40under40 Winner - Stephen Lauder

Twelve years ago Steven Lauder set out to create an unheard of service in the hospitality industry – the supply of labour to the industry.

Fast forward to 2005 and Mr Lauder has won a 40under40 award on the basis of the success of AHS Hospitality Group, a company he helped create.

The business is projected to double in size over the next four years.

Mr Lauder cites the key lessons he has learned from running a highly labour-dominated business as:

• understand all of your costs;

• get the best payment terms from your clients that are available;

• put in labour management systems from the start;

• employ the best chief financial officer possible;

• employ staff slowly and fire quickly; and

• form relationships to last.

Mr Lauder says not understanding the different legislations in different states in the workers’ compensation area had been a major problem for the business.

“Consequently we had several years of high premiums that, had we acted sooner, would have had a dramatic affect and saved a significant amount of time and money,” he says.

In setting up AHS Group Mr Lauder has faced a range of adverse situations including union picket lines, clients refusing to pay, the resignation of his entire accounting division, and cash shortages.

However, he said these problems had all been alleviated by his ability to think clearly and laterally about the problems.