Michelle Carr

Age: 34
Business Est: 2001
Number of staff: 6
Growth: 100%
Turnover: $700,000

BECOMING a mother was not going to dent Michelle Carr’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Establishing Small Business Evolution in 2001 at the age of 25, Carr has grown the business services provider to be conservatively forecasting a $1 million turnover for the current financial year.

Small Business Evolution specialises in providing web development and design, marketing, administration, book keeping and staff development to a large number of small businesses on the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

“I started working from home looking after 10 clients and it continued to grow bigger and bigger,” says Carr.

“We’ve moved operations from home to Robina and finally have settled into a larger office in Burleigh with six team members.”

Carr says her business offers ‘big options at small cost’ and attributes much of the company’s success to her staff.

“I try and motivate my staff by having a five minute actionable items meeting every morning and being a supportive, understanding and objective boss. We have a great office environment and we all work together as a team,” she says.

Sharing business ideas with a strong mentor was also a major support factor when Carr was setting up her business.

“It’s invaluable to have a constant objective opinion on any challenges we are facing or marketing initiatives we plan to use,” she says.

Ironically, the business has recorded its biggest period of growth at a time when many others are struggling.

“Many of our clients are utilising our services during this economic climate to better manage their accounts and overheads,” says Carr.

This doesn’t mean she hasn’t learned some hard business lessons during the quest for entrepreneurial success.

“Initially we spent an enormous amount of our budget incorrectly through poor planning and a lack of education. I definitely encourage young business owners to really think about the best use of resources and funds, especially during the initial stages,” she says.

Clients include Gold Coast Building Design, Main Beach Travel and Robina Fruit Market.