Module 28

Team, creators and money

8 lessons, 49 stepsOne instruction at a time, each with the result to expect. Tick steps as you go; Helix remembers.

Outcome: you hire the right first helper on the right terms, pay creators with clear agreements, pay overseas suppliers without losing money on currency or scams, compare funding offers by their true cost, keep tool bills in check, look after yourself, and decide calmly whether Amazon is worth adding.

In plain words

Stage: Grow (keep more of every sale, then scale). Every lesson below is tagged with its stage; see Attract, Convert, Grow.

What it is: Hire help, pay creators and suppliers safely, choose funding wisely and look after yourself.

Why it matters: The right help buys back your time, and the wrong deal or funding can cost you for years.

Do this:

List your tasks for two weeks and hire for the ones that need a checklist, not you.

Put creator deals and supplier payment terms in writing, and confirm bank details by phone.

Compare funding by its true cost and only borrow for stock that already sells.

Words to know:

Contractor: Someone who runs their own business and does work for you, rather than being your employee.

Usage rights: Permission to use a creator's content in a stated place (such as paid ads) for a stated time.

Revenue-based financing: A loan you repay as a share of your daily sales, so payments rise and fall with sales.

Creator: A person who makes social content and can feature your product.

All words are explained in the glossary.

Lesson 28.1: Your first hireGrow

General information, not tax or legal advice. Check with a registered tax agent or accountant, and the official sources below.

Why this matters

Your first hire should give you back the hours you spend on work that does not need you. See also Lesson 16.5.

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Step 1 of 6

For two weeks, log every task and its time, and mark each: only I can do it, someone could do it with a checklist, or it should stop.

Expected result

You have a task log with every task marked.

Lesson 28.2: Working well with a virtual assistantGrow

Why this matters

A remote assistant can be a great first hire if the work is written down and access is safe.

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Record your screen doing each task once while talking through it, then turn it into a short checklist.

Expected result

Every task has a checklist.

Lesson 28.3: Paying creators: agreements, disclosure and taxGrow

General information, not tax or legal advice. Check with a registered tax agent or accountant.

Why this matters

Creators are paid with free product, a flat fee, commission or a mix. Clear written terms prevent arguments later. For rates and usage, see Lesson 19.4.

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Split every quote into parts: making the content, posting it, usage rights (using it in your ads, and for how long), exclusivity and raw footage.

Expected result

You know what each part costs.

Lesson 28.4: Paying overseas suppliers and managing currencyGrow

General information, not financial advice. Check with your accountant or bank.

Why this matters

When you pay in another currency, the exchange rate margin can cost more than the bank fee. Invoice scams also target importers, so confirm before you pay.

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For one real payment, compare total cost with your bank and at least one money transfer provider: your rate against the mid-market rate, plus fees.

Expected result

You know the cheapest way to pay.

Lesson 28.5: Funding growth: comparing financing offersGrow

General information, not financial advice. Check with your accountant before you borrow.

Why this matters

Revenue-based financing, platform cash advances and bank loans can fund stock for a proven product, but they make things worse when they fund losses. See also Lesson 14.5.

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Write down exactly what you would buy and its payback, such as more stock of a product that already sells at a profit.

Expected result

You have a clear use for the money.

Lesson 28.6: Keep tool and subscription costs in checkGrow

Why this matters

Apps and tools creep up quietly. Many charge by contacts, orders or users, so the bill grows with you even when the value does not.

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Each quarter, export card and bank statements and list every subscription with its monthly cost.

Expected result

You have a full list of tools and costs.

Lesson 28.7: Founder load: stress, burnout and getting helpGrow

Why this matters

Running a store can be lonely, and money worries can keep you awake. Looking after yourself is part of running the business. See also Lesson 16.8.

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Look at numbers on a schedule: profit each morning in Helix and cash once a week.

Expected result

Regular small check-ins replace dread.

Open your growth dashboard

Good to know

Australia: Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) and Lifeline (13 11 14) offer free support at any hour. Beyond Blue also runs free coaching for small business owners, and the Small Business Debt Helpline (1800 413 828) helps with money worries. See business.gov.au: mental health and wellbeing support.

US: call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at any hour. See 988lifeline.org.

Lesson 28.8: Should you sell on Amazon?Grow

Why this matters

Amazon can add sales, but it has its own fees, rules and competition. Decide with numbers, not fear of missing out.

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Search Amazon for your product type and note prices, review counts and whether copies already exist.

Expected result

You know the competition.

Watch out

Australia's Amazon marketplace is smaller than the US one, so check demand first.

Words to know in this module

UGC: Photos and videos made by real customers or creators instead of the brand.
Creator: A person who makes social content and can feature your product.
Contractor: Someone who runs their own business and does work for you, rather than being your employee.
Usage rights: Permission to use a creator's content in a stated place (such as paid ads) for a stated time.
Revenue: All the money customers paid. It looks good, but it is not what you keep.
Revenue-based financing: A loan you repay as a share of your daily sales, so payments rise and fall with sales.
GST: Goods and services tax: 10% in Australia (15% in New Zealand), added to most sales once you are registered.
Margin: The share of each sale you keep after product cost. A $100 sale with $40 product cost is a 60% margin.
Profit: What is left from sales after product cost, shipping, payment fees, discounts, refunds and ads. This is the number Helix cares about most.
Flow: An email or text series that sends by itself when something happens, like a new sign-up.
Fixed costs: Bills that stay the same each month, like rent, software, staff and your own wage.
Sales tax: In the US, a tax set by each state (and some cities) that the seller collects at checkout.

All words to know