There’s a particular kind of tired that small-business owners know well. It’s not just long hours. It’s the mental load of wearing every hat at once, of knowing there are things you should be doing differently but not quite having the time or headspace to figure out what.
For a lot of people, it can happen so gradually you don’t notice it at first. You’re focused on keeping things moving, and somewhere along the way the bigger picture (where you actually want to take the business) gets pushed to the back.
That’s the gap the Thrive Program is designed to fill.
Run by Business Station and supported by the City of Cockburn, Thrive is a three-month business foundations program built specifically for small businesses. It’s a structured experience that covers the things business owners most often say they wish they’d understood earlier: financial management, marketing, growth planning, sales, operational efficiency. The full picture.
This year, 12 funded places are available for businesses based in the City of Cockburn with fewer than 20 employees. The program is valued at more than $2,400. Participants pay just $149 (+GST).
The workshops are held in person, not online. There’s something wonderful that happens in a room full of people working through similar challenges that you don’t really get from a recorded session. Conversations tend to go somewhere useful. People swap ideas. You realise you’re not the only one navigating whatever it is you’re navigating.
The three workshops run across three months, starting 11 June with Business Foundations and Direction, followed by Finance Clarity and Cash Flow on 2 July, and wrapping up with Marketing and Visibility on 6 August. Each one builds on the last, and between sessions there’s time to actually apply what you’ve learned.
The program covers a lot of ground: goal setting and action planning, sales and marketing optimisation, financial management and funding, business expansion, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability. It’s the kind of content that could change how you think about your business — not just how you run it day to day, but where you’re trying to get to.
Previous participants have already seen the benefits of the program.
"Thrive has taught me the difference between branding and marketing. I recommend this program to other sole traders to help review and grow."
Vera Ensor, Grazie
"The Thrive Program has been very helpful to start my business. Given me some great advice on how to move forward. I found it valuable being in a room with so many people who all bring different views and helpful tips."
Lisa Waterworth, LMW Kinesiology
If you’ve been thinking about doing something like this (or if someone has mentioned it to you more than once) it’s probably worth taking a look.
Expressions of interest are now open.
Apply now