Skip to main content
Home

Spotlight Menu

  • About us
  • Latest news
  • Subscribe
x

Subscribe to Our Newsletter




 

 

 

InfoLine: 1300 650 460

  • About us
    • Contact Us
  • 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
    • The Tax Concierge Service
    • Alternative Dispute Resolution
    • Access to low cost advice for disputes
    • Dispute case studies
    • Franchising
      • Franchising Mediation Feedback Form
    • 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.  

    • Cyber security
    • Financial Wellbeing
    • Mental health
    • Handling debts
    • 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
    • Disaster preparation and recovery
    • Self-employment
    • Changes to Australian workplace laws
    • The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (US)
    • Payment Times Reporting Scheme
    • Small Business Hub
    • Our network
    • ‘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
  • 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
      • Australian Capital Territory
    • Location of Australia’s small businesses - regional and metro areas

Small Business Pulse - February 2025

x

  • Print page
  • Email page
  1. Home

Content type

  • Media Centre item (267)
  • Basic page (61)
  • Submission (56)
  • Newsletters (13)
  • Report (3)

Media Section

  • Media Centre (256)
  • Disputes & Assistance (2)
  • Policy & Advocacy (2)
  • Resources & Tools Centre (1)

Media Source

  • ASBFEO Live (267)

Success story type

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

Transcript: Small business natural disaster preparedness and resilience

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Ricardo Gonçalves. 

SBS On The Money

Subject: Small business natural disasters preparedness and…

… Billson.  Bruce Billson  Most small businesses are very time-poor and they're really focused on working in the … event for the business owner. Help navigate that and be in the best positioned you possibly can, to recover on the … of COVID and all the consequences of that. That's a tough time. And those dislocations to a business, if we're not well …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

OP-ED: Big tech must do better by small biz

Bruce Billson 

Published in The Daily Telegraph and the Courier-Mail

15 October 2024

When a small business has a problem with a Big Tech digital platform - such as having your account shut down after being hacked…

… 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 … my agency has soared by 86 per cent compared with the same time last year. Over the past two years, the number of small …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

… a streamlined and improved user experience, reducing the time to register as a new business, or apply for additional … not been able to resolve the issue with them, the IGTO may be able to help. IP Australia  helps businesses to learn … a streamlined and improved user experience, reducing the time to register as a new business, or apply for additional …

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

Temporary insolvency protections sensible as lockdowns continue

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has urged the Federal Government and regulators to consider the reactivation of temporary insolvency protections, to support small and family businesses doing it tough in…

… protections for small and family businesses that may be trading insolvent due to lockdown trading restrictions. … June, and that trend is widely expected to continue with payment times stretching out. “Bringing back temporary … like this that give otherwise viable small businesses more time to recover or turnaround, preventing a wave of …

Media Centre item
News
ASBFEO Live

New rules to ensure small businesses in dispute with ATO get a fairer go

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson says small businesses in dispute with the ATO will get a fairer go, under new rules proposed by the Australian Government.

Mr Billson welcomed the pre-Budget…

… debt recovery actions through the court system. This can be prohibitively expensive and time consuming for a small business. “Under the proposed … resolved by the AAT. “It means that rather than spending time and money fighting in court, small business owners can …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Privacy changes coming for small business

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

Radio 2CC

Subject: Privacy changes coming for small business

Leon Delaney

Small businesses in…

… on replacing the current arrangements. but what will they be replaced with, and will they be workable for small … a risk to their business. That's been with us for some time. But in the Privacy Act, there is a general exemption … need to involve deep ponderance around principles and 20, 30, 40 hours navigating that framework. For businesses …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

TRANSCRIPT: Digital platforms and small businesses

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson interview with Narelle Graham on ABC Radio South Australia.

Subject: Digital platforms and small businesses 

Narelle Graham 

…

… Bruce, good afternoon.  Bruce Billson  Narelle, awesome to be with you and your audience.  Narelle Graham  Any pattern … for the destruction of it. Thanks very much. Have a great day’.   Or it might be where if you can't solve your problems … for the destruction of it. Thanks very much. Have a great day’.   Or it might be where if you can't solve your problems …

Media Centre item
Transcript
ASBFEO Live

Small businesses reap rewards amid rush to buy Australian Made

Small and family businesses are benefiting from a significant boost in consumer sentiment, with new research revealing 93% of Aussies prefer to buy products made in Australia.

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce…

… Australian Made products, an additional $5 billion would be generated in our economy over the year, creating 11,000 … new jobs.   “That’s why this Australian Made Week (24-30 May) is a great time to support a small or family business by spending …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Ombudsman welcomes Commonwealth Bank announcement on least cost routing

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson today welcomed the announcement by the Commonwealth Bank that it will automatically lower costs incurred by small businesses and family enterprises with a turnover of less than…

… of the small business community. There is a lot more to be done though, and I urge all banks and financial … the economy is many millions of dollars – money that could be better put to work to grow business and employment … of the small business community. There is a lot more to be done though, and I urge all banks and financial …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Ombudsman launches Inquiry into Commonwealth Procurement

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has launched an Inquiry to examine the impact of reforms to Commonwealth procurement rules on small business.

