Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world. With 90% of the population living in cities, Australia is more urbanised than America or China. Due to this high amount of urbanisation, most people looking to start a new business will try and find space in one of the major cities as, after all, that is where most of their potential customers live. While this has the potential to be a great investment, starting a business in the city has a large learning curve, and it can be hard to stay on top of everything. If you are starting a business in the city, here are three things you really need to keep in mind.

Sharps Collection

An unfortunate reality is that many illicit drugs, particularly heroin, are more popular in cities than in the country. If you are opening a business with any sizeable floor space that has a bathroom or two, then you really need to consider organising a sharps waste collection and a sharps disposal unit. "Sharps" simply refers to any needles, syringes or other sharp healthcare instruments, which means that other people, not just illicit drug users, will take advantage of your sharps collection as well, particularly people who are diabetic. To make sure that your have a clean and hygienic environment, you simply must organise a sharps collection as that is the only way to safely dispose of the very dangerous needles and syringes you will no doubt come across.

Extra Security

While it depends on the crime rate of your suburb, in general the city has a reputation for more crime, especially at night. As a small business, a property invasion can cost thousands of dollars and totally cripple your new business, which is why it is important to factor additional security costs into your initial budget. Use the services of a security monitoring company so that you are alerted if someone has breached your business at night. Also, simple steps like installing multiple locks and security cameras, and locking individual draws and cupboards at night, can all have a positive effect on your security. The most important thing is to be aware that there is a very real risk to your items, and while this shouldn't deter you from opening a business, you should use it as motivation to have adequate security.

Talk To Your Neighbours

Perhaps the best thing about starting a new business in the city is that you immediately have new neighbours in your surrounding shops that will be happy to talk to you and give you some useful tips about operating a business in that area. They can let you know what periods are peak and when to schedule more staff, as well as warn you about any troublesome groups or people that you should be on the look out for. Remember, they are not your competition, and when one business in the area is successful, it draws customers that all of you can profit from.

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