The Sounds of the Baskerville

We're on a theme again this time. Many people don't start the morning everyday, open the shop door or get in the car, all the while thinking they are going to rip people off off. Bad business. Or doing business badly? The great Anatole France had thinking on this subject "There are very honest people who do not think that they have had a bargain unless they have cheated a merchant". This week we e...

We speak about people who make mistakes, or let things get out of hand. But what about people who just do the wrong thing, maybe knowingly? Or those who, by doing nothing, just end up in a bit of a mess? Two case studies here with Chris Baskerville - with the same assets! The first time around, maybe the owner fits the description. Second time around, new owner doesn't, but because they didn't act...

We've talked about a sequence of unfortunate events, we've spoken about just one thing that went wrong. But what about the 'omnishambles', where it all goes horribly off track. Not a voyeuristic view of business failure, but a good look at a bunch of events that snowballed into a real mess. And. as always, what are the lessons learned ? Listen in as Trainspotters Chris Baskerville and James Flaher...

What is a victimless crime? So, is it where no harm is done? More often than not it is one of those situations where the right thing has not been done, and the real losers may not be too inconvenienced, or more often, the loss isn't particularly apparent. Where has Chris Baskerville been involved in a liquidation that in insolvency event where perhaps no one was massively out of pocket? Maybe some...

What can be the connection between Lemony Snicket and a real estate development west of Brisbane? And when can being transparent in business verge on oversharing? Chris Baskerville will once again a share a tale, this one of a some unfortunate events that alone may have caused grief, but one after the other they combined into an omnishambles. Bear with some vague dates and a bit of flaky maths as...

Working with family. So there's that old saying in showbiz that goes something like 'never work with children or animals'. What if you are in business with a child or relative, and things go sour? The episode starts off with the tale of two grumpy old geese, goes to a golden egg, and then too people who definitely were not geese - but had a dispute that cost a lot of money to sort out. So this tim...

But some of us are having a bonanza. Not all the stories were gloom and doom. In some cases success and lots of money around has caused an entirely problem, lack of supply of materials, and labour. How any cafes have you seen with help wanted signs? So what about those who are gunning it, or are in the uptick, or who have seen a squeeze from too much, not too little money around? What are the less...

How often did we hear about the Zombie Apocalypse in 2020 and 2021. A bit like zombie stories themselves, Covid has mutated to haunt us again anew. Chris Baskerville taped this segment a few months back and we've put this in as not only a point in time view from around mid year, but a really telling predictor of what we still had and have ahead. In this episode we look at watching out for the Zomb...

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, sounds like a duck, chances are, it’s a duck. So why do some businesses miss out on what is clearly in front of them despite the painfully obvious? Chris Baskerville uses his 1500 plus case experiences to take us through examples of businesses that couldn’t see the duck for the duck. When businesses are dealing with government contracts, sometimes it’s d...

What happens when your business experiences a Squid Game of sorts? Where the one thing that splits up management is the people themselves? The legend himself, Chris Baskerville returns this week with a story from his years in the front lines of corporate insolvency and restructure. Here five board members happily joined into business together - only for two to cause a rift that a split of the boar...

Businesses, like people, should never sit still for too long. Chris Baskerville says a business is either growing or it's stagnant or dying How does a company director decide to expand their business, and, how do they go about it successfully? Chris talks us through the ins and outs of expansion by acquisition versus expansion by organic growth. Ever heard the old one about buying extra cashflow?...

Yep, a sorry tale of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on today’s episode of The Sounds of the Baskerville! Chris Baskerville shares with us an example of an up-and-comer with an IT background developing the next big thing online app. But, a simple oversight on how who would actually pay who for what resulted in some serious litigation and ultimately the liquidation of the company. Chris d...

Everyone knows business can be risky as well as rewarding. But how long do you 'stay in the game'? when things have gone well. So when is the right time walk away with what you have won through hard work? This week we take a look at a social media content maker who realised too late she should have taken a sizable cash offer and 'run'. Case two highlights the importance of receiving as large an up...

