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Any business plan requires justification for financial forecasts and choice of marketing strategies. Research is the key. This is especially true where migrants do not or cannot visit the country first - without organised research how could their business plan have any real chance of

1. succeeding or
2. satisfying a State Government that the applicant intends to live and do business in their particular State?

Lack of justification will make the plan seem very shallow and this will detract from perceived quality of the applicant and their intentions. A weak proposal may make the reader fear for the success of the venture.

Both State Government and DIAC are reluctant to approve migrants who have a high chance of failure.

Moving to another country increases the risk of failure through inadequate preparation and poor decision making (based on weak information).

Migration-focused business plans are no different - State Governments and DIAC do not like to see taxpayer funds wasted in supporting poorly prepared migrants, especially where the migrant has the funds and resources to become better informed.

Failure to invest in learning about business risks and opportunities can make the sponsoring Government think the migrant has no intention of investing the proposed funds or undertaking the proposed business - or even living in the nominated State.

We wish you to consider that the words “genuine need” and “genuine intent” feature in the State Governments’ assessment processes prior to sponsorship. From meeting State Government officials, we are aware that the assessors are quietly entertained when potential migrants swear their love and desire to live in a country they have never studied or visited....

Market research not only helps a migrant to show their commitment to the business and the State, but more importantly it reduces the chance of business failure and minimises the period for settlement and adjustment with their associated financial costs.

State Sponsorship Services conducts market research for the preparation of business reports and business plans for many States. Alternatively where your migrant clients are still trying to decide where to live or what business to pursue, we can prepare a separate research report on request tailored to providing information to help those decisions be made.

In many cases the research can be woven into the plan, however several States like Queensland and NSW (plus unsponsored applications to DIAC) would expect to see detailed evidence of market knowledge, and this should be put into a separate research report.

Visas that we support with market research are:

• 457 business employee sponsorship
• Employer Nominated Sponsorship
• Business Owner / Senior Executive, subclasses 160-164
• Business Talent 132.

Research is also required for some residence applications in some States.

What research is necessary? Research strategy will reflect:

1. the applicant’s intentions
2. the nature of the industry
3. the preferred location and
4. resource limitations.

Research can:

• provide an industry overview with size and trends,
• identify the market structure,
• profile the main client segments and their needs,
• highlight the main service/product competition,
• identify common distribution channels,
• highlight opportunities and market entry points,
• clearly define potential trading areas/markets,
• include an analysis of local competition,
• use qualified sources,
• deter one from making poor decisions,
• reflect operational issues and constraints - to name a few!

A good research report can stop a poor idea from going ahead or highlight vital changes in business form and strategy - in our work we are not afraid to tell a foreign business person that their cherished idea just will not work in the proposed market.

Research costs are reasonable as over time State Sponsorship Services has built up a library of research reports and statistical information that can shared with other businesses. Projects are therefore generally costed out individually.

Even for new projects, where cross country travel is not required our costs are usually much less than what a migrant would pay to come to Australia to do it themselves.

Email info-AT-statesponsorship.com.au to obtain a quote for a research report.

(C) State Sponsorship Services Pty Ltd 2007. This web site does not contain Australian immigration advice. Viewers who need this advice should consult a registered migration agent, refer to Migration Agents Registration Authority. Entry to and use of this web site means that the viewer acknowledges that State Sponsorship Services Pty Ltd does not provide immigration advice and cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any immigration application that is lodged as a result of the viewer accessing this web site.