"We knew there was something not wrong... but not right."
Business Snapshot
Industry: Agricultural Machinery Sales & Servicing
Business: Cowanna Almond Harvesting
One-on-One Advisory Focus: Leadership development, organisational structure, business systems, financial management and succession planning.
Growth Since Partnering with Business Benchmark Group
- Team grown from 10–12 employees to more than 30
- Expanded from one location to two, with plans for a third
- Transitioned from reactive decision-making to structured business planning
- Developing future leaders and succession plans for the next stage of growth
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The Challenge
When Debbie and Neil Bennett started Cowanna Almond Harvesting, they knew the agricultural industry inside and out.
Neil had spent his career farming, while Debbie came from a teaching background. Together, they built a respected business supplying specialist harvesting machinery, spare parts and servicing to Australia's almond and pistachio growers.
Running a successful business, however, was a different challenge altogether.
"We didn't know what we didn't know," Debbie says.
As the business grew, so did the complexity. More staff, more customers and more responsibility meant the business had quietly outgrown the systems that had helped get it started.
"We knew there was something not wrong... but not right," Debbie explains.
"It felt like we were making policy on the run."
Like many growing family businesses, they found themselves constantly reacting instead of planning ahead. Decisions were made as situations arose, roles evolved with little structure, and as the business continued to grow, they weren't confident they were building it the right way.
"We were looking for direction," Debbie says.
"I think, more than anything, we were looking for some sanity."
Finding the Right Business Advisor
Debbie and Neil first discovered Business Benchmark Group after attending a seminar in Mildura.
At the time, they weren't searching for someone to tell them how to run their business. They wanted practical business advice from people who understood the challenges of growing a business.
"We'd grown, and we felt like we were getting a little bit out of control," Debbie says.
"What we heard really resonated with us."
Working alongside a Business Advisor gave them something they hadn't had before: an opportunity to step back from the day-to-day and start looking at the business objectively.
Rather than focusing on quick fixes, the early conversations centred around building stronger business foundations. They introduced clearer organisational structures, documented systems and processes, gained a better understanding of their financial performance and began implementing greater accountability across the business.
One lesson, in particular, has stayed with Debbie ever since.
"If it's not written down, it's not real."
"It sounds simple," she says, "but it completely changed the way we approached the business."
Small Changes That Changed the Way They Led
Looking back, Debbie says there wasn't one defining breakthrough.
Instead, there were dozens of conversations that gradually changed the way they thought about leadership and business ownership.
"I think there were lots of lightbulb moments," she says.
"But it wasn't one big bang. It was more like someone kept flicking the lights on so we could actually see."
As the business matured, the conversations evolved beyond systems and reporting.
The focus shifted to leadership, accountability and building a business that could continue to grow without relying on Debbie and Neil to make every decision.
One conversation with Business Benchmark Group has stayed with them.
"You've got a big business now. You need to start treating it like a sizeable business and not a backyard operation.'"
That mindset shift encouraged them to stop thinking like operators and start leading a growing organisation.
As Cowanna continued to expand, Debbie and Neil transitioned into one-on-one business advisory, allowing them to focus on the specific challenges facing their business at each stage of growth.
"Having someone independent looking into the business was incredibly valuable," Debbie says.
"When you're in the middle of something, everything feels emotional. Having someone who can step back, ask a different question and offer another perspective gives you confidence to make better decisions."
That outside perspective has become one of the most valuable aspects of their business advisory journey.
The Transformation
Today, Cowanna Almond Harvesting is a very different business.
The team has grown from around 10 employees to more than 30, the business now operates from two locations, and plans are underway to establish a third.
Just as importantly, the business now has stronger systems, clearer accountability, better financial visibility and a more defined organisational structure to support continued growth.
For Debbie, the biggest transformation has been personal.
"I always undervalued my role in the business," she says.
"Business Benchmark Group encouraged me to lead and helped me recognise the value I brought."
For Neil, the greatest lesson has been learning to trust others.
"As the business gets bigger, you've got to let go," he says.
"If you've built the right culture and people understand your values, they'll make good decisions."
Today, those lessons are shaping the next chapter of Cowanna Almond Harvesting as Debbie and Neil focus on leadership development, succession planning and creating a business that can continue to thrive well into the future.
Advice for Other Business Owners
Debbie believes one of the biggest mistakes business owners make is investing in everyone except themselves.
"If we've got accounting problems, we go to an accountant.
If we've got financial problems, we go to the bank.
So why wouldn't you get someone to help you become a better business owner?"
Neil agrees.
"Business is always changing. What you know today won't necessarily be what you need to know tomorrow."
For Debbie and Neil, partnering with Business Benchmark Group hasn't been about finding someone with all the answers.
It's been about having trusted Business Advisors who challenge their thinking, provide accountability and help them build a stronger business.
Because while growing a business takes hard work, building the right business takes perspective.
Sometimes, all it takes is someone to help you see what was there all along.
Key Takeaways
The Challenge
- Growing quickly without formal business training
- Reactive decision-making and limited business systems
- Lack of organisational structure and accountability
- Uncertainty about leadership and future growth
The Business Advisory Journey
- Introduced structured business planning and accountability
- Developed stronger financial understanding and reporting
- Built documented systems and a clearer organisational structure
- Transitioned into one-on-one business advisory as the business matured
The Results
- Team growth from 10–12 employees to more than 30
- Expanded from one location to two, with plans for a third
- Stronger leadership capability and accountability
- Greater confidence in decision-making
- Preparing the business for long-term succession and sustainable growth