Kate Tongue is the Founder of Small Business Society, a Melbourne, Victoria-based company that provides Human Resources services to small to medium-sized businesses. 

Since 2011 Small Business Society has consistently provided simplified, valuable HR advice and a strategic approach to business owners and leaders who need empowerment to build a strong and thriving workforce that supports their business goals. 

For more information on Small Business Society, visit their website.

Today, we sit down with Kate to get some insights about her journey as an entrepreneur.

Q. What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?

Kate: I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, and from an early age, I had always wanted to follow in their footsteps. I was inspired by the struggles of small business owners and how they balanced various responsibilities while realising their dreams. I was convinced that I could use my expertise to support these diligent individuals, which eventually led me to the launchof Small Business Society.

Q. How did you get started?

Kate: The suggestion to start Small Business Society came from a colleague who was herself launching an accounting business. This suggestion coupled with my recent redundancy presented a timely opportunity. I got started immediately, deliberating over the business name, getting logos designed, and leaning on family and friends for early promotion.

Q. What was your biggest startup challenge? What steps did you take to overcome it? What did you learn?

Kate: My biggest challenge, even to this day, is managing cash flow. Despite my regular efforts, income fluctuations remain a hurdle. To manage this, I have adopted practices like quarterly business expense reviews, tracking client sales targets, and exploring additional finance options. These challenges have taught me the importance of continuous adaptation and proactive financial planning.

Q. What is the most memorable thing you’ve done since you started your business?

Kate: The milestone that stands out the most in my business journey, is the creation of an online course. It allowed me to share my knowledge and skills with a wider audience and introduced a new income stream. Despite being a challenging endeavor that pushed me out of my comfort zone, it opened up new learning avenues and broadened my skill set.

Q. What is one book you recommend, and why?

Kate: I highly recommend “Thrive” by Arianna Huffington. Her candid discussion of managing time and balancing career commitments with childcare responsibilities deeply resonated with me, providing valuable insights into my life’s similar dance.

Q. What are your top 3 favourite online apps, tools or resources and what do you love about them?

Kate: My top three online tools are Asana for its excellent task and project management capabilities; Mailchimp, which has been critical in growing my mailing list; and Instagram, a late discovery but valuable for quickly building connections.

Q. In terms of legacy, what is the mark you’d like to leave on the world?

Kate: I want to leave a legacy where I’ve successfully imparted my knowledge to improve business success and work environments. I want to prove that effective human resources management is achievable for all businesses, regardless of their size or budget, making workplaces a more enjoyable experience for individuals and teams.

Q. In one sentence, what’s the best advice you’d give to someone just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey?

Kate: Always remember that your journey is unique, so never compare with others; take comfort in this uniqueness and take each step one at a time.

To keep up to date with Kate and her journey, connect with her on Facebook.