“My mission is to empower business owners to dream big, strategize smart, and achieve remarkable growth”
Liz Fleming of The Grants Club is a dedicated Grants Expert, Efficiency Coach, and Chartered Accountant who has a passion for helping businesses thrive. Liz launched The Grants Club in early 2021 after realising how many businesses were missing out on valuable funding opportunities simply because they didn’t know where to start.
With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance and time working in government agencies, Liz saw firsthand how complicated and overwhelming the grant application process could be. Driven by her passion for small business growth, she decided to simplify this process for business owners. Today, she helps her clients become “grant ready” and secure funding that fuels their growth.
Liz helps business owners with a growth mindset to become in the know about how business grants can support them to grow and expand their businesses. Liz does this through 1:1 support, as each business is different, online workshops, and her Grants Club VIP Membership where businesses and organisations can outsource grants strategy work to her.
For Liz, the best part of running her own business is the flexibility and freedom to work from anywhere. Living in outback Queensland, she especially values the online community and support she’s found as a member of the HerBusiness Network.
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
I don’t have just one favourite entrepreneur, I’m inspired by so many amazing people who have followed their passion by solving a problem for the world and making a huge impact in the process. So many of my clients and people that I have met through my business connections, have a great story of how they started doing what they’re doing. Everyone can be inspiring.
Why did you start your business and what gave you the idea?
I started my business, The Efficiency Coach during the lockdown in August 2020. After spending over 15 years in corporate finance, including a few years working in government agencies, I became aware of the vast but underutilised opportunities available through government funding and grants for small businesses. I noticed that not many people knew about these opportunities, and she wanted to change that. This realisation sparked the idea for The Grants Club at the start of 2021.
My motivation is driven by my passion for helping small businesses grow, thrive, and achieve their full potential. I saw firsthand how complex and overwhelming the grant application process could be for busy business owners, and I wanted to make it simpler and more accessible. My goal is to support small business owners in navigating the grant world, helping them become “grant ready” and secure funding to fuel their growth.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
What I enjoy most about running my own business is the flexibility and freedom it gives me. I love being able to work from anywhere, maintaining consistency while also balancing my personal commitments. There’s something about the creative freedom that comes with being my own boss—it often leads to new ideas and greater productivity.
I also really enjoy working strategically with my clients, helping them grow their businesses through grants and funding. Brainstorming sessions are one of my favourite parts of the job, especially when I see clients experience those breakthrough moments. My passion is all about seeing businesses thrive, not just survive, and I love being able to provide personalised support that’s tailored to each client’s unique needs.
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- Think big
- Know your value and charge accordingly
- Stick to your core focus and don’t try and market too many things to confuse people
- What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
Get a business mentor and brainstorm your ideas from the very start!
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
- Know your numbers
- Understand your problem you are solving
- Understand your value proposition
- and know why you’re different to everyone else
What does your IDEAL business look like? Even if you’re not there yet, what would it look like if your business was ideal?
Exactly where I am now, a great flow of clients and projects, being able to work from anywhere and combine my love of travel with work.
What problem does being a Member of the HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And, how?
Being part of a community online, since I now live in Outback Queensland so networking opportunities are very limited (or require a planned trip or a long drive!)
Learn more about Liz and The Grants Club.
