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Useful links for small business owners and people thinking about buying or starting a business

• Thinking of starting a new business and want to make sure you get it right?
• Currently managing a small business and don't know where to go to find the answer to a problem?

This page brings together all of the business advice websites of each of the states of Australia (and a few other useful sites as well)  in one easy to access location.  It is in a state of constant evolution – as we find more useful links and resources we will add them to this list.

These links are all excellent starting points to help you to make sure you have covered all the issues you need to when thinking about starting your own business or dealing with everyday business management problems . They are generally produced by government bodies and offer an enormous range of free advice, assistance and support. Take the time to have a really good look around these sites now and take advantages of all the advice, services and assistance they offer. It may make all the difference to the success or failure of your business!

Link	Overview
business.gov.au	The Australian Government website offers an excellent in depth review of all the issues you need to consider when starting a new business. They also offer an amazing range of links to valuable free resources. Definitely worth taking the time to have a really good look around. Best way to do it is via the site map – that way you know you have found everything. We have listed a few of the really useful finds separately just in case you miss them so if you are looking for something in particular have a look through our alphabetical list below.
The Business Train	The Business Train has been established to supply a unique approach to business and career development. The Business Train Mentoring Program is designed specifically to assist anyone in business or managers wanting to enhance their careers how to use the tools in the toolbox effectively and maximise every skill set.
Mentornet	The MentorNet program is the first national mentoring program ever launched and certainly the first to use today’s web and digital technology to deliver education and mentoring.  The program uses a combination of online classrooms, blogs, podcasts, a web-community and virtual meetings to provide structured skills training and mentoring to businesswomen.
Each of the states also provide a business information websites to help you succeed in starting a new business or managing your existing business. Do make sure you check out the sites for you own state to ensure that you take advantage of any free advice, services and assistance which may be available to businesses in your state. However, don’t feel limited to just looking at the site for your own state – have a browse around and find the ones which you find easiest to navigate and learn from. Each of us has our own learning style and often find some sites easier to follow that others.
Australian Capital Territory
ACT Government	Lists all of the assistance programs provided by the ACT and Australian Governments designed to help new and developing businesses.
Canberra Business Advisory Service	The Canberra Business Advisory Service helps people with business issues and problems in the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) and people interested in doing business in the ACT.
New South Wales
New South Wales Government	The NSW Government information website for people starting and managing small business. Make sure you find the home biz kit an information resource developed by the New South Wales Government (Department of State and Regional Development) to help you grow your business at home.
Northern Territory
The Territory Business Channel	The Territory Business Channel is the Northern Territory Government information website for people starting and managing businesses in the NT.
Queensland
Smart Small Business	Smart Small Business is the Queensland Government website for new and developing businesses in Queensland.
GOBiS	The Government Business Information Service (GOBiS) connects business with government services and programs inlcuding: Training, seminars and workshops. Export opportunities and networking. Government subsidies and grants. Industry product matching/sourcing facilities. Trade assistance and development.
Smart Skills	Smart Skills is an online learning site for people in business or starting a business. It contains a range of subjects and fact sheets on the following topic areas: startup; business planning; marketing/sales; operations; finance/cash; exporting; e-commerce; home based business.
South Australia
South Australia Biz	The SA Office of Small Business offers a range of  business tools and a help line for additional assistance.
Tasmania
Small Business Assistance	The small business assistance section of the Tasaminia government website.
Victoria
Business Victoria	The Victorian Government business advisory website.
The Small Business Counselling Service  sbcs.org.au	The SBCS is an independent non-profit organisation providing experienced volunteer business counsellors, mentors and coaches to Victorian businesses.
Business Enterprise Centres	Business Enterprise Centres have been set up to help you start a new business and assist you to maintain and grow your business. Located throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria they are part of a national network of more than 130 BEC's. Each BEC has it's own local identity, many with web sites, so contact your closest BEC to find out more. BEC's offer a range of business services and programs
Western Australia
Small Business Development Council	This is an awesome site with a huge range of offerings including training programs, networking opportunities and business and licensing information.  It is also really well set out and easy to navigate. Well worth a look even if you're not in WA.

And just a few other things we wanted to make sure you didn’t miss out on!   We’ll be adding new links to this list whenever we find them. If you know of a really useful link which could benefit other small business owners please let us know about it so we can add it to our site.

Topic	Link	Overview
E-business	e-businessguide.gov.au	The e-businessguide website provides information and resources about e-business for small businesses in Australia .  A great feature of this site is the downloadable  e-businessguide planner which shows the whole website on one page so you can see at a glance what sections to explore.
Employment	Job Search	This section of the Job Search website is an access point to useful employer information. Whether you’re looking for information on employing staff and your superannuation obligations as an employer or on awards, wages and conditions of employment and workplace safety, you’ll find it on this site.
Fair Trading	accc.gov.au	This link takes you to a summary of the Trade Practices Act The main federal law, the Trade Practices Act, ensures that trading in the marketplace is fair both for your business and your customers. An electronic version of this publication is available for free.
Franchising	franchisebusiness.com.au	Thinking about buying a franchise? The online directory of the Franchise Council of Australia provides a comprehensive list of franchises available in Australia with contact details, links to advisory bodies from a number of disciplines specialising in franchises and useful and relevant articles to keep you up to date and informed on issues relating to buying and owning a franchise.
Grants and Assistance	Grants and assistance	Grants and other funding programs are available from the federal, state and territory governments and in some cases from local councils. This page provides an alphabetical listing of grants and other assistance available for starting and expanding your small business, research and development, innovation and exporting.
Indigenous Community Volunteers	icv.com.au	ICV is a not for profit organisation providing Indigenous Australians with new skills. Communities, organisations or individuals identify their needs and ICV links them with skilled volunteers for a wide range of projects. Volunteering with ICV is not only about skills transfer – it’s also about cultural exchange. To get involved contact the National Volunteer Manager on 1800 819 542 or visit the website.
Importing & exporting	Austrade	For detailed information follow the Austrade link to visit Austrade’s Export Services directory. Whether you are entering an exportmarket for the first time or expanding your overseas business, this site is a mine of information on services to help you with international markets.
	myexportcoach.gov.au	MY EXPORT COACH is a free online service located on the Austrade website that allows companies with limited experience in international markets to make a fast decision about their likely success. It helps answer basic questions such as what you can export, where the best opportunities await, how to export, and what assistance is available. This portal site also provides links to other assistance and information about opportunities just opening up with FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS recently signed with the United States of America and other countries.
Mentoring and Business Coaching	sbcs.org.au	The SBCS is an independent non-profit organisation providing experienced volunteer business counsellors, mentors and coaches to Victorian businesses. The SBCS has been successfully supplying business counsellors, mentors and coaches to Victorian businesses since 1986. Marketers, salespeople, bankers, accountants, manufacturers, retailers, franchisors, tourism operators – you name it we have probably got them! All people who have been successful in business.
Inventions	innovic.com.au	INNOVIC - is Victoria's leading provider of services to innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs and small to medium enterprises who are in the early stages of getting their ideas to work. INNOVIC provides a range of professional and confidential services to: * Ensure that your idea is viable before you start spending money. * Support you as you progress through the commercialisation process. * Link you with patent attorneys, designers, prototypers, manufacturers and many other specialists. * Provide you with help every step of the way.
Technology Help	industrytechlink.com.au	TechLink is a government funded, privately run service that helps small business get started with new and emerging technologies. Industry TechLink provides business with impartial , confidential and expert links to technology information, products and people. This is a FREE service.