All it takes sometimes is a bit of bad luck (or a global pandemic) and the best laid plans can be thrown to waste. Chris Baskerville delves into one of his 1500 business case examples where were it not for several instances of bad luck (including several acts of god followed by Covid-19), a business could’ve been the “Uber of tourism.” Chris also explains how having a Plan B and pivoting as a busi...

We're looking at what was the the one thing that made a good business bad. This week (M)C Baskerville takes us though one of the things in business you just can't touch. How about $ that should be going to the taxman? How many Directors mistake that truck of money backing up to the door as a chance to go on a shopping spree. That’s someone else’s tax, PAYG instalment, Super, GST... Join us as Chri...

Just the one thing? Out of the over 1500 case studies @Chris Baskerville has been a part of, there are plenty of examples of both brilliant and poor business decisions. Often, they come down to that one thing or decision that either turned the business around or burned the whole thing down. In these instances, what happened, what went wrong, what acts of hubris upset the business gods, and most im...

In today’s episode, Chris Baskerville explains how mutuality in a partnership will only get so far and how it often takes something different, because if two people in a business always agree, one of them is redundant. IF running a business is part of your life, do you need a business soulmate? And other than shared goals, values, experience, and trustworthiness, what is it you should look for in...

One of those things isn't it? The longer you don't talk about something, or fess up, or confront an issue, the worse - usually- it gets. This time it's all about: Having the chat with a business partner (who is often a friend or family member), Talking openly and frankly with clients, Some tips on getting the conversation going and avoid the negative outcomes.

Lots of us just get straight into it. Not so much planning, more on the doing! Maybe we get an accountant to set us a company, or maybe we just suddenly find ourselves busy all of a sudden and 'in business'. Chris Baskerville gives us some great insights into why you need to get organised, even if you don't have the time (who does?), In this episode: When two's not company but an partnership, Gett...

You've got your dream, or you've taken the leap, and you're in business! So, thinking of the movie of your business, when you've made it .... you probably didn't imagine it was 'Lights, camera, corporate structure, ACTION!" did you? Well, there's lots of reasons you might not go it alone and spend on a Pty Ltd company. In this episode we talk over: Sole Trader vs Company The Tax you have to Pay Wa...

What's the difference between an illegal phoenix, a legal phoenix and a restructure. Is a legal phoenix even really a thing? In this bumper episode, Chris throws the light on the mythical bird that rose from the ashes - as it relates to a company in financial distress. We discuss: A how to guide to the classic illegal phoenix and why you'll get in trouble now When it isn't illegal but it's just ba...

We often hear people put down a business person who 'had a go' but it didn't work out. Often enough though, that same person comes back, having learned the lessons of business failure - and they go on to build something better. How is that? This episode Chris chats through: Coming back after business failure, The mind of the risk taking entrepreneur, Running a good business if I'm not not particul...

This time we talk with Chris about the when and why of: 1. One page business plans 2. Test your business idea first, or right now 3. Are you doing the same thing as you've always done? 4. What revenue line should a business owner never sell or surrender? 5. Examples of how thinking a bout a business 'real time' can save it. Another set of great insights for business owners and their advisers.

Need advice? Chris Baskerville was saying last time he has a lawyer and an accountant on speed dial. Ok, so what about us mere mortals? Listen in. Where do you get decent advice on a budget, or when you have a great concept and no money? Or things are tight? And ask yourself, what are you in this game for anyway?

Businessman. Advisor. Liquidator. Raconteur. Chris Baskerville shares his experience over the years. What are the easy wins for a business person and some of the tough choices they need to make? And when do you know which is which? Meet Chris as he chats with James Flaherty on some 'how to' stories he has experienced of success - and also what not to do. Opening, running or closing a business in A...