Contact Consumer Protection
Tel: 1300 30 40 54
consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au
See all Consumer Protection office locations
Small business
This page is for:
Small business and farmerSmall business
Consumer Protection provides information which may help small business owners get started or run a successful business.
- New business - Consumer Protection checklist for new business
- Selling goods and services - under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL)
- Licensing - for some occupations such as motor vehicle repairers, employment agents, real estate agents, land valurers etc.
- Voucher websites - tips on avoiding traps of voucher websites
- Commercial tenancy - information and forms for commercial tenancies (retail shops)
- Limited partnerships, Associations and Cooperatives - information about business types and the consumer laws which affect them
- WA ScamNet - list of scam, tips on how to avoid them and susbcribe to alerts
- Retail trading hours - the hours you are allowed to trade can depend on the ownership and size of your business, plus the staff you employ.
Below are some other helpful links:
Publications
- Small business self assessment checklist (PDF 1.69MB) - a checklist to help you to become aware of your rights and comply with your obligations under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
- Small business and the competition and consumer act - your rights and responsibilities
- Competition and consumer law - an overview for small business
Other useful links
- Business names - Business names register with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) – supports new and existing small businesses with a range of free and low cost workshops. Experienced business advisers can also provide help by phone, email or in person. An online Business Licence Finder will direct you to all the licence and permits you need, plus a range of practical business resources, tools and templates (in print and online) are available. Aspiring and current business owners are invited to join more than 3,500 of their peers at the SBDC’s Facebook group ‘I’m a small business owner in Western Australia’; a great place to gain knowledge and share ideas.
- MoneySmart - includes information and tools to help manage your finances including a GST calculator and an app especially designed for small businesses called First Business app.
- Solving a business problem - handling consumer complaints (SBDC), Alternative Dispute Resolution (SBDC) and Magistrate court
- Labour relations and Fair Work Commission
- WorkSafe
Free online education program
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission have free interative eduction tools and regularly run events.
ACCC have produced a free online education program for small business. It covers subjects including advertising, unfair selling practices, scams and consumer contracts.
A joint-agency webinar brought to you by ASIC, FWO, ACCC, and ATO. The webinar included presentations from the four government agencies and a question-and-answer panel session. Business Enterprise Centres Australia facilitated the webinar and Small Biz Connect (University of Western Sydney) participated in the panel session. This webinar was held on Wednesday 22 October 2014.
Franchises
The ACCC has developed guidance on the new Code, including an updated Franchisee Manual and Franchisor Compliance Manual. The new guidance will be available at www.accc.gov.au/franchisingcode.
The ACCC also provides a resource for prospective franchisees through Griffith University’s Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence. The Pre-Entry Franchise Education Program is a free, online program consisting of five modules and is designed to give small business operators and prospective franchisees a realistic understanding of franchising.
A webinar about the new code was held in early December 2014 and is now available on the ACCC's youtube channel.
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