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As a small business owner, you’re required to wear many hats.

Your tasks could include planning and strategy, finance and accounting, legal, marketing and sales, customer service, HR and more. That’s a lot for one person to handle, especially when you’re still learning the ropes.

When you need a hand, turn to the Small Business Development Corporation. We are here to help you learn new skills, taken on challenges and keep your business on track.

Practical workshops

Our practical workshops are designed to provide you with the skills and information you need to start and grow your business. They’re full of handy tips and key information and are a great way to build your business skills. These sessions are available for the low cost of $20, thanks to funding from the State Government, with online and in person options to suit your schedule.

Our workshops cover a range of business topics across six key categories, and are delivered by presenters who are specialists in their field. If you are thinking about starting a business but are not sure where to begin, we recommend our Starting a Business workshop.

See our upcoming workshop dates

Free one-to-one business support

Running a successful business doesn’t’ just happen by chance. It takes good planning, acumen and resilience to attract new customers, take advantage of market opportunities and grow your profit margins.

Our experienced business advisers can offer you sound guidance and information at all stages of your business journey. Our team of advisers are located throughout Western Australia and can help you navigate the steps to get started, provide guidance when you take on new employees, consider options to market your business, assist you to understand your finances, and so much more.

If you’re just starting your business, our free business advisory service can provide guidance on how to structure it, how to write a business plan, undertake market research, manage the financials, handle sales and marketing and much more.

We also provide a dedicated dispute resolution service, allowing you to work with the other party involved to explore solutions and reach a practical agreement, ultimately helping you return to running your business more efficiently.

Explore our range of business advisory services

Templates, tools and guides to support you

If self-learning is more of your thing, explore our range of free resources to help you develop your core business knowledge and keep up-to-date with the latest changes affecting small business.

This includes free financial, business planning, marketing and debt recover templates as well as information guides to help you build your knowledge on about business partnerships, finance and insurance, leasing and more.

Explore our range of templates and tools

The latest small business news

Our SBDC Blog is regularly updated with information to help you navigate through the rapidly changing business landscape and provides a range of practical tips and advice to help you run your business. Blog topics include updates on marketing and promotions, managing risk, financial management and changes to regulations that may affect your business.

Visit the SBDC Blog  Sign up for our regular e-news

Are you ready to turn to us?

To access any of our support services, call us on 133 140.

We are open from 8:30am to 4:30pm weekdays.

If you’d like to contact us out of hours, please leave us a message via live chat and one of our friendly advisers will get back to you.

You’ve got your ABN – now let’s help you start smart by building your business the right way.

Starting a new business is a bold and exciting move, but it can also feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re here.

At the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC), we help new business owners in WA start smart, avoiding costly mistakes, and building a business that lasts.

How we’ve helped real WA small businesses thrive

Now it’s your turn

Let us guide you through the early stages of business.

Sign up for our Start Smart series – a free, six part email series designed to help you turn your idea into a confident, structured business launch.

When you opt in, you’ll receive a free weekly email from the SBDC containing:

• Step by step guidance on what to do after registering your ABN.
• Essential tools and templates to save time and reduce risk.
• Invitations to free and low-cost workshops.
• Support from experienced business advisers who understand WA business.
• Access to our private Facebook Group to connect with fellow business owners.

No jargon. No overwhelm. Just the right help at the right time.

Yes, I want to start smart

Sign up in seconds by completing the form. Your small business journey starts here!

