I don’t know about you, but I feel like I blinked and we are now suddenly at the end of the year. In early September we released our first data report, 'Queensland Small Business Outlook – Beyond the pandemic' - the first of many to come.

The report highlights key growth locations in Queensland, ratios that can be used to benchmark performance against other businesses in your industry, and insights into the six largest/highest-growth industries in Queensland. The report also examines household spending, small business survival, and profitability throughout the pandemic and beyond. 

We also launched our refreshed Small Business Industry Roundtable, new Regional Roundtable, and our new Landlord Roundtable. These groups have been incredibly generous with their time and their insights, which will be used to inform our advocacy and assistance work.  We discussed everything from insurance, childcare, industrial relations reforms, taxation, digital and financial literacy, fuel, and freight.

We have also been out and about in Childers, Hervey Bay, Tiaro, and Maryborough, meeting with small businesses, and down to Melbourne for the Small Business Association of Australia’s conference. Everywhere we go, we hear and see businesses working hard to improve their efficiencies and productivity as well as working hard to find workers. You may or may not be aware, there are currently Industry Workforce Advisors across Queensland who are easy to access (no application) and who can connect you to subsidies and employees that are relevant to your industry. 

On our recent visit to Hervey Bay, we had the pleasure of touring the “Job Ready” program, which helps participants get ‘job ready’ and then maintain a job. These individuals may never have had a job, have struggled to find employment or speak English as a second language. This program has an 85% success rate and is changing lives. If you are looking for employees, it is possible to strike gold in unexpected places.

We understand that small businesses desperately need relief when it comes to cost of living pressures, so we were very pleased to hear about the Queensland Business Energy Savings and Transformation Program. I was speaking to a grocery store owner in Childers recently who told me he was able to reduce his electricity costs by $2,500 a month simply by upgrading his fridges. If electricity costs are biting, this program offers incentives which might help.

To celebrate Indigenous Business Month this month, I will be talking small business matters with Kantesha Takai and Tracey and Travis Harbour. I hope you can register for either of these sessions. Based on Thursday Island, Kantesha established Lola Digital, a unique creative agency harnessing local talents and crafting custom marketing strategies for local and national clients. 

Tracey and Travis Harbour established Jibija Ung-gwee to fill a gap in Winton’s outback tourism market and provide short-term mentoring and employment opportunities for First Nations people. Their vision is to create a sustainable outback business that provides an opportunity for those wanting to engage with Aboriginal people and learn more about their history and culture. Recently they delivered a 6-day camp covering 1500km giving two different groups of secondary students a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
 
In late November, we will travel to Cairns to attend Destination IQ and Destination Q. Destination IQ will consider the year that was and the future of First Nations tourism while Destination Q brings government and industry leaders together to discuss key issues and priorities to ensure Queensland remains competitive as a destination.

Our Assistance team continues to upskill their dispute resolution theory and client care capabilities. Our staff regularly participate in both the Queensland Governments Dispute Resolution and the National Small Business Commissioners Assistance Group communities of practice. The team has a 71% success rate for resolving leasing matters and business disputes, in an average of 33 days, and all for less than $200.

If you are new to our newsletter or would like to learn more about our services, resources, initiatives, and projects, visit the QSBC website. If you are ever unsure and are looking for more information, give us a call on 1300 312 344 or submit an enquiry.

Photo: The Commissioner with Childers IGA store owner, Bruce Mahoney and Childers Chamber of Commerce President, Margaret Smith. 

Indigenous Business Month (IBM) is a nationwide campaign held from 1 - 31 October. In 2023, it celebrates nine years of showcasing First Nations business leadership across Australia.

There are Indigenous Business Connect events, workshops, expos, yarns, black market events, webinars, and supplier days.

This year’s national IBM theme – To Gather, Together – calls upon First Nations businesses to gather, share, and celebrate the power of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s contribution, and inspire the next generation while also increasing demand for First Nations goods and services.

You can find an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander-owned business using Queensland’s Black Business Finder and through Supply Nation – a database of verified Indigenous businesses in Australia.

Know an inspiring First Nations business? Encourage them to share their story on social media using #IBM2023 #IndigenousBusinessMonth #IndigBizMonth #ToGatherTogether #FirstNationsFirst.

