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What if your business didn’t consume your life… but actually supported it?
That’s the question rural business coach Tori Kopke has been answering with her life and business for years. I sat down with Tori to talk about building a spacious business… one that supports your lifestyle, family, energy, and big-picture dreams (without burning you out or keeping you stuck in hustle mode).
She’s living proof that you don’t need to be in the city, work full-time hours, or have fancy tools to run a successful, sustainable business. You just need a mindset shift, the right support, and systems that truly work for you.
From Oil & Gas to Coaching from the Wheatbelt
Tori started in the corporate world, oil and gas, manufacturing, general management, in male-dominated spaces that were highly transferable to country life. But when she moved to the Wheatbelt of Western Australia, she quickly realised how underserved rural businesses were.
Trying to book photography or marketing support? People didn’t understand the timing (hello, harvest season) or didn’t want to travel that far.
So Tori built what she couldn’t find: a business that supported rural women. What began as a marketing agency in 2016 evolved into a coaching practice by 2019, with a full pivot into rural and regional business coaching by 2020.
Her mission was helping rural women create sustainable, profitable businesses without needing to live in the city or sacrifice their lifestyle.
What Does a Spacious Business Actually Mean?
We hear the word “spacious” thrown around a lot… but what does it really mean?
Here’s how Tori puts it:
“A spacious business is one that doesn’t make demands on my life, one that really supports my life.”
It’s a business that honours the fact you might have young kids, a partner, other responsibilities, or just want to work fewer hours. It also gives you space to grow, because if you’re constantly in the trenches delivering client work, you’ll never have room to think, dream or pivot.
Spaciousness is about sustainability, not just free time.
The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
If there’s one belief holding most women back in business, it’s this:
“I can only get paid for the time I work.”
Tori flips that on its head:
“I’m allowed to be paid for my value, not just my time.”
That shift from time-for-money to value-based pricing opens up a whole new world of freedom and scalability. Instead of being capped by hours, you’re now being compensated for the transformation and experience you bring.
Building a Business That Can Run Without You
Tori runs her business Tuesday to Thursday, 8am-3pm. She’s not glued to her laptop. And she’s certainly not available 24/7.
So how does she do it?
Team + systems.
Her team includes:
- An Online Business Manager (OBM) who owns outcomes, not just tasks
- A VA for admin
- A VA for content distribution + podcast support
- A client support coach
And her systems?
Everything runs through Airtable… client management, onboarding, content planning, KPI tracking
Clear SOPs and templates that make delegation easy
A mindset of: “I don’t need to know how the system works. I just need to know it’s working.”
This setup gives her freedom, focus and flexibility, even when internet drops out or she has to drive into town unexpectedly.
Rural Life = Business Opportunity (Not a Limitation)
Living rural isn’t a disadvantage. In fact, Tori sees it as a strategic advantage.
Here’s why:
- You’re eligible for unique grants and funding opportunities
- There’s genuine community support
- People want to back the underdog
- You have lived experience most city-based coaches or service providers don’t
Plus, being regional helps her connect with clients on a deeper level, because she gets the logistics, the limitations, and the juggle.
Scaling Sustainably: What It Actually Looks Like
Scaling doesn’t mean doing everything at once. In fact, that’s a recipe for overwhelm.
Tori shared how in 2025, she overhauled her business systems, but she didn’t try to automate everything right away. Some things she still does manually. Some she’s handed off. And some are “phase 2” plans for next year.
“I may have changed too many things too quickly for my little brain.”
It’s a reminder that growth can be done in stages with plenty of breathing room.
Final Thoughts: What To Do If You Feel Stuck
If your business feels messy, misaligned or maxed out… Tori recommends this:
Start with gut instinct: where’s the friction coming from?
Zoom in on one small next step you can take
Get external support… a coach, mentor or peer with fresh eyes
You don’t have to burn it all down. But you can redesign your business to support your life, instead of the other way around.
And that’s what a spacious business is all about.
ABOUT TORI:
Tori Kopke is a business coach and strategist who helps rural and regional women build profitable, sustainable and spacious businesses that fit around the realities of small-town life. Based on the family farm in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia, she’s grown a multi six-figure coaching practice between school runs, harvest, power outages and everything regional life throws her way.
As the founder of The Regional Experts Mastermind, Tori supports women to grow their businesses to six figures and beyond through strategy, systems and marketing. She believes rural women are some of the most capable, resilient leaders in business — they just need the right strategy and support to step into their next level.
CONNECT WITH GUEST:
Website: https://www.theregionalexperts.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tori.kopke/
WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio
