Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About Archie James Group

What is Archie James Group? Archie James Group is an Australian business advisory and commercial services group. We help businesses start stronger, run leaner and recover what they're owed — through four practical services: our New Business Launch Pad Program, the Business Builders Library, our Cost Reduction Program, and our Lost Money Reclaim Program.

Where are you based? We're based in Melbourne, Victoria, and work with clients across Australia. Most of our services are delivered remotely so location isn't a barrier.

Who do you work with? Primarily Australian small and medium business owners — whether you're just getting started, running an established operation, or simply looking to cut costs and recover money you didn't know you had. If you're a business owner who wants practical help without the consultant runaround, you're in the right place.

What services do you offer?

• New Business Launch Pad Program — a free 2-hour session plus 30-minute follow up to help new business owners get started the right way, with the right connections. Limited intakes per year.

• Business Builders Library — a complete library of policy, process and procedure templates for Australian businesses. Buy what you need or access everything.

• Cost Reduction Program — we identify where your business is overspending on insurance, suppliers and services, then negotiate better deals on your behalf. You get the savings without the headache.

• Lost Money Reclaim Program — there's $2.1 billion in unclaimed money sitting in Australia right now. We find out if any of it is yours, do the paperwork, and get it paid back to you.

Is there a catch with the free Launch Pad session? No catch. The initial 2-hour session and 30-minute follow up are genuinely free. If you want more support after that, we have paid options — but there's no obligation and no hard sell. We run limited intakes per year so spots are finite.

How is Archie James Group different from a consulting firm? We don't charge for sitting in a room with you and producing a report. Every service we offer has a tangible outcome — a business that's better documented, costs that are lower, or money that's been recovered. We work on results, not billable hours.

Can I use more than one service? Absolutely. A lot of clients come to us through one service and end up using others. Someone who starts with the Launch Pad Program might later use the Library to get their documentation sorted, and the Cost Reduction Program to cut their overheads. There's no requirement to use one at a time.

How do I know which service is right for me? If you're not sure, just ask. Contact us with a bit of context about where your business is at, and we'll point you in the right direction. We're straight about what we can and can't help with.

How do I get started? Depends what you need:

• New business? Start with the Launch Pad Program

• Need documentation? Head to the Business Builders Library

• Paying too much? Learn about our Cost Reduction Program

• Think you might have unclaimed money? Check out the Lost Money Reclaim Program

Or just contact us and we'll figure it out together!

Business Resilience Builders Library By Archie James

General

What is the Business Builders Library? It's a complete collection of professionally written policy, process and procedure templates covering every major area of your business — Finance, HR, Sales, Legal, Risk, Operations and more. 891 templates across 15 categories. You can buy individual templates, category packs, or subscribe for full access.

Who is it for? Australian and New Zealand businesses of any size. Whether you're a sole trader trying to get your first policy in place or an SME owner systematising a 50-person operation, the library is built to scale with you.

What's the difference between a policy, a process and a procedure? Good question — they do different things. A policy is the rule (what we do and why). A process is the steps (how we do it and who's responsible). A procedure is the detail (exactly how to perform a specific task). Together they give your business a complete operational foundation.

How many templates are available right now? We launched with 400 templates covering all 15 categories. New templates are added every month — we're building to 891 in total over the first 12 months. Subscribers get access to every new template as it's released.

Are the templates Australian-specific? Yes. They're written for the Australian business and regulatory environment — referencing Australian law, the Fair Work Act, WHS/OHS requirements, GST and ATO obligations, and Australian Consumer Law where relevant. Subscribers on our Complete plan also get state and industry-specific variants.

Can I see a sample before I buy? Contact us and we'll send you a sample template so you can see the quality and format before committing.

Pricing & Payment

What does it cost? We offer one-off purchases and subscriptions. All prices include GST.

What's the difference between a one-off purchase and a subscription? A one-off purchase gives you permanent access to download the templates you've bought — you own that version. A subscription gives you access to the full branded library in your own portal, with your business name throughout every document, and updates included as templates evolve and legislation changes.

How do I pay? All payments are processed securely through Stripe. We accept all major credit and debit cards. A tax invoice is issued automatically for every purchase.

Will I be charged GST? Yes — all prices shown include GST. Your tax invoice will show the GST component separately.

Do you offer discounts for multiple purchases? The bundle and pack pricing already reflects significant savings over buying individually — a Top 50 Pack at $297 works out to around $6 per template versus $19 each. If you're buying for multiple entities or want to discuss volume pricing, get in touch.

Subscriptions & Cancellation

What's included in a subscription? Both subscription tiers include your full branded library — every template carries your business name, ABN and logo. The Foundation tier ($200/month) covers 13 of our 15 categories. The Complete tier ($250/month) covers all 15 categories plus state and industry-specific variants tailored to your location and sector.

What's the minimum term? Subscriptions have a 12-month minimum term. After that, they continue month to month until you cancel with 30 days notice.

Why is there a minimum term? Because the value of a properly documented business builds over time — and so does our investment in keeping your library current. The 12-month minimum ensures we can deliver on that properly.

Can I cancel early? Early cancellation requests before the minimum term is complete are assessed case by case. Where we haven't failed to deliver the service as described, the remaining term may be payable. We'll always work with you to reach a fair outcome — just get in touch.

What happens after the minimum term? Your subscription rolls over automatically on a month-to-month basis. You can cancel at any time with 30 days written notice via our contact form.

