Support to start your business in regional and rural Australia

Flexible, personalised 1:1 coaching that empowers you to build a better business

Wherever you live in regional Australia, Regional Rising can help you start a new business or grow an existing one…

I’m full of admiration for people who are in business: from people starting out with an idea to young, emerging businesses and through to established businesses looking to grow.

So much so that I launched a business a decade ago with a focus on helping regional and rural entrepreneurs navigate the increasingly complex world of business.

I’ve been a professional since 1994 and self-employed in business since 2014.

In my previous “corporate” life I worked in, or led, communications and marketing teams at Australia Post, DHL Worldwide Express, 3 (mobile telecoms), the investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and travel insurer Allianz Global Assistance. These were rich and rewarding professional experiences with all but one of them achieved over the 15 years I lived in London and Paris.

My journey of self employment and entrepreneurship

I took the plunge and left the relative security and regular income of the corporate world when I moved back to regional Australia (from Paris) with my young family in 2014.

Initially moving back to my hometown of Swan Hill, I put my communication and digital marketing skills to work as a home-based consultant. Missing the social contact of the workplace I left the home office and opened a mission-driven coworking space in 2017 called Mallee Rising to create a meeting place for business, community and innovators and to nurture ideas and entrepreneurial thinking. It was at Mallee Rising that people began approaching me - as a business owner - to help them start their business. It was, and continues to be, a humbling experience to be asked by someone with the ambition to build a business and create an income stream to support themselves and their families.

I was forced to close the Mallee Rising coworking space during the government lockdowns of 2020 and we moved to Warrnambool, Victoria, where I had gone to university 30 years earlier. I rebranded the business to Regional Rising and provide a broad range of services based on the skills I have acquired over three decades, including marketing, communication and business coaching.

Business coaching is provided by Paul Dillon, co-founder of Regional Rising.

My approach as a business coach

Some coaching has been limited to one-off meetings - giving away long lists of actions and tactics for people to take away and work on - while other encounters have become long term relationships of ongoing coaching and consulting.

No two businesses or people are the same - or at the same stage - so I begin by trying to understand what makes each client tick as well as their dreams, aspirations and limitations.

From there I contribute my experience as a business owner and marketing, communications and start-up know how - together with a strong growth mindset tempered with a healthy dose of pragmatism - to plan and guide aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners to navigate the early stages of starting and growing a business. I also have extensive networks and resources at my disposal that I share with my clients.

Working with a business coach is like a relationship with a personal trainer at the gym, a guitar teacher or French language tutor. You don’t get fit or become fluent with an instrument or language in one session or one month which is why I have come up with several plans to suit different budgets, with my hourly rate becoming cheaper with the more hours you book.

If you or someone you know need help and guidance to get started in business or to take an existing business to the next level do not hesitate to get in touch for a free initial discussion.

Choose your business coaching plan

Explore

$500

5 hours of one-to-one
personalised coaching.

$100 / hour

Popular

Grow

$900

10 hours of one-to-one
personalised coaching

$90 / hour

Accelerate

$1,600

20 hours of one-to-one
personalised coaching

$80 / hour

Prices are in Australian dollars (AUD) and exclude GST.

Rural business coaching

Robyn Marmottan / France and Beyond Tours

Paul has been amazing throughout my France and Beyond Tours journey. From the day we met back in 2019, what was a dream started to become real.

Paul was my business coach who listened and encouraged, helping me nut my way through what my tour company was to be called and become and thankfully anything to do with social media, broke it down into layman’s language for me.

Through all the hurdles and hoops that are encountered in starting up a business, a quick call to Paul and with his guidance, these problems were analysed and addressed accordingly.

With COVID my business went into hibernation however over the last couple of years, France and Beyond Tours have started running, and thanks to Paul and my business training, these tours are extremely successful.

My dream came true.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any additional costs?

Not directly from me. I can provide coaching (advising you), consulting (do tasks on your behalf) or a blend of both. The time we spend together or working for you will be taken from the block of hours you pre-purchase.

Costs may be incurred if you accept any recommendations that involve an external third party, such as registering a domain name for a new website and subscriptions to platforms for website licenses, email services, email marketing campaigns and so on but these costs are disclosed in advance.

Which coach or coaches will support me?

At this stage all business coaching is provided by me, Paul Dillon, co-founder of Regional Rising.

I do not outsource coaching but I might introduce you to experts in my network who are better suited to support your specific needs and you can enter your own financial arrangement with them if you want to work with them.

What equipment do I need to participate?

Participants will need a decent laptop or personal computer with sound, a microphone so I can hear you and a webcam so we can see each other. Headphones will be an advantage if you want to keep the noise down at your end.

A good, reliable internet connection is also critical. I prefer to offer my online business coaching using Google Meet but we can use Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other similar platforms.

Can I bring a friend for support?

Yes, you can include a friend at no extra cost to support you, to take notes or provide moral support.

I have a question. Can we talk?

If you have a question or would like to know more about my coaching program please contact me via the form below or call me on 0473 069 755.

How does business coaching work?

No two businesses or people are identical - or at the same stage - so I believe it’s important to get a solid understanding of what makes each client tick as well as their dreams, aspirations and limitations.

From there I contribute my experience as a business owner and marketing, communications and start-up know how - together with a strong growth mindset tempered with a healthy dose of pragmatism - to plan and guide aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners to navigate the early stages of starting and growing a business. I also have extensive networks and resources at my disposal that I share with my clients.

There’s no template or playbook to follow: the relationship is fully customised based on the information your provide, your needs and goals.

Working with a business coach is like a relationship with a personal trainer at the gym, a guitar teacher or French language tutor. You don’t get fit or become fluent with an instrument or language in one session or one month which is why I have come up with several plans to suit different budgets, with my hourly rate becoming cheaper with the more hours you book.

How much does business coaching cost?

Your investment in one-on-one coaching depends on how many hours you pre-purchase: small blocks of 5 hours start at $100/hour while hourly rate comes down by 10% - 20% when you select 10 and 20 hour plans.

Our first meeting together is free and can be in the form of a 30-60 minute discovery call or a meeting online / in-person. This initial meeting enables both parties to get a feel for whether it is a good fit.

I will send you an invoice to prepay based on the plan (hours) you choose.

Can I pay as I go or pay after each session?

Sorry but in my experience we see better results and long term outcomes when clients book blocks of hours and pay in advance instead of seeking short term fixes delivered through occasional, ad hoc meetings. I’m looking for relationships and not transactions.

Rural business coaching

Karen Mott / GuardnGrow

A Lifesaver on My Digital Journey! From Facebook, Canva, and anything new to confidently navigating the digital landscape, Paul from Regional Rising was my go to expert!

About six years ago, I embarked on a journey into social media, website setup, and video creation for my new business. I attended classes and participated in one-on-one sessions with Paul to enhance my skills, and his guidance proved invaluable, he was patient, knowledgeable, and supportive. He taught me how to use Canva and social media, helped me set up my own website, and even guided me through creating videos for my business.

Looking back, I realize how much he empowered me to help myself and have the confidence to try new things and step out of my comfort zone. I'm running a successful business today and owe him a considerable part of that success.

If you're looking for a blend of IT expertise and mentorship, Paul is the ultimate go-to. His dedication and guidance have been invaluable on my digital voyage, and I'm very grateful for his role in my success.

Get in touch

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