Small Business Keynote Speaker
Most business owners have sat through a speaker who has never had to make payroll. David Caruso is a small business keynote speaker who still runs a business. Every idea he brings on stage has been tested with his own money.
A small business speaker who's still doing it
David has been in business for more than 36 years. He built a multi-million dollar equipment hire business in Sydney's west and exited at 40. Then he spent the best part of a decade speaking to business audiences across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
In 2019 he started again. His ecommerce group, BuyFactory.direct, now runs 60+ brands selling into 32 countries. In 2026 he rebuilt the whole operation around AI without adding staff.
So when he tells a room of owners where to put their marketing budget, it isn't theory. He's making the same call in his own business that week.
Why SME audiences listen to him
- Paid adviser to the NSW Government on small business across two three-year terms, including a seat on the board of the Small Business Development Corporation.
- Won a 14-month Australian Government contract to run online marketing workshops for SME owners during the NBN rollout.
- Keynote speaker for multiple News Corp corporate seminar series.
- Business Expo keynote speaker for the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce in consecutive years.
- Regular guest speaker at the Macquarie University Graduate School of Management.
- His first business was named NSW and ACT Business of the Year two years running.
He also has one rule on stage: every example comes from a business the size of yours, starting with his own. No corporate case studies about companies with budgets your audience will never have.
Keynote topics for small business conferences
Every keynote is tailored to the room. These are the talks small business audiences ask for most.
Your Next Hire Isn't Human
What happens when a small business treats AI like a staff member instead of another app. David runs an international operation of 60+ brands in 32+ countries with AI doing much of the heavy lifting, and shows the audience how, live on stage, and how to start within a week.
Enquire about this talkThe Marketing Plan That Fits on a Beer Coaster
Small businesses rarely fail from too little marketing. They fail from too much of the wrong kind. The handful of moves that actually grow revenue, and why most of the rest is expensive noise.
Enquire about this talkStop Renting Your Customers
A wake-up call about platform risk, drawn from being suspended, throttled and burned by the big platforms, with a practical plan for owning your email list, website and reviews.
Enquire about this talkBoring Businesses, Beautiful Margins
Bird spikes, curtain tracks, latex pillows. The case for choosing unglamorous markets, charging properly, and letting everyone else fight over the trendy scraps.
Enquire about this talkAll eight keynotes are on the speaking page.
What a small business audience takes home
David's view is that great information is worth nothing if nothing changes on Monday. So the talk is built around moves an owner can make with a small team and a small budget.
The 4 Pillars of Marketing
Right Market, Right Reach, Right Message, Right Measure, always in that order. Pick the channel before the market and the money is gone.
The 90/10 marketing budget
Spend 90% finding new customers and 10% on the ones you already have, so they spend more, buy more often or come back.
Defensive and offensive AI
Use AI to cut costs first, then put the savings into marketing. In David's own business, tools built with AI save $37,000 a year.
The 2 Jobs of Local Area Marketing
Be the first name people think of when they need you. Then be easy to find, and easy to trust, when they look.
Events that book a speaker for small business owners
- Chamber of commerce breakfasts, expos and business awards nights
- Industry association conferences
- Franchise network conventions. In September 2026 David spoke at the Fix Network conference on Hamilton Island for Fix Auto and Novus Glass franchisees.
- Small business weeks and council business events
- Corporate seminar series for small business customers, like the News Corp series David has keynoted
David gives 45 to 60 minute keynotes and half-day workshops, and he also does panel and MC work. He presents in person, online or as a hybrid session.
Small business keynote speaker fees
Most of David's keynotes fall between $3,500 and $5,000 AUD. The fee is quoted per event, not per hour. It's generally the same for a 25-minute talk as a 90-minute one, because it covers preparation and travel as well as time on stage.
What moves the quote: the format and length, a pre-event survey or interviews, more than one session, a custom programme, recording, and travel days.
Send your event details and you'll get availability and a proposal within 24 hours. No obligation.
What event organisers say
Their post-workshop feedback forms rated his presentation at the very top end of the scale. I would not hesitate to work with David again.
We were thoroughly impressed with his ability to connect with business owners and share valuable insights. David was collaborative, engaging, and gained rave reviews from all who attended.
David was absolutely wonderful, a very insightful and engaging professional speaker. Exactly what we needed.
Small business keynote speaker FAQs
The problems owners actually have. Where to spend a small marketing budget. How to get found online and keep customers coming back. What AI is useful for right now. David's examples come from real small businesses, including his own.
David's keynotes are generally $3,500 to $5,000 AUD. Each event is quoted on its own, and the fee covers preparation and travel as well as stage time.
Not in the usual sense. He speaks about business and marketing, and yes, he's funny. But the goal is a plan your audience can use, not a buzz that's gone by Tuesday.
Yes. Every booking includes a briefing call about your audience and what you want them to do afterwards, and the examples are picked to match.
Yes. Chambers of commerce and business groups are a big part of his speaking history, including the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce Business Expo in consecutive years.
Yes. David presents in person, virtually or as a hybrid session, so a regional chamber or a national online event works just as well.
He works from Sydney, NSW and Phetchaburi, Thailand. He speaks at events across Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia, and travel days are part of the quote.
Fill in the enquiry form on the speaking page with your date, location and audience. You'll hear back within 24 hours with availability and a proposal.
Make your next event the one they keep talking about
Tell us about your event and we’ll come back within 24 hours with availability and a customised proposal.