Small business helpline
Small Business Helpline — Real Help When You Need It Most
Running a hospitality business is hard work — and sometimes, it can feel like you're doing it all alone. From staff issues to supplier costs, from dodgy ovens to slow weeks, the challenges are constant. And when you hit a wall, there’s not always someone you can turn to for real, hands-on help.
That’s why we created our Small Business Helpline — a support service that’s personal, practical, and built for hospitality business owners like you. No bots. No fluff. Just someone who understands your world and can help you get unstuck fast.
Supplier Support & Price Negotiation
One of the biggest ongoing challenges for small operators is keeping costs down without sacrificing quality. We can help you:
Review your supplier agreements
Negotiate better rates or terms
Find alternative suppliers who offer value without compromise
Optimise your ordering practices to reduce waste and overstocking
You don’t always need to switch suppliers — sometimes, a conversation with the right leverage can lead to a better deal. We’ve had years of experience doing this and know where there’s room to move.
Staffing Questions — Who to Hire and When
Hospitality teams are everything. But finding (and keeping) the right people is harder than ever. One common question we hear is:
“Do I hire young and inexperienced staff at lower wages, or pay more for experienced professionals?”
There’s no single answer. It depends on your model, your volume, your culture — and your capacity to train. Each option comes with pros and cons:
Inexperienced staff:
Lower wage cost
Moldable to your style
But… need more training and supervision
Experienced staff:
Faster, more efficient, less oversight
Can lead or take on responsibility
But… higher wages, sometimes stuck in their ways
We help you find the right mix — and just as importantly, keep that balance consistent over time. Hiring’s only part of the job. Retaining, training, and managing performance is where the real work begins.
Rent Negotiation & Landlord Conversations
Rent is one of your biggest fixed costs — and during tough periods, it can also be one of the hardest conversations to have.
Sometimes what a business needs is temporary rent relief, a restructured lease, or even just an honest conversation with your landlord to buy some breathing room. But let’s be honest — those chats can be unpleasant, intimidating, and emotionally draining.
That’s where we step in.
We can act as your bodyguard, your negotiator, your advisor — whatever role you need. We’re not afraid to have the tough conversations with agents or landlords on your behalf. And we know what landlords will (and won’t) respond to.
Sales & Profit — Finding the Right Balance
Without sales, you don’t have a business. But good sales numbers don’t always mean good profitability. We’ve seen businesses with strong revenue but low margins, high waste, or hidden costs that erode every dollar earned.
We’ll help you:
Identify sales opportunities that match your strengths
Optimise pricing and menu structure
Streamline costs without cutting quality
Focus on the numbers that matter most
Cost-cutting is not the goal. Cost-optimisation is.
You still need to deliver a great product, keep your staff happy, and provide value to customers. We’ll help you find that balance and adjust it as the market changes.
Online Presence — What Do You Really Need?
In today's market, your online presence is often your first impression. But what that needs to look like — and how much you should spend — depends on your business.
Let’s break it down:
Do you need social media?
Yes… but the right kind.
Social media can absolutely drive foot traffic, especially if you’re offering something visual or trend-friendly. But it also comes with time, strategy, and cost — whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring someone else.
We help you figure out:
Which platforms suit your business (e.g. Instagram for cafés, Facebook for local restaurants, TikTok for fast casual)
How to create simple content that works — without needing a marketing degree
Whether it’s worth outsourcing (and how much that should really cost)
How to track ROI — are your posts actually converting into bookings or sales?
Social media isn’t magic. It’s a tool — and we’ll help you use it with intention.
Do you need a website?
Probably, yes. Even a basic one.
If customers are Googling your venue and nothing comes up — or worse, old hours or menus from 2021 — you’re leaving money on the table. A clean, functional website adds trust, provides key info, and lets people make a decision faster.
We can help you:
Set up a simple, affordable website
Make sure your business details are accurate across the internet
Review your Google Business profile — it’s free, but it needs to be done right
What about branding — logo, signage, style?
This doesn’t need to be expensive — but it does need to feel consistent. Whether it's your menu design, your social profile picture, or your front window, first impressions matter.
We can help you:
Review your current branding with fresh eyes
Suggest improvements that are budget-friendly but high impact
Recommend designers or tools depending on your needs
Sometimes, a $200 sign or a repainted door does more than a $2,000 logo. We’ll help you decide what’s worth spending on — and what isn’t.
Fixing the Feel — High-Impact Improvements
You don’t need to gut your venue to give it a better vibe. Sometimes, it’s about the small things that customers notice first:
Lighting
Music volume
Seating layout
Table presentation
Menu readability
Entry signage or clutter
We offer hands-on help to improve your space — whether that’s suggesting layout changes, doing a visual audit, or working with your team to refresh the customer experience.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
This isn’t a call centre or a generic consultant who’s never run a venue. Our Small Business Helpline is real support — from someone who’s opened venues, hired teams, fired ovens, negotiated rent, chased invoices, and posted on socials from the stockroom.
Whatever’s stressing you — staffing, sales, suppliers, landlords, layout, branding — we’re here to help.
Sometimes you need advice. Sometimes you need backup. Sometimes you just need a win. We’re here for all of it.
Let’s get your business working better — for you.
