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  • About us
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  • Disputes & Assistance

    Disputes & Assistance

    The ASBFEO responds to requests for assistance from small businesses and family enterprises that are in dispute with other businesses or Commonwealth Government agencies. 

    We provide information about dispute resolution options, access to mediation, alternative dispute resolution processes under the Franchising, Horticulture, Dairy and Oil Codes of Conduct, and assistance with disputes with the ATO.  

    • How We Help
    • Dispute support
    • Five steps to resolve your dispute
    • Franchising
      • Franchising done well
        • Different types of franchises
        • Characteristics that are important in a franchise relationship
        • Specific purpose funds
      • Resources for starting a franchise
        • Before you sign – do your research on the franchise
        • Assess the franchise opportunities and seek professional advice
        • Read the franchise agreement
      • Franchising Code of Conduct and Alternative Dispute Resolution
        • Franchising Mediation Feedback Form
      • Managing change
        • Best practice for franchisors
          • The psychology of change
          • Change management tips for franchisors
      • Exiting a franchise
        • Franchisee-initiated exit - Compliance
        • Franchisee-initiated exit - Best practice guidance for franchisees
        • Franchisee-initiated exit - Best practice guidance for franchisors
        • Tax implications - transferring or terminating a franchise
    • The Tax Concierge Service
    • Alternative Dispute Resolution
    • Access to low cost advice for disputes
    • Dispute case studies
    • Industry Codes
      • Dairy Code
      • Oil Code
      • Horticulture Code
        • Produce Assessors
      • Food and Grocery Code
  • Policy & Advocacy

    Policy & Advocacy

    The ASBFEO understand the challenges facing small businesses and family enterprises. 

    We provide advice and insights to policy and decision makers, conduct research, deliver inquiries, comment on legislation, provide advice to Ministers, and undertake outreach and engagement activities to ensure Australia is the best place to start, grow and transform a business.

    • 14 steps to boost Australia’s small and family businesses
    • Policy insights
    • Submissions
    • Share your thoughts
      • One thing ASBFEO can do for me
      • Consultation feedback
  • Resources & Tools Centre

    Resources & Tools Centre

    There are so many useful resources, tools and sources of information which assist and support small businesses and family enterprises to run their business.

    We have compiled these supports for you, relevant to your interests and needs, to help your business succeed.  

    • Our network
    • Cyber security
    • Financial Wellbeing
    • Mental health
    • Handling debts
    • Using social media securely
    • Resources for starting a small business
    • Getting the most out of your digital marketing service provider
    • How Digital Marketing Providers can impress small business clients
    • Intellectual property
    • Disaster preparation and recovery
    • Climate-related financial disclosures
    • Self-employment
    • Changes to Australian workplace laws
    • The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (US)
    • Payment Times Reporting Scheme
    • Default credit listings
    • Disputes with an overseas business
    • Small Business Hub
    • Working as a delivery driver
    • ‘Small Business, Big Dreams’ Fact Sheet
  • Media Centre

    Media Centre

    Connect with us and keep up with our latest news, media releases, social media, successes and policy and advocacy work. 

    We also share the latest developments from other government authorities and regulators, our peers and our networks on our Media Centre.   

    • Media releases
    • Transcripts
    • Op-eds
    • Newsletters
    • Quarterly reports
    • Events
    • Social media
    • Contact Us
    • MSME Day
  • Small Business Data Portal

    Small Business Data Portal

    Our Small Business Data Portal brings together the latest statistics about small businesses and family enterprises and their contribution to the Australian economy.

    • ASBFEO Small Business Pulse
    • Small Business Matters
    • Contribution to Australian Gross Domestic Product
    • Contribution to Australian Employment
    • Number of small businesses in Australia
    • Apprentices and Trainees Employed by Small Business
    • Location of Australia’s small businesses by state and territory
      • New South Wales
      • Queensland
      • South Australia
      • Victoria
      • Western Australia
      • Tasmania
      • Northern Territory
      • Australian Capital Territory
      • Other Territories
    • Location of Australia’s small businesses - regional and metro areas

The November 2025 Small Business Pulse is now available

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  • Media Centre item (214)
  • Submission (31)
  • Newsletters (18)
  • Report (5)

Changes to Australian workplace laws

… wage theft factsheet. Right to disconnect laws Small businesses employees will have the right to disconnect under the Fair Work Act 2009 starting in August.  This means … better pay factsheet and well as a supplementary  small business closing loopholes factsheet . Family and Domestic …

Basic page

Welcome

… Welcome For small & family businesses needing help Dispute support Mental … preparation and recovery For organisations that help small & family business Research Reviews Inquiries Pause Play …

Basic page

Events

… Events ASBFEO attend small and family business-related events such as exhibitions and conferences … These events allow our office to meet and mingle with our small and family business community, stakeholders, and … ASBFEO attend small and family business relevant events such as expositions …

Basic page

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (US)

… Millennium Copyright Act (US) If you are an Australian business that sells online, you probably use a US-based … (DMCA) from the United States can seriously affect your business.  How the DMCA may affect your business The DMCA is … issuing a formal counter-notice, you are placing yourself under the jurisdiction of the US legal system. This means you …

Basic page

Contact Us

… inquiries. Make a general enquiry . To book a spot in our Small Business Hub , email  hub@asbfeo.gov.au . Dispute enquiry … 3 9662 2529  (international call charges apply). Use our  Small Business Tax Concierge Service  form for tax related …

