The Times Australia
The Times Magazine

.

Aussies are juggling jobs and starting quirky businesses to make extra cash



Brand new research* has revealed 67 per cent of workers aged 18-24 in Australia want the opportunity to work overtime or extra shifts in efforts to increase their take-home pay to help with current costs of living. Whether it’s a photography gig on the weekend or tutoring on a weekday, it’s clear that Aussies are willing to work hard to earn extra cash in the current climate.  

As a young female business owner, at just 19 years of age Shavonne Stengle from The Flower Crowd in Brisbane knows what it is like to forge her path as a small business owner in a tough economic environment.

Beginning to bloom

Shavonne dove deep into the unknown, starting her floristry business at just 15 years old, selling bouquets of flowers at her local weekend market. Every Saturday along with her mother and sister, Shavonne would wake at 3am in order to get the best possible spot for her stall.

Shavonne took up a floristry course alongside high school and each week she created amazing arrangements as part of her studies. Not long after, she began supplying flowers to her local IGA store, and began to rapidly expand her business. 

Shavonne recognised very early on that customer relationships would be key to growing her business, and took care to develop a rapport with regular customers at the store. The manager of one of the IGA stores she supplies has since become an important mentor to Shavonne, sharing his small business expertise and encouraging her growth as a business owner.

Now at 19, her blooming business has just onboarded its second employee to fulfil her delivery commitments to a network of local grocers across Brisbane. Just three years into running The Flower Crowd, Shavonne makes over $100,000 per year and is looking for new ways to expand her business.

Empowering her business side

Shavonne used her fears to her advantage to become a successful business owner and wants to see more entrepreneurs empowered to start their own businesses – particularly young women. It wasn’t always roses however, in the beginning the business and administration side of things was a challenge for Shavonne. 

When she started out, she says her accounts were “all over the place” and she was using a system that wasn’t fit to support the speed at which her business was growing. “I was still learning all the business skills and with that I made quite a few mistakes.”

After a while, a family friend recommended Intuit QuickBooks. “She raved about it, so I started using QuickBooks and what I love about it is it actually grows with your business. In the beginning I was mainly just doing simple quotes, invoicing and receiving money and QuickBooks made that so much easier. Since then I’ve learned to tag and track my calendar and understand what parts of my business is making money and what could work better. I wouldn’t actually use anything else. It’s simple and really straightforward.”

Her business was growing so fast that she rebranded to The Flower Crowd earlier this year and made the decision to bring on two full time employees. When she took on her new employees she added QuickBooks Payroll powered by KeyPay, to streamline her Single Touch Payroll compliance with the ATO.

The software calculates her employee’s super and leave payments and ensures they are seamlessly paid. It’s one less thing for Shavonne to worry about as she navigates being a boss and gives her time to grow the business she loves.

Methodology 

This Qualtrics study was fielded in August-October 2022. Respondents were selected from a randomized panel and considered eligible if they live in Australia, are at least 18 years of age and working full-time. The total number of respondents was 1,020 respondents. 

Times Magazine

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in the Sutherland Shire who may not have the financial means to pay for private legal assistance, legal aid ensures that everyone has access to representa...

Watercolor vs. Oil vs. Digital: Which Medium Fits Your Pet's Personality?

When it comes to immortalizing your pet’s unique personality in art, choosing the right medium is essential. Each artistic medium, whether watercolor, oil, or digital, has distinct qualities that can bring out the spirit of your furry friend in dif...

DIY Is In: How Aussie Parents Are Redefining Birthday Parties

When planning his daughter’s birthday, Rich opted for a DIY approach, inspired by her love for drawing maps and giving clues. Their weekend tradition of hiding treats at home sparked the idea, and with a pirate ship playground already chosen as t...

When Touchscreens Turn Temperamental: What to Do Before You Panic

When your touchscreen starts acting up, ignoring taps, registering phantom touches, or freezing entirely, it can feel like your entire setup is falling apart. Before you rush to replace the device, it’s worth taking a deep breath and exploring what c...

Why Social Media Marketing Matters for Businesses in Australia

Today social media is a big part of daily life. All over Australia people use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok , LinkedIn and Twitter to stay connected, share updates and find new ideas. For businesses this means a great chance to reach new customers and...

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

The Times Features

From Farms to Festivals: How Regional NSW Is Repurposing Shipping Containers

Regional NSW communities are repurposing containers for farms, tourism, and events Farmers and small businesses use them as cost-effective, flexible infrastructure Festivals ...

What a Mobile Speech Pathologist Really Does for Late Talkers

As a parent, it’s natural to keep a close eye on your child’s development. When your toddler isn’t using as many words as their peers, the internet can feel like a rabbit hole ...

Benefits of Tree Pruning for a Thriving Australian Garden

Tree pruning is an essential aspect of garden maintenance that often doesn't get the attention it deserves. It's a practice that involves the selective removal of certain parts...

What is psychosocial therapy? And why is the government thinking about adding it to Medicare for kids?

The government is considering new, bulk-billed health checks for three-year-olds, to pick up developmental concerns and refer kids that might need additional support. The de...

Detect Hidden Water Leaks Fast: Don’t Ignore Hot Water System Leaks

Detecting water leaks early is crucial for preventing extensive damage to your home. Among the various parts of a home’s plumbing system, hot water systems are particularly suscept...

Why do hamstring injuries happen so often and how can they be prevented?

In a recent clash against the Melbourne Storm, the Brisbane Broncos endured a nightmare rarely seen in professional sport — three players tore their hamstrings[1] in a single g...