Economic conditions

• Strong growth driven by mining resources demand and population expansion
• Construction and trades demand rose steadily across Australia
• Tight labour market (boom of FIFO workers) and rising wages increased cost pressure on small-medium businesses

Impact for small–medium businesses

• Plenty of work available but hard to find and keep good staff
• High prices but also high wages
• “Can’t keep up!”

Tenfold’s coaching strategies for this cycle

• Robust systems to grow without chaos
• Disciplined job costing and pricing to protect margins
• Intelligent resource planning and modelling

Economic conditions

• Sharp global downturn triggered extreme uncertainty
• Australian credit tightened, confidence fell
• Demand bottomed-out

Impact for small–medium businesses

• Pipeline volatility increased; projects delayed or cancelled
• Funding became harder and more expensive
• Businesses closed, cash flow management was crucial for survival

Tenfold’s coaching strategies for this cycle

• Focused on cash forecasting and tighter financial management
• Pivoted clients into protected sectors (pharmaceuticals, core manufacturing)
• Managed workforce while keeping delivery standards high

Economic conditions

• Recovery phase lifted activity, but unevenly across sectors
• Mining regions surged while non-mining SMEs faced softer conditions
• High Australian dollar increased import competition and put pressure on margins

Impact for small–medium businesses

• Some SMEs expanded rapidly; others battled flat demand
• Productivity and positioning became critical to compete
• Businesses had to adjust models rather than assume “rising tide” growth

Tenfold’s coaching strategies for this cycle

• Strategic focus: choosing the right jobs and markets
• Improve productivity and process to lift profitability per hour
• Built forward-planning so businesses could grow confidently in softer economic conditions

Economic conditions

• Mining construction waned, slowing parts of the economy
• Commercial construction activity flattened and unemployment edged up
• Higher competition in non-mining SME markets

Impact for small–medium businesses

• Work became less predictable; competition on price intensified
• Businesses without a niche scrambled to adapt their service offerings
• Cash flow and client concentration risks increased

Tenfold’s coaching strategies for this cycle

• Coached businesses to diversify revenue and reduce reliance on a few builders/customers
• Focused on sales discipline: quoting, follow-up, conversion processes
• Tightened overheads and built stronger financial buffers

Economic conditions

• Steady GDP growth and strong population expansion
• Residential building and infrastructure surged in VIC and NSW
• Labour shortages forced wage increases, driving costs up

Impact for small–medium businesses

• Strong demand created growth opportunity, especially for trades and builders
• Businesses risked over-trading without proper systems and reliable team structure
• Rising labour/materials costs required smarter margin control

Tenfold’s coaching strategies for this cycle

• Built scalable delivery systems and clear role accountability
• Strategic recruitment, onboarding, and leadership to handle growth
• Protected margins through smart job selection and dynamic pricing strategy

Economic conditions

• Extended shutdowns and restrictions had massive impact in supply and demand
• Supply chain issues limited supply of materials, causing prices to spike
• Staffing became highly disrupted, wage costs rose despite government subsidies

Impact for small–medium businesses

• Some sectors lost revenue overnight; others faced massive instability
• Construction continued but battled delays, site restriction rules, and shortages
• Cash preservation and rapid decision-making were essential

Tenfold’s coaching strategies for this cycle

• Shifted clients to crisis cash planning and scenario forecasting
• Helped restructure operations quickly for new delivery constraints
• Advanced planning to be in pole position when lockdowns lifted

Economic conditions

• Post-lockdown demand surged rapidly
• Supply shortages drove sharp cost inflation in materials and labour
• Sharp rise in insolvency in building and construction sectors

Impact for small–medium businesses

• Work volume was high, but margins were squeezed
• Fixed-price contracts created severe risk for builders and trades
• Job costing accuracy became a survival lever

Tenfold’s coaching strategies for this cycle

• Adapt pricing models and variation systems to match cost reality
• Tightened job costing, quoting, and contract review processes
• Target profitable work instead of chasing volume

Economic conditions

• Interest rates increased at the fastest pace in decades
• Household budgets tightened; demand became more selective
• Wage and overhead pressure stayed high

Impact for small–medium businesses

• Borrowing costs increased; cash flow buffers matter more
• Conversion slows in some sectors; competition sharpened
• Hiring and retention remained difficult despite softer demand

Tenfold’s coaching strategies for this cycle

• Cash flow management: tighter forecasting, debtor discipline, and buffers
• Refine marketing and sales to lift conversion in a cautious market
• Focus on profitable job types and scalable capacity

Economic conditions

• Inflation moderates but costs remain structurally higher than pre-COVID
• Growth returns unevenly; efficiency becomes a key differentiator
• AI enters Australian business arena, picked up by early adopters

Impact for small–medium businesses

• SMEs must run tighter operations to keep margins strong
• Customers demand clearer value and faster response times
• Businesses embracing tools and systems gain an edge over slower competitors

Tenfold’s coaching strategies for this cycle

• Embed process discipline and performance tracking for stability
• Adoption of practical AI and digital tools in quoting, admin, and marketing
• Build leadership depth so businesses can scale into the next cycle confidently

Economic conditions

• Early signs of AI influence on labour demand
• Material prices and supply have stabilised
• Growth continues in most states, VIC lagging
• Housing crisis drives residential prices up

Impact for small–medium businesses

• Gap widens between AI agile businesses and “old school”
• Large clients prioritising reliability and security of service delivery
• Greater scrutiny of prices as labour costs change

Tenfold’s coaching strategies for this cycle

• Forecast changes to labour demand and costs, and integrate into workforce planning
• Coaching on big picture strategies
• Integrating AI to drive advantages