Constructive Legal Solution – Hentys Lawyers
Do you know about this FREE small business lifeline?
If you are a small business owner, did you know that you are entitled to a 30-minute discussion that could potentially alleviate some of your business management woes?
Ok, let’s start from the beginning…
Chatfield OzCool’s dedication to Small Business support
Russell Chatfield, is a longstanding member (and current board member) of NECA Victoria. With this alignment, Russell is passionate about sharing resources that are available to Victorian Small Business Owners.
In an economic climate where a lot of tradies’ are currently doing it tough, now more than ever, we want to share any tips and advice available that could give Small Business Owners a helping hand.
Who are Constructive Legal Solutions?
Constructive Legal Solutions (CLS-Hentys Lawyers) is an organisation backed by NECA Victoria, that specifically offers legal support and guidance for Victorian Small Business Owners or Sole Traders, that operate within the construction, electrotechnical and trades industries.
This means CLS understands the stress and potential complications that can come with running a small business or working as a sole trader.
With unique industry knowledge, they can offer their legal expertise to fill the skills gap many small businesses face. With matters such as compliance, wages, insurance claims, work conditions, HR, cash flow and disputes; it can often be hard for business owners to find the time to focus on these issues, while cyclical projects need to be kept on track.
When these matters are not addressed or handled correctly at the outset, they can snowball into bigger more complicated problems down the track, which can in turn, add to the stress and overwhelm that comes with owning a business.
How do Constructive Legal Solutions work with small business tradies?
By understanding the ins and outs of operating as a small business or sole trader in this industry, CLS can offer practical and suitable guidance and solutions, without judgement.
CLS understand that business owners face worries outside of the practical project scope, such as cashflow, compliance, dealing with clients, managing people, struggling to keep up with admin and falling into the habit of ‘glove compartment bookkeeping’ – i.e. shoving all receipts and paperwork into the glovebox of the work van, and hoping that one day you will find the time to sort it out.
They get it. It’s not a priority of the day-to-day running of a small business; that is, until something goes wrong.
Where do you start, when your small business faces a crisis?
A crisis for a small business can take many different forms, from a major customer failing to pay a bill, the ATO breathing down your neck or a workplace injury. While not big problems at the start, if not handled promptly and correctly they can lead to major business interruption down the track.
The best way to avoid or minimise a small business crisis? Take the time to ensure your business is compliant, and then you can work with certainty.
By utilising the expertise of an organisation that is knowledgeable in this area (such as CLS), you can put simple systems in place, for peace of mind, allowing you to focus on the work at hand.
How do Sole Traders and Small Business Owners access this legal advice and knowledge?
All NECA Victoria members already have access to a 30-minute free phone session with Constructive Legal Services. There is a link on the NECA Victoria website, where you can send an enquiry, and then you will be booked in for a one-on-one session with someone from CLS, to get an idea of your current business concerns, and suggest a path forward.
Sometimes it can be something as simple as setting you up with an online accounting tool that can streamline your payroll and bookkeeping. The admin and clerical requirements of running a small business can snowball into a regular daunting task, so by simplifying the process along the way, you no longer waste precious time trying to retrace your cash flow going in and out of the business.
Case Study Example:
A customer hasn’t paid their bill for months and is ignoring your reminders.
CLS can act on your behalf to start the debt collection process.
The first step: CLS would reach out to your debtor and let them know they are assisting you with the debt collection process. Often, when a debtor hears from another company, they realise that you are serious about recouping the payment, and this alone can prompt action from a debtor.
If the initial contact has not resulted in payment, the next steps would be to issue a “Letter of Demand” on your behalf. This letter will usually have 7-day payment terms with statutory demands. This step will prompt negotiations from the debtor, and re-open the lines of communication, leading to payment resolution.
For a small business or sole trader, chasing outstanding debts can lead to hours of wasted time as well as frustration and stress once cashflow is strained. With the assistance of CLS, you will have someone on your side, who can take this off your plate, freeing you up to focus on other areas of your business where your time is better utilised.
How much does Legal and Consulting Services from CLS cost?
For all NECA Victoria Members, the first introductory 30-minute phone call is free.
This gives you the opportunity to discover where this service might be able to help your business, without any financial outlay.
The point of difference for CLS is that they don’t have lock-in contracts, so you can just utilise their knowledge, based on your needs at the time.
For ongoing support, they offer Tiered services, so depending on the level of help needed, they can advise what solution would be best for your moving forward, as well as associated costs, if you would like to proceed after your initial phone call.
Why wait? Utilise the free phone call service and gain clarity on your circumstance.
Why are Chatfield OzCool sharing this information? (This is not an ad – merely sharing a useful resource)
Chatfield OzCool cares about small business owners and tradies’ mental health. With their support for TIACS / Trade Mutt over the years, they understand the toll running a business can have on industry peers. So, by sharing useful resources, they hope to help fellow tradies navigate tricky business operations. They also hope to keep people working within the industry, by fortifying small businesses, allowing the industry to grow and continue to support the next generation of tradies.
The team at Chatfield OzCool are proud members of NECA Vic and are also available to assist with cooling and refrigeration equipment service and repairs. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
If you would like to find out how we could help you, please give the team at Chatfield OzCool a call on 1300 361 186.
Click here to see what other services Chatfield OzCool can offer.