15 Years of Peach - From an Olive Grove to Today
Psst! If you’ve ever wondered what 15 years in small business really looks like—the wins, the detours, the hard calls, and the personal costs, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, intentional growth, and building something that lasts.
It’s part celebration, part business story, and part deep dive into the lessons learned over a 15-year entrepreneurial journey. In this episode, Fi Johnston takes you behind the scenes of Peach Business from its unexpected origin in a windswept olive grove to the businesses, projects, and lessons that have shaped it. Fi shares the path that led her from a small tax practice to a craft brewery, a venture capital firm, and to starting Peach in 2010. You’ll hear about the clients that became long-term collaborators, the side businesses that didn’t make it, and the bold ideas (like Ripple Festival) that continue to keep her inspired.
Listen to Episode 37
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why hitting a 15-year milestone is so rare in small business, and what it really takes to get there,
The career steps and pivotal jobs that shaped Fi’s approach to money, business, and leadership,
How a chance meeting at Mount Zero Olives sparked the idea (and name) for Peach Business,
Why Fi believes in simplifying your business model before adding a second brand, product, or revenue stream,
The importance of knowing your capacity, and how overcommitment can quietly sabotage your business,
Why some of Fi’s longest client relationships eventually ended by her own suggestion (and why that was the right move),
The real impact of running multiple ventures at once, and why focus matters more than “having lots of irons in the fire.”
How Good Money Club became the heart of Peach and why members stay beyond their initial commitment,
The thinking behind launching Ripple Festival and what it means to merge business and creativity on a large scale,
Why “small business never ends” and the importance of building rest, breaks, and boundaries into your calendar,
The personal sacrifices that come with a long business journey—and how to protect your mental and physical health along the way.
Transcript: 15 Years of Peach - From an Olive Grove to Today
Money Secrets Podcast – Episode 37
Introduction
We've made a lot of progress as a society in many areas, but one thing that hasn’t changed enough is our relationship with money. If we want to tip the scales in favour of marginalised people, we need to understand the secrets to making money in small business.
The more we talk about money — especially the secrets that usually stay behind closed doors or on the golf course — the more empowered we become. My mission is to get more money into the hands of good people, specifically business owners like you.
Because I believe small business can change the world. And to do that, we need to be making more money.
Acknowledgement of Country
This episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. I’d like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on.
I pay my respects to Elders past and present, and recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.
15 Years of Peach: From an Olive Grove to Today
Hello, you — it’s Fi Johnston here, host of the Money Secrets Podcast. I’ve got something exciting to share with you: my business, Peach Business Management, has just turned 15!
This feels like a huge milestone. We all know the stats about businesses failing in the first few years, and while I don’t know the percentage that make it to 15, I’m guessing it’s low. I’m really proud to still be here, 15 years later.
And there’s more good news: Money Secrets now has its very first podcast sponsor. The incredible people at Rounded, a beautifully simple invoicing and accounting app for sole traders, have come on board because they believe in what we’re doing here.
Why I Said Yes to Rounded
If you know me, you know I’m driven by ethics and values. I don’t take sponsorship lightly. But Rounded is Australian-made, focused, and deeply valuable to its members. They’ve honed in on the features that sole traders truly need to stay on top of their money — without overwhelming them.
So, you’ll be hearing more from Rounded over the next few months. I’m genuinely excited about this partnership.
My Career Before Peach
Before Peach began, I spent about a decade building experience across three very different workplaces:
Small Tax Practice at the Gold Coast
Fresh out of uni, I joined a small tax practice in Burleigh Heads. It was an incredible environment to learn fast. My boss and mentor, Brian Hickey, gave me huge responsibility and trusted me to manage client relationships — even when I made mistakes. Those years gave me a solid grounding in accounting and small business.
Mountain Goat Brewery
When I moved to Melbourne, I landed a role at Mountain Goat Brewery. I didn’t even know what a craft brewery was at the time, but I soon discovered a culture of sustainability, community, and creativity. I worked across finance, HR, sales, marketing, and strategy — and soaked up every moment of it.
Venture Capital Firm
Next, I joined a small venture capital firm that invested in startups like Bellroy. It was my introduction to the world of tech, innovation, and brand-building. Once again, I was the first finance hire, and I had the chance to shape processes from scratch.
Each of these roles taught me something different: discipline, creativity, and the importance of building systems from the ground up.
The Origin Story of Peach
Peach was born out of a serendipitous encounter.