Basic page

Franchising done well

… system brings all the know-how and expertise to the business, and franchisees add their local market insights, business acumen, energy, and capital.  Prospective … Research whether the franchise is offering a proven business model or an entirely new proposition and understand …

Basic page

Privacy

… information is handled by the Office of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO). Active … to restrictions on such access or alteration of records under applicable provisions of any law of the Commonwealth). …

Basic page

Assess the franchise opportunities and seek professional advice

… before you sign is one of the best investments in your business.  Consider the information you have researched and … trying to rush you into signing up? Ethical leadership and business practices: Good franchisors lead by example, promoting ethical business practices and holding themselves and their …

Basic page

Alternative Dispute Resolution

… Alternative Dispute Resolution As a small business owner, navigating disputes with other businesses can … more control and work to agree on outcomes. Preserving business relationships  – ADR processes encourage … As a small business owner, navigating disputes with other …

Basic page

Climate-related financial disclosures: What they mean for SMEs in Australia

… SMEs are not directly subject to reporting requirements under the Corporations Act 2001 , they may be asked to … operate in and the GHG emissions they produce in their business.  Use the free business resources in the guide to find out more and help … SMEs are not directly subject to reporting requirements under the Corporations Act 2001 , they may be asked to …

Basic page

Franchising

… is a contractual relationship between independent business owners. While a franchisee will likely work in the … they are not employees of the franchisor. It is a business arrangement where one party (the franchisor) grants … (the franchisee) permission and the right to operate a business using its established brand, systems, and processes …

Basic page

Dairy Code

… and procedures for dairy suppliers and processors. Under the Code, all milk supply agreements must contain … handling officer. Dairy Code Dispute Resolution Process Under the Code, if a party to a milk supply agreement has a … termination. Notifying the other party about the dispute Under the Code, when a dispute is to be managed under an …

Basic page

Procurement Inquiry and Issues Paper submissions

… Inquiry and Issues Paper submissions The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson is … July 2022 changes to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules on small and family businesses. To help this inquiry we would …

Basic page

Franchisee-initiated exit - Best practice guidance for franchisees

… the franchise agreement? Will it impact the value of your business and how it might be able to operate, if at all? Will … impacts on any premises lease? Will it trigger liability under personal guarantees? Is sale of the franchised business as a going concern a realistic option?   Consider …

Basic page

Characteristics that are important in a franchise relationship

… should be able to show it is a proven and successful business model, and it is possible for a franchisee to make … the value it adds and support it provides through the business relationship.     Shared goals: Both franchisors and …

Basic page

Notification of refusal to mediate – Bait’N’Go (BNG Logistics Australia Pty Ltd)

… the Ombudsman Kate Carnell AO The Office of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) received a … . After unsuccessful attempts at pre-meditation, under subsection 71(4) of the Australian Small Business and …

Basic page

Accessibility

… Accessibility Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, Australian … To meet this requirement, the Office of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has adopted the  Web …

Basic page

Language Assistance

… Language Assistance The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) website provides a range of information to assist small business owners from a diverse range of backgrounds to …

Basic page

Procurement

… to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has … the impact of reforms to Commonwealth Procurement Rules on small business. This Inquiry is reviewing the implementation …

Basic page

Copyright

… possible. The copyright statement may permit your use under a  Creative Commons (CC) BY Attribution 3.0 Australia … 3.0 Australia . Attribution Use of ASBFEO material under a  Creative Commons BY Attribution 3.0 Australia … Other Copyright Where ASBFEO material is not available under a  Creative Commons BY Attribution 3.0 Australia …

Basic page

Specific purpose funds

… specific common purpose related to running the franchised business, for example, a marketing fund. There are rules … whether it is to your benefit and has added value to your business. Transparency in specific purpose funds To … decision-making and encourages participation from both small and large franchisees. Other franchisors use similar …

Basic page

Working as a delivery driver

… a delivery driver Contracting can provide flexibility to small businesses and can be an excellent way to earn money … Contracting can provide flexibility to small businesses and can be an excellent way to earn money …

Basic page

Franchisee-initiated exit - Best practice guidance for franchisors

… a rental increase that would render the franchise business unviable. It is wise not to make an immediate … motivation and if the proposal is:  notification that the business is about to close, or the franchisee is in serious … particularly if the franchisee is not running a successful business. The Code requires a yes/no response, however, there …

Basic page

The psychology of change

… initiative, and are you able to explain the personal and business benefits to franchisees? (This material was …

Basic page

Disclaimer

… Disclaimer Information on the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman website is provided … professional advice before making any investment or business decisions. For inquiries about the material on this …

Basic page

Share your thoughts

… Share your thoughts We want to hear about your small business and family enterprise experiences and concerns. This … us in our policy and advocacy work to ensure the voice of small businesses and family enterprises is heard by decision …

Basic page

Food and Grocery Code

… Grocery Code 2024 (Code) is a mandatory code prescribed under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (CCA) and was introduced to improve business conduct standards. Under the Code, the ASBFEO keeps a list of ADR practitioners …

Basic page

Resources & Tools Centre

… Resources & Tools Centre At ASBFEO, our role is to support small businesses and family enterprises to enable them to … At ASBFEO, our role is to support small businesses and family enterprises to enable them to …

Basic page

Disputes & Assistance

… The ASBFEO responds to requests for assistance from small businesses and family enterprises that are in dispute … to mediation alternative dispute resolution processes under the Franchising, Horticulture, Dairy and Oil Codes of …

Basic page

Back In Business

… Back In Business … Back In Business …

Basic page

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, water and community.

We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past, present and emerging.

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