How I Helped a Local Business Owner Double Their Profit in 6 Months
Most of my clients don’t need saving. They’re already running good businesses – they just want them to work better. This story is a great example of what’s possible with the right plan and some practical support.
The business
This client runs a small service-based business in South Canterbury. One van, three staff, great reputation – but not much to show for it at the end of the month.
They came to me feeling frustrated. “We’re working hard,” they said, “but we never seem to get ahead.”
What we uncovered
After a few meetings, we figured out the real issue: pricing and time tracking. Jobs were quoted too low, and no one was keeping track of how long they actually took. The team was doing too many little extras – unpaid – and the owner was picking up the slack after hours.
The plan
We didn’t overhaul everything. We made three small but important changes:
- Introduced proper time tracking (nothing fancy – just a shared spreadsheet)
- Adjusted pricing to reflect the actual time and materials
- Stopped saying yes to every “just a quick favour” that chewed up hours
The result
Six months later, they were making twice the profit they were before. Not because they got more clients – in fact, they took on slightly fewer jobs. The difference was that they were finally charging correctly and working within a system.
The owner now takes Fridays off once a fortnight. And they’re thinking about growing the team again – on their own terms.
What it shows
You don’t need to throw everything out and start again. Often, small shifts can lead to big improvements – especially when you’ve got someone in your corner who understands business and tech, and speaks plain English.
Ready for your own breakthrough?
If this sounds familiar, I’d love to talk. I’m based in Timaru and help South Canterbury business owners get more profit, more clarity, and more time back. No fluff. Just practical changes that work.