Here are the latest links we've shared via Instagram. Remember to follow us at @smallbusinesswa

SBDC services for business owners in Western Australia

• Business advisory service
• Workshops
• Dispute resolution service
• Report unfair business practice
• SBDC Regional
• Business Licence Finder
• Sign up for the SBDC e-news
• SBDC Blog
• Join our Facebook group

July

• How to discount without impacting on your profit margin
• 5 pricing mistakes and how to avoid them
• Smart strategies to tackle rising business costs
• Common business pricing myths busted
• 3 steps for getting building damage repaired
• Free business tool: Data and insights for your industry
• Taking your side hustle full time
• 7 things to do before you sign up for a new website

June

• Don’t make these credit card surcharge mistakes
• Handling residential noise complaints: Tips for hospitality businesses
• How will the right to disconnect laws affect small businesses?
• Business vehicle issues: What to do when the dealership won’t help
• Avoid future headaches by making dispute resolution plans today
• 1 July 2025 changes that may affect your business
• Small business owner’s guide to buying a vehicle

May

• Our quick guide to tax deductions
• Is your business viable?
• Does personal services income apply to you?
• Saj Abdoolakhan appointed as Small Business Commissioner and CEO
• The benefits of good financial record keeping
• End of financial year checklist
• Tax tips for home based businesses
• Changes to the Franchising Code of Conduct
• Starting a food business in Western Australia

April

• Jump Start your Business Program
• Free Doing Business with Government workshop
• Protecting your business from unlawful tax schemes
• Open for business on a public holiday?
• Have your say: Country of origin labelling for seafood - information standard and explanatory statement
• Free business templates, tools and guides
• WA Defence Industry and Science Capability Directory

March

• What the 2025-26 Federal Budget means for small business
• Tips to manage business regulation and compliance requirements
• Small Business Electricity Credit
• Preventing fraudulent credit card chargebacks in your business
• What is the PPSR and how can it protect your assets?
• Boost your Business: Smart Tech, Secure Future conference
• What advice is worth paying for in your business?
• Why government procurement is a big opportunity for small business

February

• Entrepreneurial Skills for Women workshop
• Preparing your business for a natural disaster
• Boost your Business: Smart Tech, Secure Future conference
• How to evaluate a potential business partner
• Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) feedback survey
• Borrowing from family to start your business?
• Small Business Electricity Credit

January

• New regulations for the tow truck industry
• Is it a hobby or a business?
• The easy way to finding the right business licences
• Will my business idea work?
• Starting a side hustle
• Kick off the New Year with your best foot forward
• Propel your Business program
• The best free resources to help you start your business

Thank you for opting in to receive the Small Business Development Corporation’s e-news and updates, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription. Once this step is completed, you will be added to our list.

We look forward to sharing information and resources with you, to help you start, survive and thrive in business.

For the latest small business news and information, you can also:

• Visit our SBDC Blog.
• Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

When you are a small business owner, dealing with a business dispute can cause stress, cost you time and money, and take your focus away from running your business.

Problems are an unavoidable part of running your own business. Every enterprise has its challenges, but it’s how you deal with them that makes the difference.

When you’re faced with a problem such as a dispute with another business or a government organisation, you can turn to the Small Business Development Corporation for free and confidential help. We offer the following range of free services to help you overcome any hurdles you may be facing.

Business advice

Our free business advisory service can provide you with practical guidance on how to resolve a problem in your business, like unpaid invoices or disputes with your landlord and clients or suppliers.

Our advisers are experienced current or former business owners, so they have been in your shoes and are well placed to help you. All of our advice is free, impartial and confidential.

Call our free advisory service on 133 140

Chat to us online

Find out more about our business advisory service

Dispute resolution

If you’re followed the guidance provided by our business advisers, but you’ve been unable to come to a resolution with the other party, our team can refer you to our specialist dispute resolution service.

You can try this service as a way of handling or finalising your dispute without going to court.

Our dispute resolution service does not provide legal advice, and needs both you, as the business owner, and the other party involved to be willing to participate and work cooperatively with our impartial case manager who will be assigned to your case. All parties involved will be supported to make their own decisions throughout these confidential discussions.

Our free dispute resolution service is easy to access and confidential, so you can get back to running your business sooner. It can help you with:

• Commercial leasing disputes
• Non-payment or non-performance of goods and services
• Disputes with other businesses or government departments

Find out more about our dispute resolution service

As a small business owner, you’re required to wear many hats.

