Bruceworks staff Matt Green, owner Bruce Cross and Daniel Julian.
Canberra's economic confidence may have taken a hit from the federal budget, but don't try telling these business owners.
Eighteen ACT finalists have been selected as finalists for the 2014 Telstra Australian Business Awards, up from 14 last year.
From construction companies to small consultancies, the ACT finalists are confident their business strategies will see them through the challenges ahead.
Synergy Self Defence & Fitness owners Craig and Bronnie Bath.
Bruce Cross of Bruceworks, a finalist in the ''small business'' category, grew a one-man operation out of a shed in 2000 into a thriving landscaping business with a shopfront in Pialligo and 19 staff.
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Mr Cross said his strategy for dealing with an economic slowdown was to pay close attention to what customers want.
“I think people have become more savvy in this town in terms of their purchasing and what they purchase ... I'm not feeling negative about it, I'm pumped about it. I think it's a good thing for people to tighten themselves up.”
Mr Cross has seen periods of reduced government spending before, and is optimistic that the strength of Canberra's private sector will carry it through.
“There's some really good businesses here in Canberra, and there's some great people here in Canberra,” he said.
“I think we'll get through this doom and gloom rather quickly, and with positive thinking, we'll certainly get growth happening again.”
Adore Tea employs about 90 employees across two locations and is a finalist in the ''medium business'' category.
Customer experience manager Jessica Girvan said the three-time finalist firm had already felt a change in the economy.
“We've found a drop in retail in particular has been probably one of the biggest challenges for this year, but we pretty much face that by looking at what we're doing and making changes where we can.
"Looking at staffing, and reducing costs that way, and then changing up the product as well, to keep the public interested.”
Synergy Self Defence & Fitness is a finalist in the ''micro business'' category and co-owner Bronnie Bath prefers to focus on the quality of their product rather than external factors or speculation.
“We can't control the budget. We can't control how the government decide to spend their money and cut where they cut,” Ms Bath said.
“We don't worry about stuff like that, I know that's probably a very naive way to look at things. We do what we do, and we love what we do, and I think that our passion is infectious.''
The national awards will be presented in Melbourne next month.
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