Can I upgrade from Foundation to Complete? Yes — contact us at any time to upgrade. The price difference will be applied from your next billing date.

Can I switch from a one-off purchase to a subscription? Absolutely. If you've already bought templates and want to move to a subscription, contact us and we'll work out a fair transition.

How Templates Work

What format do I receive templates in? Templates are delivered as fully editable Microsoft Word documents (.docx). You open them in Word (or Google Docs), adapt the language to your business, and save your own version. Subscribers can also print any template to PDF directly from their portal.

Do I need Microsoft Word? You need a word processor that can open .docx files. Microsoft Word works perfectly. Google Docs also opens .docx files and works well for editing. Apple Pages can open them too.

How much editing is involved? Less than you'd think. Each template is written as a working document — not a blank shell. You'll be replacing placeholder details like your business name and adding any specifics relevant to your operation. Most templates take 15–30 minutes to adapt.

Can I put my own branding on them? Yes — that's the point. Subscribers have their business name and logo automatically applied throughout every document via the portal. One-off buyers receive the template with placeholder text they replace themselves.

Can I share the templates with my team? Yes — within your own business. You can share your adapted versions internally with your team. You cannot share the original templates with other businesses or individuals outside your organisation.

Can I use the templates with my clients if I'm a consultant or coach? Not under a standard licence. If you're an adviser, consultant or coach who wants to use our templates with clients, you need a commercial licence. Contact us to discuss commercial licensing arrangements.

Technical & Portal Access

How do I access my templates after purchase? For one-off purchases, you'll receive an email with a download link immediately after payment is confirmed. For subscriptions, you'll be set up in your own private portal — log in at any time from any device to browse and download your library.

What is the portal? The portal is your private online library — a secure, login-protected space where all your branded templates live. It's accessible via web browser on any device. No app download required.

How do I log into the portal? You'll receive login details by email when your subscription is set up. If you can't find your login email or need to reset your password, contact us and we'll sort it out quickly.

What happens if legislation changes and a template becomes outdated? Subscribers receive updated templates automatically — your portal reflects the latest version. If a change in Australian law affects a template you're using, we update it and it appears in your portal. Foundation subscribers receive standard updates. Complete subscribers receive priority updates first.

Can I access the portal on my phone? Yes — the portal works on any device with a web browser. We recommend desktop or tablet for comfortable reading and editing of documents.

What if I have a technical problem? Contact us and we'll respond within one business day. For urgent access issues we'll prioritise getting you sorted as quickly as possible.

New Business Launch Pad Program

What is the New Business Launch Pad Program? It's a free program designed to give new business owners a proper starting point — not just encouragement, but practical direction, useful connections and a clear plan. Starting a business is exciting but 60% don't make it past three years. This program is built to help you not be one of them.

What's actually included? You get a free 2-hour session where we work through your business idea, structure, priorities and gaps. Then a 30-minute follow up to check in on progress and keep you on track. That's it — no hidden agenda, no automatic pitch for paid services.

Is it really free? What's the catch? It's genuinely free. No catch. If after the sessions you want ongoing support, there are paid options available — but there's no obligation and no pressure. You can take what you get from the free sessions and go off and build your business. We're fine with that.

What does ongoing support look like if I want it? After the free sessions, if you want to keep working with us, we'll talk through what makes sense for your situation and put together a support arrangement that fits. Contact us to find out more.

Who is this for? Anyone who is seriously considering starting a business or has recently started one and wants to make sure they're doing it right. If you've been running your business for a few years already, this probably isn't the right starting point — the Cost Reduction Program or Business Builders Library might be a better fit.

How do I apply? Intakes are limited — we only take a set number of participants per year to make sure each one gets proper attention. Contact us to express your interest and we'll let you know availability.

What if I've already started my business — is it too late? Not necessarily. If you're in your first year or two and feel like you started without a proper plan, it's worth having a conversation. Get in touch and we'll be straight with you about whether it's the right fit.

Cost Reduction Program

What is the Cost Reduction Program? Most small businesses are paying more than they need to — on insurance, suppliers, services and more. The problem is you're too busy running the business to research alternatives and fight for better deals. We do that for you. We look at where you're overspending, identify opportunities to save, and negotiate on your behalf.

What kinds of costs do you look at? We work across a range of business costs including insurance, payment processing and EFTPOS fees, supplier contracts, telecommunications, utilities and other recurring expenses. Every business is different — the areas we focus on depend on where your biggest opportunities are.

How much could I save? It depends entirely on your business and what you're currently paying. We won't make up a number to get you interested. What we will do is take a look at your situation and give you an honest assessment of what's achievable before you commit to anything.

How do you charge for this? Our fee model varies depending on the type of saving and how we deliver it. In some cases we charge a fee, in others we earn a referral commission from providers, and in some situations it's a combination. We'll be upfront about how we're paid before you engage us — no surprises. Contact us to discuss.

Do I have to switch providers? Not necessarily. Sometimes we negotiate a better deal with your existing provider. Other times the best outcome is moving to someone new. You make the final call — we give you the options and the recommendation.

What's the process? We start with a conversation to understand your business and what you're currently spending. From there we do our analysis, identify opportunities, and come back to you with what we've found. Nothing moves forward without your approval.

Is there any obligation once I make contact? No. The initial conversation is just that — a conversation. If we think we can help, we'll tell you. If we don't think there's enough there to make it worthwhile, we'll tell you that too. Get in touch to start.

Lost Money Reclaim Program

More information coming soon