One weekend, my friend Janine took me hiking in the Grampians. After a rainy, windswept climb, we ended up at the Mount Zero Café — part of the Mount Zero Olive Grove. There, I met co-founder Jane Seymour. Over tea, we connected instantly. She asked how she could work with me, and by the time she called me a few days later, I’d decided to start my own consulting business.
That night, the name Peach came to me. I wanted something real, wholesome, and organic — a word that symbolised growth. Peach was perfect.
Soon after, I began working with Mount Zero Olives — and I’ve been on their board ever since. To this day, I’m their CFO and still deeply connected to the business.
Clients and Collaborations
Over the years, I’ve worked with many incredible organisations. Some highlights include:
Mount Zero Olives — a leader in sustainability, quality Australian produce, and strong values.
Project Rockit — Australia’s youth-driven movement against online bullying and hate. I worked closely with Lucy and Rosie Thomas for over 10 years.
Job Site Recyclers — pioneers in construction waste recycling, long before sustainability was mainstream in the industry.
These clients shaped me as much as I supported them.
Good Money Club
Are you a female or LGBTQIA+ business owner who wants to make more money and create meaningful change? My 6-month program, Good Money Club, is designed to help you do exactly that.
We work on your pricing, positioning, business model, and mindset — so you can build your bank account and your impact. Read more about Good Money Club.
Experiments and Lessons Along the Way
Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve had side businesses and experiments:
Peach Tax — a tax practice that grew fast, but I eventually sold after three years to focus on my strengths.
Peach Creative — a creative agency that ran for a few years, working on branding, websites, and copywriting.
The FEEL Project — an online space for conversations around sex, wellness, and relationships, before such topics were mainstream.
The lesson? Sometimes the smartest move isn’t starting another business, but simplifying and focusing on the one you already have.
From One-on-One Coaching to Good Money Club
As Peach evolved, I began running my six-month coaching program, helping small and medium business owners build a financial roadmap and strategy while learning the skills to manage their money.
Over time, I realised something magical happens in group learning. That’s why I launched Good Money Club — a six-month container for like-minded women to learn, grow, and take action together. It’s now been running for 18 months, and most members stay beyond their initial term — proof that the community is valuable and working.
Ripple Festival: My Next Big Swing
In 2025, I co-founded Ripple Festival with my best business friend, Mia Fileman from Campaign Del Mar. Our vision? Combine the best parts of business conferences with the energy of music festivals.
Ripple Festival is a two-day experience for small business owners, with live music, comedy, art, food, and brilliant company — all alongside world-class business insights. It’s my bold new chapter.
Reflections from 15 Years in Business
Fifteen years of Peach has taught me a lot. Here are some of my biggest takeaways:
Keep it simple — Every new product, income stream, or brand adds complexity. Focus matters.
Small business never ends — It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You need rest, annual leave, and boundaries.
Value alignment is everything — The best businesses put people, community, and sustainability at the heart of what they do.
Clients come and go — And that’s healthy. Sometimes the right thing is encouraging clients to move on to get what they need.
Capacity matters — Overcommitting leads to burnout. Managing your energy is just as important as managing your finances.
Looking Ahead
I’m proud of where Peach, Money Secrets, Good Money Club, and Ripple Festival have taken me. I’m proud to still be working with Mount Zero Olives, to have collaborated with so many inspiring businesses, and to have the support of my best business friend and co-founder, Mia.
Here’s to the next chapter — to more money in the hands of good people, to businesses that make a difference, and to the power of small business to change the world.
Outro
Thank you for listening to Money Secrets. If you loved this episode, please subscribe, share it with a friend, or leave a review. Your support helps us get these conversations into the hands of more good people who deserve to thrive in business.
We’ve come so far as a society in many ways, but money is one of the areas where progress hasn’t been enough. If we want to tip the scales in favour of marginalised people, it starts with understanding the secret: money in small business.
In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fiona (Fi) Johnston—Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast—dives into the conversations we need to have about money. The secrets that once stayed behind closed doors (or on the golf course) are finally out in the open.
Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses have the power to change the world, and the key to making a bigger impact is to make—and manage—more money.
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Thank you to everyone involved for bringing this podcast together. We are excited to hear from you with any questions, feedback or suggestions for future episodes that you might have. Send a Direct Message to @peach.business
If you are excited for what’s to come, please like this episode, follow the podcast and share it with your friends. We are thrilled you're here.
Want to find out more about Good Money Club? It's for female and non-binary business owners ready to make more money and impact. Join us?
Check out my FREE Pricing Training you need to set your prices for profitability.
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This podcast episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and I'd like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on. I'd like to pay respect to elders both past and present, and note that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.
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