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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
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    • Access to low cost advice for disputes
    • Dispute case studies
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      • Horticulture Code
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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
    • Policy insights
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      • One thing ASBFEO can do for me
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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.  

    • 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
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    • 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 Section

  • Media Centre (193)
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  • Resources & Tools Centre (1)

Media Source

  • ASBFEO Live (202)

Managing change

… and the circumstances in which the franchise agreement may be varied unilaterally in the future.  If certain materially … must disclose these to franchisees within a reasonable time of not more than 14 days. Such events include … consents in writing.   Best practice  Franchisors need to be able to make changes to their franchise system and brand …

Basic page

… to relax to clear the mind and  unwind. lock in family time learn to ‘unplug’ from the business. This means … setting times to turn off the technology, and plan to take time off . …

… MSME Day MSME small business facts MSME videos …

How Digital Marketing Providers can impress small business clients

… goals to display your practical approach and interest. Be clear on your specific services, how much they cost, and …

Basic page

TRANSCRIPT: 15 October 2024 TRANSCRIPT Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Deb Knight. Money News Subject: growing number of small business disputes with big tech digital platform providers, workplace

 15 October 2024

TRANSCRIPT

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Deb Knight.

Money News

 

Subject:…

… welcome back to Money News.  Bruce Billson Deb, fab to be with you and your listeners.  Deb Knight So, we know … Billson That's probably right. But I get out of bed each day championing the cause of small and family businesses. My … that hack into your account to use your credit card, your payment facilities, to push out crypto ads that are bogus, …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Small business disaster preparedness

 TRANSCRIPT

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with David Dowsett.

ABC Radio Wide Bay

Subject: Small business…

… there's likely no business, small or large, that will not be impacted. So, what can a small business do now to ensure … look like?  Bruce Billson Well, it means taking the time to think about what are those risks, what are those … David Dowsett Some top tips indeed. Bruce, appreciate your time this morning, thanks a lot.   …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

The Tax Concierge Service

… with an experienced small business tax lawyer. A $100 co-payment is required, with the remaining balance paid by the …

Basic page

Franchisee-initiated exit - Best practice guidance for franchisees

… Will it impact the value of your business and how it might be able to operate, if at all? Will it trigger an obligation … to take over the premises lease, agree to make a lump sum payment in place of future royalties, explain how you plan to … or propose a termination date that gives the franchisor time to find another operator for the business.   If …

Basic page

… as a small business Navigating courts and tribunals can be daunting. You can seek help from legal practitioners and … the court system Court and tribunal processes can be time consuming, stressful and costly. If possible, keep … a lot of preparation. At a hearing, dress neatly, be on time, be prepared for delays, and speak calmly and politely. …

Characteristics that are important in a franchise relationship

… profitability. A franchise investment opportunity should be able to show it is a proven and successful business model, … relationship, the franchise relationship will evolve over time. Early on, there will likely be a lot of excitement and expectation for success. Over time, the franchisor and the franchisee will have to work …

Basic page

TRANSCRIPT: free cyber security programs to help small businesses, digital platform providers urged to do better for small business

Nicole Overall

Unsurprisingly and sadly, more and more small businesses are falling victim to ever more sophisticated cyber-attacks. So, what's to be done? Well, to explore some potential solutions, I have on the line now Bruce…

… to ever more sophisticated cyber-attacks. So, what's to be done? Well, to explore some potential solutions, I have on … And the customer is expecting this invoice. This is a part payment on a house renovation, or a deposit on some travel or … right. Frankly, this is one of the big challenges of our time as a society, as well as an economy, that some of the …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Small business digital marketing help

TRANSCRIPT

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Leon Delaney.

Radio 2CC Canberra

17 January 2024

Leon…

… Billson, good afternoon. Bruce Billson  Leon, great to be with you and your listeners.  Leon Delaney I'm far from … bit of a barney going on and people thinking, I'd like to be getting value for money out of out of this service like I … their provider wisely. We're encouraging them to take the time to talk to existing clients, to talk about the …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

… overjoyed to have their account restored, especially in time for them to do their pre-Christmas promotion! Restoring … to cancel both his listing and outstanding invoice and be added to their ‘do not contact’ list. The online directory …

… and federal regulations that apply to franchises. Take the time to research thoroughly and seek advice from industry … and federal regulations that apply to franchises. Take the time to research thoroughly and seek advice from industry …

… representing 44% of all small businesses in Tasmania on 30 June 2023. The highest number of small businesses were in: … representing 44% of all small businesses in Tasmania on 30 June 2023. The highest number of small businesses were in: …

… MSME Day is an initiative of the United Nations General Assembly … MSME Day is an initiative of the United Nations General Assembly …

… legal action if possible. This might include proposing a payment plan. Resources to help: What to do when you haven't … legal action if possible. This might include proposing a payment plan. Resources to help: What to do when you haven't …

… Table 2: Employment numbers ('000s) by industry, 30 June 2024 … Table 2: Employment numbers ('000s) by industry, 30 June 2024 …

… a written response within 28 days. This response must be substantive (comprehensive) and detail reasons for … and sincere in all interactions. A party will not be in breach of the obligation to act in good faith just for … agree to terminate on the terms proposed, the matter may be considered to be in dispute and trigger the dispute …

… were 550,957 small businesses in Greater Melbourne on 30 June 2023, representing 79% of all small businesses in … were 148,019 small businesses in the rest of Victoria on 30 June 2023, accounting for 21% of all Victorian small …

… Other Territories decreased by 150 (7%) over the year to 30 June 2023, after a 16% increase in the previous year. … Other Territories decreased by 150 (7%) over the year to 30 June 2023, after a 16% increase in the previous year. …

… prescribed program requirements at a given point in time. … prescribed program requirements at a given point in time. …

… a resolution offer. The franchisee requested additional time to consider the offer and evaluate next steps. To … a resolution offer. The franchisee requested additional time to consider the offer and evaluate next steps. To …

Committee inquiry into the Scams Prevention Framework Bill 2024

Submission

August newsletter - ASBFEO launches Small Business Pulse

We have today launched the ASBFEO Small Business Pulse – an innovative combination of non-traditional and traditional data to produce an indicator of small business health.

We have today launched the ASBFEO Small Business Pulse – an innovative combination of non-traditional and traditional data to produce an indicator of small business health.

Newsletters

… of natural disasters on small and family businesses can be devastating and can include damaged and destroyed assets … outside of directly affected disaster areas can also be adversely impacted through the effects of smoke taint, … the cost of natural disasters and lengthy recovery time for small businesses and regional networks could be …

… December 2023. This was a 8% decrease compared to the same time the previous year, and a 5% decrease compared to … December 2023. This was a 8% decrease compared to the same time the previous year, and a 5% decrease compared to …

… with an experienced small business tax lawyer. A $100 co-payment is required, with the remaining balance paid by the … with an experienced small business tax lawyer. A $100 co-payment is required, with the remaining balance paid by the …

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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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