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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
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      • Franchising done well
        • Different types of franchises
        • Characteristics that are important in a franchise relationship
        • Specific purpose funds
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        • 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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  • 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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      • 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.  

    • 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)
    • Payment Times Reporting Scheme
    • Disputes with an overseas business
    • Small Business Hub
    • Default credit listings
    • Working as a delivery driver
    • Healthy business relationships and dispute resolution
    • ‘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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    • Quarterly reports
    • Events
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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
    • Spotlight on Sole Traders

The February 2026 Small Business Pulse is now available

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  • Basic page (80)
  • Media Centre item (28)
  • Submission (14)
  • Report (3)

Media Section

  • Media Centre (27)

Media Source

  • ASBFEO Live (28)

… which traditional sources of information and point-in-time surveys often miss.  “While interesting and informative, … money are insolvent.  “There is good reason for them to be worried, with corporate insolvencies at their highest … although they remain below pre-pandemic levels.  “Payment disputes are often an early warning sign of cash flow …

Dairy Code

… complaints. Internal dispute resolution processes may be managed by the processor’s complaint handling officer. … manage independently. The mediator will decide the date, time, and place that the mediation will take place and the … you of their costs. In general, the mediator has a half-day rate and a full-day rate, with the length of time for the …

Basic page

Financial wellbeing

… outcomes. Read your contract/agreement before signing and be aware of interest rates and penalties for non-payment. If you are unsure of anything, ask for more … 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 …

Basic page

… ,-10.4 -2.8,-0.7 -2.8,-0.7 -1,-1.9 -1,-1.9 -3.9,0 -4,1.5 0,-30.9 c … ,-10.4 -2.8,-0.7 -2.8,-0.7 -1,-1.9 -1,-1.9 -3.9,0 -4,1.5 0,-30.9 c …

Tasmania

… representing 2% of Australian small businesses on 30 June 2023. This is in proportion to the 2% of Australians … 15 January 2024 Table 1: Small businesses in Tasmania, 30 June 2023 Download data Source: Based on Australian Bureau … small businesses were in the rest of Tasmanian areas on 30 June 2023. This aligns with the population distribution, …

Basic page

… ADR practitioner for the dispute. This appointment is to be made within 14 days of the ASBFEO receiving the request to … of their costs. In general, the practitioner has a half day rate and a full day rate. The length of time the ADR process will take depends on the complexity of …

… ADR practitioner for the dispute. This appointment is to be made within 14 days of the ASBFEO receiving the request to … of their costs. In general, the practitioner has a half day rate and a full day rate. The length of time the ADR process will take depends on the complexity of …

… has been completed by ASBFEO, any available documents will be forwarded to the applicant. If the requested documents or … log of information accessed under FOI requests must be published, except for personal, business or certain other … to FOI requests on the Treasury website at the same time as providing the response to the applicant. Documents …

South Australia

… There were 155,221 small businesses in South Australia on 30 June 2023, representing 6% of all Australian small … January 2024 Table 1: Small business in South Australia, 30 June 2023 Download data Total includes a small number of … Australian small businesses were in Greater Adelaide on 30 June 2023. This is consistent with South Australia’s …

Basic page

Queensland

… There were 482,836 small businesses in Queensland on 30 June 2023, representing 19% of all Australian small … 15 January 2024. Table 1: Small business in Queensland, 30 June 2023 Download data Source : Based on Australian … Greater Brisbane, there were 221,618 small businesses on 30 June 2023, representing 46% of all small businesses in …

Basic page

Treasury Payday super - Exposure Draft

Submission

RBA Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging

… RBA Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging Date Tue, 09/09/2025 - 12:00 File RBA Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging.pdf pdf 223.19 KB Summary RBA Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging  … RBA Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging  …

Submission

… MSME Day messages from the Ombudsman, Minister for Small Business … celebrates World Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Day 2023 A message from Hon Julie Collins, Minister for Small … on World Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Day 2023 A message from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on …

Implementing Australian’s Strategy for Nature 2024-2030

Submission

Small businesses renewal accelerates as owners embrace growth and transformation

Key highlights: ASBFEO Small Business Pulse November 2025

The ASBFEO Small Business Pulse increased by 0.8% in the three months to November 2025 – the third consecutive quarterly increase. It increased 0.5% compared to the same…

… quarterly increase. It increased 0.5% compared to the same time last year. There is strong momentum amongst small … quarterly increase. It increased 0.5% compared to the same time last year. The Australian Small Business and Family … as tax deductions [6] . Regulators’ terminology can also be confusing for entrepreneurs. For example, confusion on …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

… department. The majority of ASBFEO’s approximately 30 staff are located at the primary office, Level 2, 15 Moore … review of the ASBFEO’s functions was required to be completed one year after its establishment, by 30 June … to FOI requests on the Treasury website at the same time as providing the response to the applicant. Documents …

… 2021. This was a 19% increase compared to the same time in 2020 and slightly lower than at the end of September … 0-19 (Small) 116,547 35,178 151,728 20-199 (Medium) 66,104 30,708 96,812 200+ (Large) 58,959 29,840 88,800 Unknown 7,800 … >, extracted on 30/07/22. Over three quarters of apprentices and trainees …

Mental health

… to help manage the stressors involved. 1. Structure your day Schedule time for calls, lead follow-ups, emails, social media … Don’t try to do everything Create a list of what needs to be done and prioritise, cut unnecessary tasks, delegate and …

Basic page

MEDIA RELEASE: Surge in small business disputes with Big Tech platforms

The number of small business disputes with Big Tech platform providers is 86 per cent higher than the same time last year, according to the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson.

Mr Billson said over the past…

… platform providers is 86 per cent higher than the same time last year, according to the Australian Small Business … your account shut down after being hacked – solving it can be a nightmare.  “These platforms require a time and resource-poor small business to navigate the most …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Western Australia

… were 238,907 small businesses in Western Australia on 30 June 2023, representing 9% of all Australian small … 2024 Table 1: Small businesses in Western Australia, 30 June 2023 Download data Source: Based on Australian Bureau … There were 190,679 small businesses in Greater Perth on 30 June 2023, representing 80% of Western Australia’s small …

Basic page

About us

… department. The majority of ASBFEO’s approximately 30 staff are located at the primary office, Level 2, 15 Moore … review of the ASBFEO’s functions was required to be completed one year after its establishment, by 30 June … to FOI requests on the Treasury website at the same time as providing the response to the applicant. Documents …

Basic page

New Franchising Sector Powers for Small Business Ombudsman

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, welcomes the Australian Government’s response to the review of the Franchising Code of Conduct by Dr Michael Schaper.

The Minister for Small Business, Julie Collins,…

… of franchising data sets. The Ombudsman will also be given the power to name and shame franchisors who have not … discourage big business from using their muscle to force time and resource-poor small business to have no alternative … but to seek redress in court – an expensive and time-consuming pathway they almost always cannot afford to …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Victoria

… Victoria There were 701,061 small businesses in Victoria on 30 June 2023, representing 28% of all Australian small … 15 January 2024 Table 1: Small business in Victoria, 30 June 2023 Download data Source : Based on Australian … were 550,957 small businesses in Greater Melbourne on 30 June 2023, representing 79% of all small businesses in …

Basic page

… employed 167,328 apprentices and trainees in-training on 30 September 2022. This was a 12% increase compared to the same time the previous year, and a 6% decrease compared to June … the economic recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. To be eligible, apprentices needed a commencement date between 5 …

Changes to Australian workplace laws

…   how casual work is defined   the pathway to full-time or part-time employment   employee and employer … of paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave. The full 10 day leave entitlement is available immediately - it does not need to be accumulated like annual leave. It also doesn’t increase …

Basic page

… quarterly increase. It increased 1.2% compared to the same time last year.  The Australian Small Business and Family … Concerns about business durability exist at the same time as strong growth ambitions and a desire to improve … – because the consequences of getting it wrong can be severe.  “Despite these pressures, many small businesses …

… Background Natural disasters can be catastrophic and have prolonged impacts for individuals, … The impacts of natural disasters on small businesses can be devastating. These impacts can include damaged and … the cost of natural disasters and lengthy recovery time for small businesses and regional networks could be …

… the invoice, confirm it has been received. Ten days before payment is due, check your invoice has been processed and is due to be paid. If payment is 1-2 days overdue, contact the accounts area and …

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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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