From Zero to CEO: Your guide to starting a thriving business from home

By Victoria Coster

From Zero to CEO is the book Victoria Coster wished had been available to her when, as a struggling single mother with no business skills, she started her own business with zero funds from her housing commission home. It is a practical guide to starting a thriving business from home. It takes you from working on yourself, to getting started, fin

• Language: English
• Publisher: Credit Fix Solutions Pty Ltd
• Release date: Sep 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780648796404

Victoria Coster

Victoria Coster started her own business with zero funds from her housing commission home, when she was a struggling single mother with no business skills. She is now CEO of her national credit repair company, Credit Fix Solutions, which has standards far above those of its competitors, running most of its cases on a strict 100% no-win no-fee promise. Victoria is also an award-winning businesswoman, technology enthusiast and passionate promoter of education in the credit reporting sector.

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‘From Zero to CEO is an excellent book that does a lot more than just show you how to build a thriving business from home. It takes you on an inspiring journey, told by someone who has come from humble beginnings yet achieved success. So, if you want the fast-track to create a business from home, read this book.’

Dale Beaumont, Founder and CEO of Business Blueprint

‘When you are looking for a true understanding of the entre­preneurial journey of building a highly successful home-based business from nothing, you cannot go past reading From Zero to CEO. This is a truly inspirational and motivational book written by someone who came from having the world seemingly stacked against her to rise far above the clouds of success.’

Peter J White AM, MAICD, Managing Director of the FBAA,Chairman of the Global Board of Governors, IMBF

‘I wish to congratulate Victoria Coster, CEO of Credit Fix Solutions, on her book about starting and running a small business From Zero to CEO. The book details everything a start-up business owner needs to know. It can also serve as a refresher for those businesses that are already operating. The book is invaluable as today a start-up business owner needs more than just luck to operate a business. Years ago, a small business owner could start up a business with a few dollars and make a success.

‘Today, running a small business requires a more sophisticated approach. Due to Australia being a global village, business owners face competition from overseas and locally. Due to the myriad regulations and compliance issues, a small business owner needs to be aware of the pitfalls and ensure they build firm foundations from the outset.

‘This book will help you understand the maze and create an awareness of what you need to do to avoid failure and make yourself stand out from the crowd.

‘I recommend this book and will be pleased to promote this through our vast network to assist every small business owner. Again, congratulations!’

Anne Nalder, Founder and CEO, Small Business Association of Australia

© Victoria Coster 2020

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

ISBN: 978-0-6487964-0-4

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (for example, a fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review), no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, communicated or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission. All inquiries should be made to the author.

Cover design by Tess McCabe

Internal design by Production Works

Printed in Australia by SOS Print + Media

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Disclaimer: The material in this publication is in the nature of general comment only, and neither purports nor intends to be advice. Readers should not act on the basis of any matter in this publication without considering (and if appropriate taking) professional advice with due regard to their own particular circumstances. The author expressly disclaims all and any liability to any person, whether a purchaser of this publication or not, in respect of anything and the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done by any such person in reliance, whether whole or partial, upon the whole or any part of the contents of this publication.

Contents

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1 Getting you right first!

Chapter 2 Getting started

Chapter 3 Finding your target customers

Chapter 4 Managing your systems

Chapter 5 A step-by-step guide to social media

Chapter 6 Getting visible

Chapter 7 Network and connect

Chapter 8 The super-dry but necessary

Chapter 9 Customer service

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to the following people, without whom it would not have been possible.

My amazing husband, Jardine, who has been so patient with me and always believed I can achieve more than I think I can. To my mentors and friends, Darrell Weekes, Peter White, Hank de Jonge, Rick Jones and Dale Beaumont, who have all believed in me and encouraged me to be all that I can be as a business owner as well as helped me to get to where I am today. To my family and my friends, who have seen me struggle, seen me at my lowest; thank you for never giving up on me even when I was completely lost!

Thank you, Father, thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit, thank you Mother Mary, thank you all the saints and angels in Heaven.

For all the blessings in my life, for my beautiful family; my husband, my rock, my heart, my best friend; for our children; for my wonderful friends; for my business and my achievements.

For the endless joy in my heart, and the peace that I have in my soul, that my journey on this earth has not been wasted, that I have loved, I have been loved, I have dreamed and that I have seen my dreams come true.

In Jesus’ name I pray for all of you, that you can experience the kind of peace and joy that I have found in my life, and I pray for peace and success for you.

INTRODUCTION

Starting a business is no easy feat. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 60 per cent of small businesses stop their operation within the first three years of their start-up journey. You may think that is because of money but, in a lot of cases, it’s because the business owner lacks skills or lacks a real ‘why’ they started the business.

We’re not educated at school on how to start a business, and business courses at university are mainly theoretical, so you still have to go and get experience in the workplace to learn the real thing.

Then, there’s the cost of setting up a business, learning the skills you need, and having the confidence in yourself to give it a go.

Business courses can be expensive and are mostly aimed at business owners who want to grow and who have already been trading for some time. There are some cheaper college courses that you can do, but they are split into topics, and therefore you could spend years studying different aspects of business before you can put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Motivational courses are great at helping you feel good about yourself, but they don’t give you the actual tools you need to run a business.

Business mentors are amazing. I have a few mentors around me and I wouldn’t be where I am today without their help and support. But they cost money. A mentor may be out of your reach at the start of your journey, so consider this book your