The Inquiry was referred to the Ombudsman by the Minister…

… Ombudsman launches Inquiry into Commonwealth Procurement 30 March 2023 The Australian Small Business and Family … great to see the Australian Government’s commitment to be a bigger customer for small businesses,” Mr Billson said. … contracts can be complex, costly, confusing and time-consuming. “Supporting the opportunity for small and …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

… 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 …

Strategic Plan for the Payments System: Consultation Paper

Submission

Independent Evaluation of the JobKeeper Payment

… Independent Evaluation of the JobKeeper Payment Date Thu, 07/06/2023 - 12:00 File SB - Independent evaluation of the JobKeeper payment.pdf pdf 224.36 KB Summary Independent Evaluation of the JobKeeper Payment … Independent Evaluation of the JobKeeper Payment … …

Submission

WELCOME ACTION ON UNFAIR CONTRACT TERMS

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed the Albanese Government’s move to introduce legislation to ban unfair contract terms for small businesses.  “This is a real problem for small and family…

… Mr Billson said.  The Ministers said the government would be introducing civil penalty provisions ‘outlawing the use … by real people who deserve our respect and empathy every day.”  Mr Billson said he also welcomed the government’s move … by real people who deserve our respect and empathy every day.”  Mr Billson said he also welcomed the government’s move …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Ombudsman working with Australia Post to support food producers

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson says today’s decision by Australia Post to continue shipping perishable goods across the country will bring joyful relief to small business food producers.

Mr Billson…

… their business – with confidence that their goods will be delivered by Australia Post. “Australia Post has … business customers by reversing this decision. “Now is the time to be working together to identify what the problems are … business customers by reversing this decision. “Now is the time to be working together to identify what the problems are …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

40,000 SMALL BUSINESSES HELPED BY OMBUDSMAN

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has reached the milestone of helping 40,000 small businesses seeking assistance with a dispute.

Ombudsman Bruce Billson said this was a significant moment for the agency.

“…

… watch the financial and emotional damage occur in real time with no ability to stop it. “One of the absurdities of … that clear, appropriate, and standardised procedures be put in place to enable a timely resolution for small … to be about payments which accounts for 38%, up from 30% two years ago. There has also been a rise in the …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

Why it’s time to celebrate our hard-working self-employed

Originally published in Kochie's Business Builder.

We rightly honour and respect people for the livelihoods they carve out and the contribution they make to workplaces and the economy. But what is often missed as a vital and valued path to…

… Why it’s time to celebrate our hard-working self-employed 28 August … come from? Let’s celebrate the self-employed The dream to be your own boss, working when and where you choose while … than two-thirds of self-employed women choose to work part-time, compared with only 47 per cent of women in the general …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

… 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

Franchising

… to help them reach an agreement. Should the parties not be able to agree, either party may request that the dispute … their franchise agreement early. Under the Code, at any time a franchisee may give their franchisor a written … of their costs. In general, the practitioner has a half day rate and a full day rate. The length of time the ADR …

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

OP-ED: Big tech is failing the little guys

Bruce Billson 

 

Published in the Bendigo Advertiser and ACM Network

14 October, 2024

BIG tech digital platform providers need to urgently lift their game and provide clear, appropriate and easily…

… providers has soared by 86 per cent compared to the same time last year. And over the past two years, the number of … 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
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

Don’t let complacency catch you out in coming 3G shut-off

By Bruce Billson.

Originally published in the West Australian.

Small, family and farming businesses should take urgent action to make sure they are not caught out by the 3G switch-off coming in October.

This change is about far more…

… bookings and payroll, could stop working. At risk may be security systems and cameras, tablets, telephones in … is an awful lot of technology and equipment used every day that’s actually enabled by 3G, and I fear many small … to get on with business. It would be terrible if the first time you learn it runs on 3G is when it shuts down, and that …

Media Centre item
Op-ed
ASBFEO Live

DIGITAL PLATFORM PROVIDERS NEED TO DO BETTER FOR SMALL BUSINESS

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has called on digital platform providers to dramatically improve their dispute resolution processes for small business.

Mr Billson said there has been a noticeable…

… us with a direct human contact to enable these disputes to be escalated and a satisfactory outcome achieved quickly. … watch the financial and emotional damage occur in real time with no ability to stop it. “There have been too many … with scammers only removing them once they receive payment. “Most disturbingly, there are commercial service …

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

Franchising Code reforms help level playing field for franchisees

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson says the significant reforms to the Franchising Code of Conduct announced by the Australian Government today will help level the playing field across the franchising sector.…

… to the Code mean prospective and current franchisees will be better armed with vital information needed to run their … visibility around rebates and leasing arrangements will be achieved by these reforms. “The new mandatory Franchise … to the Code mean prospective and current franchisees will be better armed with vital information needed to run their …

Media Centre item
Media Releases
ASBFEO Live

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

Pagination

  • « First First page
  • ‹ Previous Previous page
  • …
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • …
  • Next › Next page
  • Last » Last page

Connect with us

facebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

twitter

 

 

 

 

 

instagram

 

 

 

 

 

linkedin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

youtube

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

newsletter

 

 

atsi

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.

Primary Footer Menu 1

  • Social Media
  • Resources and tools
  • Data portal
  • Dispute support
  • One thing ASBFEO can do for me
  • Contact us

Highlight

  • About
  • Copyright

Footer menu

  • Language Assistance
  • Accessibility
  • Treasury AI Transparency Statement
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap