While retail businesses have been particularly hard hit by the GST, mixed retail/service companies have not emerged unscathed. They must ensure that not only are they charging adequately for their services but they also account for the GST on any products that they sell. As a result, it has become increasingly important to assess the performance of mixed retail/service businesses to ensure they are operating at maximum efficiency.

EBC can help with this process with the new Business Benchmarking Guide for Mixed Retail/Service Businesses. It was published because of popular demand from our customers who could not find a specific industry benchmarking guide to suit their business but still wanted to go through the benchmarking process.

As a result, this generic benchmarking guide has been specifically created to provide small, mixed retail/service business owners with an easy and effective way to look at their business and identify ways it can be improved. It is designed to help you understand the principles of benchmarking so you can successfully benchmark your business yourself.

Instead of the statistical figures which are contained in EBC's industry-specific benchmarking guides, we grouped common retail and service key performance indicators together and developed action strategies which are relevant to any mixed retail/service business. This guide outlines what are the Key Performance Indicators (or ratios) for mixed retail/service businesses so you know exactly what financial figures you should be looking at for your own business and it also suggests ways in which you can benchmark your figures.

Although this guide doesn't contain the statistical data for your industry, it does contain more than 200 pages of essential information, split into 11 tabbed sections covering:

• What is benchmarking
• Identifying your strengths and weaknesses
• Action strategies
• Managing costs and suppliers
• Managing cash flow
• Managing personnel
• Marketing strategies
• Financial management
• Benchmarking business planning
• Business resources

Plus, as an added exclusive offer for guide purchasers, you can submit your performance results to our experienced benchmarking consultants who will check and review your performance for free ($105 value). We will then send you an analysis of your performance. This is the first step in the benchmarking process.