Information about the SBDC, including our governance framework, Small Business Commissioner, SBDC Board and facts and stats about the sector in Western Australia.
Learn what to expect when attending a mediation session facilitated by the SBDC's dispute resolution service.
The Magistrates Court of Western Australia deals with claims for debt and damages up to $75,000. This guide provides information on the process if you decide to make a claim.
When business owner Jorden Williamson opened a Pokémon Booster Box with a mate on Facebook via live a few years ago for fun, they didn’t envision it would lead to opening a popular bricks and mortar shop in central Geraldton, WA. The trading card enthusiasts who have been friends since they met as teenagers, were having a quiet beer one night when...
Connecting to a business adviser at the SBDC can make the world of difference to any new business according to artistic business founder, Kym Gow. “It is daunting starting out in a new business,” Kym said. “I wish I'd known about what was on offer from the SBDC in the beginning.” Colour Passion is an online business that provides high quality...
Gary Mitchell knows just how much the world of small business has changed over the past 30 years. He credits the SBDC with helping him get through the tough times to help his business thrive. For more than 30 years, Gary Mitchell has been carving a niche in WA’s small business landscape. His business, Framous Picture Framing, offers a range of...
The switch from employee to boss isn’t always an easy – and neither is working with your spouse. Here are some insights shared by business owners Molly and Jordan Kirk, who co-own a commercial refrigeration and air conditioning business in Perth. Molly and her husband Jordan worked for a refrigeration company and later bought out the business under...
Buying an established business can be challenging – but it can help knowing there’s somewhere you can turn for support. Jasmine Kik from Fireplaces WA uses our SBDC services regularly and shares her story. Fireplaces WA is a family-owned business offering a range of gas, wood, bio-ethanol, and electric fireplaces. According to the Fireplaces WA...
Kerry Ridley's business, My Little Bookshop, began as a mobile bookshop in May 2019. Kerry discovered our SBDC services as she was preparing to open her first 'bricks and mortar' bookstore on the Rockingham foreshore. At the SBDC, we're here to support all kinds of businesses at all stages of their journey. My Little Bookshop has grown from being a...
There’s no such thing as a stress-free business, as Narelle and Andrew Anderson know. Even the kind of business designed to help people de-stress can present a range of challenges – but it’s worth remembering that help is always available. Narelle and Andrew Anderson’s business The Life Spring operates across two locations. They have three float...
Turning a hobby into a side hustle business can be a labour of love, but one business owner warns others to be careful of the ‘fine print’ of regulations if you are working from home. Empire Copper is owned and operated by husband and wife team Cam and Beth Hayes as a side hustle, while they still work full time in the sheet-metal industry and...
A passion for sewing and lessons from her dressmaker mother motivated Fiona Larkins to move from retail management to running her own clothing alteration business at the tender age of 24. In 2024, her city-based business is celebrating 30 years, and still going strong. Location, location, location Armed with a can-do attitude, Fiona identified a...
