Case Study: The Lala Group

About The Lala Group

The Lala Group, founded by Lala Macnab, is a creative umbrella company that includes four distinct brands. Lala’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2003 with Lala Design, a full-time retail store specialising in wedding stationery, paper craft, and party supplies. After closing the storefront in 2017, Lala rebranded the business as Paper & Ink Studio in 2021 and transitioned entirely to an e-commerce platform, making it one of Australia’s leading wedding stationers.

Over time, Lala expanded her ventures to include Lala for Business, offering brand, design, website development and business mentoring; The Creative Republic, an online store for photographic backdrops; and most recently, Good Vibe Scents, a product-based business focused on unique car air fresheners.

Despite the success of her brands, which have been trusted for over 20 years, Lala’s journey has been anything but easy. Starting from scratch, she built her businesses independently, facing numerous challenges and moments of doubt. However, her resilience and determination have allowed her to overcome these obstacles and come out stronger.

The Challenge

“As my businesses grew, managing the finances for each of them became more and more overwhelming. I didn’t have any systems in place, and I felt completely lost when it came to understanding where my money was going or how to handle it,” says Lala Macnab, owner of The Lala Group.

After transitioning from a retail storefront to an online platform and launching new businesses under the Lala Group umbrella, Lala found herself struggling with financial management.

Without proper accounting systems and limited financial literacy, she faced challenges in managing revenue streams, handling tax obligations and making informed financial decisions. The stress of mismanaging her finances was overwhelming, and she needed help.

How Carbon Helped

“I didn’t just need help with taxes, I needed someone to guide me through the entire process of managing my finances. I was looking for a partner who could help me take control and make sense of the numbers,” says Lala Macnab.

That’s where Carbon Swan Valley came in. Carbon’s Accounting & Tax Partner, Michelle Maynard, stepped in to help Lala regain control over her business finances, support her financial goals, and guide her toward greater productivity and profitability. We didn’t just set up accounting systems; we became an integral part of Lala’s business, providing the expertise, accountability and support she needed to thrive.

• Xero Setup and Training: We implemented Xero across all of Lala’s businesses and provided thorough training to help her manage her financial data effectively.
• Financial Education and Accountability: Michelle worked closely with Lala for a year, helping her understand her finances and making her accountable for managing them through Xero until she was confident enough to delegate the task to her team.
• Tax Debt Management and Cash Flow Forecasting: We helped Lala create a manageable tax repayment plan and develop a cash flow forecast to maintain financial stability.
• Support During COVID-19: During the pandemic, our guidance was crucial in helping Lala navigate through uncertain times and keep her businesses afloat.

With the support of Carbon Swan Valley, Lala went from being financially overwhelmed to becoming a confident and informed business owner. She now has a clear understanding of the financial health of each of her businesses and can easily track what each is earning and costing. Her tax debt has been significantly reduce, and she now manages her ongoing tax obligations with ease.

Carbon Services

“Thanks to Carbon, I’ve become a much more confident business owner. I finally understand the financial side of my businesses, and I don’t avoid looking at the numbers anymore. Now, I use them to make informed decisions and drive growth,” says Lala Macnab.

Accounting & Tax

• Business Financials & Tax Returns
• Tax Planning
• Business Planning and Advisory

Bookkeeping & CFO Services

• BAS Lodgment
• Xero Setup & Training

Want to Regain Control of your Finances?

Carbon’s partnership with Lala Group is a testament to the power of financial education and expert guidance. By implementing the right systems and providing ongoing mentorship, our accounting team have enabled Lala to regain control of her finances, grow her businesses and thrive even in the most challenging times.