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    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.  

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        • Before you sign – do your research on the franchise
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  • 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
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  • 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.  

    • Small Business Commissioners
    • Cyber security
    • Financial wellbeing
    • Mental health
    • Handling debts
    • Resources for starting a small business
    • Using social media securely
    • Getting the most out of your digital marketing service provider
    • How Digital Marketing Providers can impress small business clients
    • Intellectual property
    • Climate-related financial disclosures
    • Disaster preparation and recovery
    • Self-employment
    • Changes to Australian workplace laws
    • The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (US)
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    • Working as a delivery driver
    • Healthy business relationships and dispute resolution
    • ‘Small Business, Big Dreams’ Fact Sheet
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    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.   

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    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
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    • Location of Australia’s small businesses - regional and metro areas
    • Spotlight on Sole Traders

The February 2026 Small Business Pulse is now available

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  • Media Centre (27)

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  • ASBFEO Live (28)

… the price or basis for calculating charges, payment terms, timeframes, delivery terms, etc. Agree dispute … costs. Provide a quote. If you charge for services on a time basis make sure you keep a work sheet detailing the time … assistance with COVID-19 affected lease disputes until 30 April 2024. You can contact QSBC by submitting an enquiry …

Dispute support

… the price or basis for calculating charges, payment terms, timeframes, delivery terms, etc. Agree dispute … costs. Provide a quote. If you charge for services on a time basis make sure you keep a work sheet detailing the time … assistance with COVID-19 affected lease disputes until 30 April 2024. You can contact QSBC by submitting an enquiry …

Basic page

… Payment disputes Self-help tools and support A small business … possible options with the small business, giving them time to consider the best course of action for their … the small business had defaulted on the loan, and every day a payment wasn’t made, a penalty fee of $1,000 was …

… Payment Disputes Payment plan enables outstanding payment to be made A small business owner had an ongoing payment dispute … emails had contact names or phone numbers attached. Each time the small business owner contacted the company, he would … Payment plan enables outstanding payment to be made A small …

MEDIA RELEASE: 12 days until 3G shutdown - What small, family and farming business need to check

Small and family businesses have just 12 days to make sure they do not have their vital business systems and equipment fail when the 3G network is switched off on 28 October, says the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce…

… is an awful lot of technology and equipment we use every day that's enabled by 3G as the wireless comms link and that … dysfunction they may face.” With 12 days to shutdown, time for small business to check older-style EFTPOS … way it allows us to get on with business. “It would be terrible if the first time you learn it runs on 3G is when …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

… to the survival of small and family businesses. Making payment information available to the public can help small … large businesses to improve their practices. The Payment Times Reporting Scheme (the scheme) requires large … as reporting entities), to report on their small business payment terms and times. Reporting entities must submit a …

Dispute case studies

… a quote for several hundred dollars per month. On the same day, after discussing it with her business partner, she … pay system. The small business owner also used this same payment system for her security alarm. Three years later the … to cancel (this should be listed in the terms – but may be 30 days, 60 days)?  • Are they agreeing to new terms and …

Basic page

… Payment disputes Self-help tools and support A small business … possible options with the small business, giving them time to consider the best course of action for their … the small business had defaulted on the loan, and every day a payment wasn’t made, a penalty fee of $1,000 was …

… significantly reduced, and an agreement was reached for payment in instalments.  The business expressed gratitude for … to cancel (this should be listed in the terms – but may be 30 days, 60 days)?  • Are they agreeing to new terms and … arrears and the lender continued applying the $1,000 per day late penalty.  The small businesses’ debt was increasing …

Payment Times Reporting Scheme

… Payment Times Reporting Scheme Cash flow is vital to the survival of small and family businesses. Making payment information available to the public can help small … due, check your invoice has been processed and is due to be paid. If payment is 1-2 days overdue, contact the accounts …

Basic page

Ombudsman welcomes designated-complaints legislation

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has welcomed the introduction of legislation into Federal Parliament that will create a “designated-complaints” mechanism to fast-track serious disputes for small businesses…

… importance of their issues and the need for the issues to be examined and actioned by the regulator. We currently refer … the ACCC for its attention to help ensure that unnecessary time does not elapse, which may cause additional harm to … conduct and practices. “Small businesses suffer in real time when concerning conduct occurs so obviously a vital test …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

… The franchisee claimed they had not received enough payment from the franchisor, as the payments did not cover … Uber to his own bank account. These issues continued over time and meant that he was unable to access his payments.  … with Uber to rectify the issue, ensuring payments could be transferred. The Uber driver was relieved to receive all …

… fees’ are charged by schemes, acquirers, and issuers (payment service providers) to facilitate card-based payments … competition in the debit card market by ensuring a payment is processed via the least-cost route. Merchants … of the RBA’s public interest powers. This change will be a positive step towards reducing merchant fees for mobile …

Tradies and sub-contractors to be paid on time and in full, in ‘fairer go’ for construction