Your tasks could include planning and strategy, finance and accounting, legal, marketing and sales, customer service, HR and more. That’s a lot for one person to handle, especially when you’re still learning the ropes. If you need a hand, turn to the Small Business Development Corporation. We are here to help you learn new skills, overcome problems and keep your business on track.

Practical online workshops

Our practical workshops are designed to provide you with the skills and information you need to start and grow your business. They’re full of handy tips and key information and are a great way to build your business skills. We currently offer them free of charge, with online and in person options to suit your schedule.

Our workshops cover a range of business topics across seven key categories, and our delivered by presenters who are specialists in their field. If you are thinking about starting a business but are not sure where to begin, we recommend our Starting a Business workshop.

See our upcoming workshop dates.

Free one-to-one business support

When it comes to running your own business, it’s not a matter of ‘if’ problems will arise, but ‘when’. Every small business faces challenges, but successfully dealing with them as they arise can prevent bigger problems later. Our advisers can offer you sound advice and suggestions to manage your business issues. We also have dedicated dispute resolution and subcontractor support services available.

If you’re just starting your business, our free business advisory service can provide guidance on how to structure it, how to write a business plan, undertake market research, manage the financials, handle sales and marketing and much more.

Find out more about our business advisory services.

Online resources to support you

If self-learning is more of your thing, explore our range of free resources to help you develop your core business knowledge and keep up-to-date with the latest changes affecting small business.

This includes free financial management, business planning, marketing and debt recover templates as well as information guides to help you build your knowledge on about business partnerships, finance and insurance, leasing and more.

Explore our range of templates and tools.

Our SBDC Blog is regularly updated with information to help you navigate through the rapidly changing business landscape and provides a range of practical tips and advice to help you run your business. Blog topics include updates on marketing and promotions, managing risk, financial management and changes to regulations that may affect your business.

Visit the SBDC Blog and sign up for our monthly e-news for the latest news and tips.

Are you ready to turn to us?

To access any of our support services, call us on 133 140.

We are open from 8:30am to 4:30pm weekdays.

If you’d like to contact us out of hours, please leave us a message via live chat and one of our friendly advisers will get back to you.

Starting a business is exciting and will probably be one of the biggest decisions of your life – but how do you turn it into reality?

There are many steps involved, such as registering your business, choosing your business structure and creating a business plan. If you need help getting started, you can turn to us.

Free one-to-one business support

Our free business advisory service can help you with anything from starting a business and creating a business plan, to leasing commercial premises or marketing your goods or services.

Our advisers are experienced current or former business owners, so they have been in your shoes and are well placed to help you. All of our advice is free, impartial and confidential.

Find out more about our business advisory service.

Practical workshops

Our practical workshops are designed to provide you with the skills and information you need to start and grow your business. They’re full of handy tips and key information and are a great way to build your business skills. 

Our workshops cover a range of business topics across seven key categories, and our delivered by presenters who are specialists in their field. If you are thinking about starting a business but are not sure where to begin, we recommend our free Starting a Business workshop.

See our upcoming workshop dates.

Free information and downloads to help you

Our website has a great range of free resources to help you. If you’ve just started on your journey to become a small business owner, you'll find the following particularly useful:

• 8 steps to starting a business – the process of starting a business broken down into eight easy to follow steps. This covers everything from making sure that you’re ready to start a business to creating a business plan and figuring out your finances.

• Turn your business idea into a career – if you’re looking to make the transition from paid employment to running your own business, our experienced advisers share their top four tips to help you make the change.

• Business templates, tools and guides – all our business templates are free to download (without having to provide personal information, like your name and email address) and cover key areas such as planning your finances, business planning and marketing.

• Free business research and industry reports - access market research information including IBISWorld industry reports that outline industry trends, market research and statistics to help you make better business decisions by contacting us.

Are you ready to turn to us?

To access any of our support services, call us on 133 140 or use our live chat

We are open from 8:30am to 4:30pm weekdays.

If you’d like to contact us out of hours, please leave us a message via live chat and one of our friendly advisers will get back to you.