'I run my own business. These are the 5 money lessons that changed everything for me this year.'

Thanks to our brand partner, AMP Bank GO

Making it to the end of 2025 has been about surviving, not thriving for regional florist and small business owner Renee Williams — founder of The Real Florist in Albury, Wodonga.

Like thousands of other small business owners, she's found the pressures of this year to be unrelenting, made even worse by the increasing costs of running her business and staying afloat each day.

"It's been difficult for everybody this year, so discretionary spending has been down, and it's often small businesses that feel this impact the most," she said.

"People are making really hard financial decisions to make sure they're keeping their families afloat, and we're just trying to do the same." Despite the challenges, Renee is passionate about sharing the five key money lessons that have seen her and her business survive this year.

1. Small leaks can sink even the biggest ships.

As a florist and cafe, Renee's business is impacted by card payment processing fees every single hour — the costs a business pays to accept card payments. "99 per cent of our daily transactions are tap-and-go and our fees are enormous," she explained.

"It's 1.6 per cent of every transaction, which is thousands of dollars every month — that's [the cost of] a staff member. It's our electricity bill, our rent," she continued. "It's the difference between picking and choosing which bills I pay to keep afloat and if I'm going to be able to afford Christmas for my children — that's the reality of what those merchant fees can mean to a small business."

While Renee doesn't want to pass extra costs onto her customers, she also knows how much it takes for her business to open its doors every day. "We are struggling to meet that baseline," she admitted, "so it's really hard to decipher whether we wear the merchant and bank fees ourselves, as we also have families we're trying to keep afloat, too."

As some of the big banks in Australia report bumper profits, small businesses like Renee's are working on razor-thin margins to keep trading.

"I don't think we as small business owners should be penalised for the convenience of keeping our customers happy," added Renee. "We are expected to absorb those costs, and we just want to be treated fairly."

Some organisations however, like AMP Bank GO, are flipping the script for small business owners, providing them with a fair go when it comes to their banking. By offering a low-price promise on card payment processing fees and a commitment to greater transparency, they hope to alleviate some of the issues many small business owners face.

2. Develop a process to save time and money.

While Renee is yet to pass on any card payment processing fees to her customers, she's doing her best to save elsewhere. "For us it's the ribbons we use with our flowers, the lacquer bands that we use to bind our books, or even the milk we buy — we have a process to keep those landing costs down."

This includes set 'recipes' for each floral arrangement. "Every recipe accounts for every minute it takes to make that arrangement," explained Renee. "That way we know how much time each one is going to take, how much sundries are, what the landing costs are, and what the cost of goods are."

This way of working allows Renee to make a profit off every arrangement made in-store. "You're not going to thrive in business if you don't have these considered processes because most of us don't have business or accounting degrees — we have skillsets and passion and a love of our community — but that's not always enough to run a successful business."

3. A 'business bus' could be your secret weapon.

For those who feel they lack the business skills needed to grow their business, Renee suggests establishing your very own 'business bus'. "I don't have the skill set of my accountant, and I don't have the skillset of my insurance broker, but I have a really good 'bus' of people, and I've filled every seat on that bus with someone who is an expert in their field that can help me run my business," she explained. "I'm an expert in my field, and they're experts in theirs."

By looking for the right people to add to your own business bus, Renee believes you'll find the best collaborators who can explain things in simple terms and support you every step of the way. "A good business bus is the best way to succeed because we can't do everything on our own."

4. Build your resilience, build your funds.

Renee believes having a level of resilience when it comes to your business' finances is critical.

"We get so caught up in the day-to-day, but it's important to take the time to look at everything from an aerial point of view and go, 'okay it's been a bad day, not a bad month'", she said. "You need to switch your mindset to thinking about what you've achieved already, what you're going to achieve in the coming weeks and what are the small changes I can do in my day today that will make a difference tomorrow."

This was the approach Renee took when this time last year during a rough patch. "I had to let go of my full-time staff and come back into the business full-time myself," she explained. "I'd gotten complacent and I wasn't aware of what was really happening on a day-to-day basis," she added.

Renee looks back at that time as difficult both emotionally and financially, but an experience that ultimately led to better decisions for the viability and future of the business. "I had to contact all my creditors and say, 'I'm changing the structure of my business because I'm not being the leader I want to be, and this isn't the business I want to run'," she adds. "I needed to take back control and make sure I was doing the right thing by my customers, my family, and myself."

5. Establish a diverse income stream.

With the landscape of small business changing each day, Renee believes having a diverse income stream is the best way to stay afloat. "I've got The Florist Cafe, but I also have a second business that's a women's empowerment business — an e-commerce store." She Deserves is a hamper business, and a collaboration alongside other women-founded businesses who are passionate about what they do.

"There are so many reasons why I feel passionate about this business, but I believe having another revenue stream that is consistent, allows me to support my family while doing what I love."

Importantly, Renee is simply using her existing skills in different ways. "I'm just doing what I'm really good at, and bringing other people along the journey with me," she said. "I work at the florist six days a week and I'm a single mum of two girls, so I'm always going to keep going and making sure I can support myself, my family, and my community."

Explore more about AMP Bank GO and how they're taking care of mini businesses with their commitment to fairer banking.

AMP Bank Limited ABN 15 081 596 009, AFSL and Australian credit licence 234517. For TMDs and T&Cs visit amp.com.au/appterms.

The information in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making any financial decisions, you should consider your own circumstances and seek independent, professional advice.

Feature Image: Supplied.

AMP Bank GO is committed to helping mini businesses keep more of what they earn through their:



● Low price promise on card payment processing fees
● No profit pledge on card payment processing fees until the end of 2026
● Fee transparency, which is free of jargon and surprises.



It's time to give mini businesses a fair go.



AMP Bank Limited ABN 15 081 596 009, AFSL and Australian credit licence 234517. For TMDs and T&Cs visit amp.com.au/appterms