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) is encouraged by the Australian Government’s response to the Murray Review of Security of Payment Laws, and welcomes the announcement of further action to help ensure tradies and…

… Tradies and sub-contractors to be paid on time and in full, in ‘fairer go’ for construction … Government’s response to the Murray Review of Security of Payment Laws, and welcomes the announcement of further action … Government’s response to the Murray Review of Security of Payment Laws, and welcomes the announcement of further action …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

… should get in contact with the ATO. You can also set up a payment plan if your debt is under $100,000. Phone: 12 28 66 … to help people with their tax affairs who may not be able to afford professional advice and representation. … individuals can access a one-off non-taxable crisis payment . Small Business Debt Helpline The Small Business …

… Family and Domestic Violence Leave All full-time, part-time, and casual employees can access 10 days of … Domestic Violence Leave as of 1 August 2023. The full 10 day leave entitlement is available immediately - it does not need to be accumulated like annual leave. It also doesn’t increase …

… business owners, for whom their business is their full-time livelihood endeavour, are earning less than the average … were twice as many small business owners aged between 30 and 49 as there were aged over 50.  Today, only 8% of … paperwork after they’ve been running their business all day, surrendering more time with family and time to reset and …

When the dining table becomes the board table – celebrating National Family Business Day

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, is encouraging all Australians to celebrate National Family Business Day on Thursday 19 September.

“It’s a great moment to reflect on the crucial role family-owned…

… the board table – celebrating National Family Business Day 17 September 2024 The Australian Small Business and … all Australians to celebrate National Family Business Day on Thursday 19 September. “It’s a great moment to reflect … services businesses in your community and often it will be family owned and led. “Some of our most enduring …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Help small businesses thrive this MSME Day

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, urges all Australians to recognise the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of the people driving our 2.5 million small businesses on World Micro, Small and Medium-sized…

… Help small businesses thrive this MSME Day 26 June 2025 The Australian Small Business and Family … and relentless personal commitment to succeed at a time when many are doing it tough right now.  “Our economic … livelihood opportunities and community wellbeing would be so much less without the extraordinary contribution and …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Payment Times Reporting Scheme

Bruce Billson, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman sat down with Nick Fox, Deloitte’s Payment Times Reporting Lead to discuss the recent release of the first Payment Times Reporting Register.

Below is a summary of the…

… Payment Times Reporting Scheme 10 March 2022 Bruce Billson, … Enterprise Ombudsman sat down with Nick Fox, Deloitte’s Payment Times Reporting Lead to discuss the recent release of … positive role played by the Register to help reduce the time it takes to pay small business suppliers Some large …

Media Centre item
News
ASBFEO Live

… There were 482,836 small businesses in Queensland on 30 June 2023, representing 19% of all Australian small … were 238,907 small businesses in Western Australia on 30 June 2023, representing 9% of all Australian small … were 849,075 small businesses in New South Wales (NSW) on 30 June 2023. These accounted for 34% of all Australian small …

… program.  As part of the pilot, these guidelines will be periodically updated. 2. About the small business dispute … in an ADR process to resolve their dispute; the length of time parties have been in dispute and any attempts that they … or as or as otherwise agreed with the small business.   6. Payment Stage 1 Preliminary Advice:   A co-payment of $100 is …

OMBUDSMAN’S SMALL BUSINESS GUIDE TO DEALING WITH DEBT

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has released a guide to help small business navigate the challenge of paying or collecting a debt.

“Outstanding debts can be overwhelming for a small business – whether…

… of paying or collecting a debt. “Outstanding debts can be overwhelming for a small business – whether you are owed … and this can become worse when they don’t receive a payment they were expecting.” Mr Billson said a first step … days.  The delay, well beyond the usual payment terms of 30 days, was having significant flow-on consequences for Mary …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Small business needs certainty

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, is urging Federal Parliament to give certainty to small business about two crucial tax breaks announced in last year’s budget.

“Time is running out with just six weeks…

… two crucial tax breaks announced in last year’s budget. “Time is running out with just six weeks until the end of the … to that amount for eligible assets between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024.  (The Treasurer announced in this week’s budget the scheme would be extended to 30 June 2025.) Without legislation authorising …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Australian Payments Network's consultation on the future vision for account to account payments in Australia

Submission

How we help

… on 1300 650 460. Please note: The ASBFEO may not always be the most appropriate agency to resolve your dispute. We … Societ y offer a free referral service, which includes a 30-minute consultation with a lawyer. Justice Connect helps … it. Belmont Business Enterprise Centre provides a free 30-minute legal advisory session on business matters. Justice …

Basic page

… significantly reduced, and an agreement was reached for payment in instalments.  The business expressed gratitude for … to cancel (this should be listed in the terms – but may be 30 days, 60 days)?  • Are they agreeing to new terms and … arrears and the lender continued applying the $1,000 per day late penalty.  The small businesses’ debt was increasing …

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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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