Article written by Graham Fitzpatrick, Business Advisor, Western Sydney Business Centre.
Remember when you worked in corporate, and you had so much support from other departments and staff. Now that you are a business owner you are expected to be the General Manager, the Financial Controller, and the HR manager. You are the Marketing and Advertising Department, the Admin Manager and even the cleaner. Sometimes it can be overwhelming but there is plenty of help and support available to help small business.
This help and support starts with the Business Connect program. This state government funded program offers free business advice on everything from Business Planning and Marketing, to Finance and Staffing. You can get help with Business Relicense, Sales and Succession planning. The program is for intenders, Start Ups and Established Businesses. Business Connect also offers a large variety of free webinars on topics including How to start a business and Sales 101.
If you need help optimising your online world, then the Australian Small Business Assistance Scheme (ASBAS) – Digital Business Solutions (DBS) program is for you. You can access free advice on getting the best out of your website and get help keeping up with all the latest stuff when it comes to social media. You can also sit in on a free webinar like the upcoming Tik Tok 101 session.
Other support comes in the form Services NSW Business Concierges who can help with Business Name registration, ABN numbers, Business Licenses and Permits, State Government grants and other financial assistance.
To stay up to date on business, staff, and tax essentials you can access a wealth of information from websites like business.gov.au, Fairwork Australia and the ATO. You can subscribe to one of their newsletters and stay informed with the latest information.
Another important site that can help your business is the Australian Business Licensing and Information Search (ABLIS) to check on your licensing, business regulations and permit needs. While IP Australian can help with Trade Marking and Copyright information. Plus check in with your local Council for how they can assist your business.
So, you never have to feel alone and overwhelmed again when it comes to running your own business and the Western Sydney Business Centre is here to help.
