "we're planning to" or "kind of". At the end, add up your ticks and use the guide below to see where you sit.
1. Strategy & direction
If you can't explain the business simply, neither can your customers. Start here.
- You can describe what the business does in one clear sentence.
- You know who your best customers are — and who isn't a fit.
- You have written goals for the next 6–12 months (not just in your head).
- You know which products or services actually make money.
- You review results at least quarterly, not only at tax time.
2. Operations & delivery
Messy operations quietly cap growth and burn out the owner. Look for the friction.
- Core processes (quoting, onboarding, invoicing, delivery) are documented somewhere other than your head.
- The business can run for a week without you making every decision.
- You use one system of record for customers — not spreadsheets, email and memory.
- Repeat tasks are automated or templated where possible.
- Staff know what's expected without having to ask you each time.
3. Website & digital presence
Your website is often the first impression. It should earn trust in seconds.
- Your website loads quickly on a phone (under 3 seconds).
- A first-time visitor can tell what you do and who it's for within 5 seconds.
- There's an obvious next step on every page (call, book, quote, contact).
- Contact details, hours and service area are correct and easy to find.
- You own your domain, hosting and content — not a former agency or ex-staff member.
4. SEO & visibility
If people can't find you, the rest doesn't matter. This is the highest-leverage area for most SMEs.
- Your business appears when you search your name + suburb on Google.
- Your Google Business Profile is claimed, complete and has recent reviews.
- Each key service has its own page with a clear title and description.
- You know the top 5 keywords your customers actually use to find you.
- You've checked what your top 2–3 competitors rank for that you don't.
5. Marketing & content
Consistent beats clever. A simple rhythm outperforms an occasional big push.
- You publish something (post, email, update) at least monthly.
- You collect email addresses from interested customers, not just social followers.
- Testimonials and case studies are visible on the site, not buried.
- You can point to at least one marketing channel that reliably brings enquiries.
- You measure enquiries and conversions, not just likes and traffic.
6. Finance & risk
You don't need a CFO — but you do need to know the numbers that matter.
- You know your monthly break-even figure.
- You review cash flow at least monthly.
- You have backups of key data (customers, files, financials).
- Key logins and accounts aren't tied to one person's personal email.
- You have basic insurance appropriate to what you do.
Your score
Add up your ticks out of 30.
Want a second set of eyes on your results?
If a few of those statements gave you pause, that's usually where the real leverage is. I offer a paid business or digital health check for Melbourne SMEs — a proper look at strategy, operations, website and visibility, with plain-English recommendations you can actually act on.