7 Most commonly asked questions

How do I know whether having a Mentor will benefit me?

That is impossible to answer as each business has specific needs. We have however been around since 1986 and helped over 15,000 businesses. Reading the Testimonials page that gives Success Stories as well as Testimonials will give you some idea of the wide range of small businesses that have benefited from our Mentoring assistance.

Does my business qualify for Mentoring?

Your business must be based in Tasmania and be “small” which is a broad definition varying from a start-up concept to an established business that needs additional support.

What are the benefits compared to other forms of business assistance?

The SBMS Experienced Business Mentors operate as a voluntary organisation so can offer you an experienced but affordable service which is tailored precisely to what you want. You work with your Mentor to resolve issues in order to build a successful business. However, bear in mind we are not consultants who do paid work for you, we mentor you to help you take your business to the next level.

What’s the difference between a Mentor and a Consultant?

Very broadly, a Consultant is somebody who you pay to do the work for you whereas a Mentor is somebody who helps you do the work. SBMS Mentors can be involved in doing some part of the work where specific assistance is required, but in all instances the input of the business operators is crucial to the mentoring process.

Who are the Mentors and how do I choose the best one for my business?

Our Mentors are generally recently retired business people with wide experience. Each has some specialist knowledge and there’s a search engine and full details on Mentor Directory to help you find the right Mentor. We find that most issues our clients have are of a general nature and Mentors can come to grips with these very quickly.

How does the Mentoring work?

You choose a Mentor and Program through the Program Finder ( select the start button on the home page). Select the Mentor who has the knowledge and experience to best suit your business needs. You meet at a mutually convenient place and time to discuss and evaluate whatever business issues you want help with. At the end of the session you agree on the action points you will undertake before the next meeting and when that will be.  Most people need 3-4 sessions before issues are resolved. Additional meetings can be arranged as required.

Is Mentoring Expensive?

No, it’s excellent value for money particularly compared to professional consultancy services. Depending on the number of sessions you have it is between $80 and $100 per session. We recommend 3- 4 sessions with each session lasting around 1½ hours. The SBMS Experienced Business Mentors are volunteers. They do not get paid for their mentoring. This allows us to offer a low cost mentoring service.