Don't forget to register for QSBC's two IBM sessions: 

• Commissioner chats to Jibija Ung-gwee's Tracey and Travis Harbour, 24 October, 6 pm - 7 pm.
• Commissioner chats to Lola Digital's Kantesha Takai, 30 October, 6 pm - 7 pm. 

You can see a comprehensive list of events on the national calendar.  

The QSBC Assistance team recently referred a small business to the Small Business Debt Helpline (SBDH) for assistance in reviewing a ledger of rent payments to help the landlord and tenant clarify whether the small business was in rent arrears.

If you’re experiencing financial stress or difficulty, the SBDH can help small business owners and sole traders: 

• understand business and personal debts, personal guarantees, and their implications.
• determine business viability.
• consider payment options for the ATO, creditors, suppliers, and service providers.
• access information about closing your business, including bankruptcy and insolvency.
• access dispute resolution services.
• with emotional support.

Call 1800 413 828 from 9 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday AEDT or visit the SBDH website. 

Changes to the law on unfair contract terms will come into effect on 9 November 2023.
 
From this date, small businesses will be covered by the unfair contract terms protections for any new or varied standard form contract if they have 100 or fewer employees or make less than $10 million in annual turnover.
 
Contract terms are unfair if they: 

• cause a significant imbalance in the rights and obligations of the parties under the contract
• are not reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the party that gets an advantage from the term, and
• would cause financial or other harm to the other party if enforced.

Visit the ACCC website to make sure you understand the law.

A funny and quirky campaign to lure businesses to the Sunshine Coast region has just claimed two gongs at the 2023 International Economic Development Council awards recently held in Dallas, Texas.

Executed by local creative firms including Macneil & Co and Tide Productions, the 'Give your business a boost of Vitamin SC (Sunshine Coast)' campaign has attracted 2.7 million views and generated almost 1000 business investment leads since launching in 2020. The behind-the-scenes reel is lots of fun! 

Two of our Small Business Friendly members were recently recognised for excellence in the areas of community engagement through the IAP2 Australasia Core Values Awards.

City of Moreton Bay - Moreton Says
The Council uses Moreton Says to capture community views on planning and decision-making. Surveys are collected every few months and the Council shares these results via an interactive dashboard. You can see the results from the most recent survey which looked at the region's economy, local job creation, and nightlife.

Brisbane City Council - Inner Spark
The Inner Spark engagement program asked residents what they wanted their city to look like in time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and beyond. The best suggestions were captured in Brisbane’s Book of Big Ideas which the Council is now reviewing along with other community feedback. 

In the last few years, many businesses have shifted away from having a physical shopfront and are running online – from spare rooms, garages, and home workshops. If this is you, or if you’re thinking of running a business from home, the ATO says you need to consider capital gains tax (CGT) and make sure you’re keeping good records. 

What is CGT? 
Capital gains tax (CGT) isn’t a separate tax, it’s part of income tax. It will apply when you ‘dispose’ of assets, including selling your home. Disposing includes selling, gifting, and transferring.

The CGT main residence exemption applies to the home you live in. Usually, when all you do is live there, you’re entitled to the full CGT main residence exemption and don’t need to consider CGT. Once you start running a business from home, the part of your home used to run it is subject to CGT when you sell. 

It’s a good idea to get your home valued when you first start using it for business. You'll need to know this value when you sell it. Check the ATO website or speak to a registered tax agent.

Small-to-medium businesses in Queensland can access rebates for the purchase and installation of energy-efficient equipment that reduces energy consumption, lowers energy bills, and contributes to carbon reduction targets under the Queensland Business Energy Saving and Transformation program.

Eligible businesses will be able to claim a rebate of up to 50% of the purchase and installation costs of eligible equipment (up to a maximum of $12,500 rebate. A minimum spend of $8,000 (GST exclusive) is required).

Eligible energy-efficient equipment includes items like commercial refrigerators or freezers, LED lighting, variable-speed air compressors, chillers, and drive units for a pump or fan. Check the eligibility requirements carefully before purchasing.

Applications are now open for the Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant.

Now in its third year, eligible female-owned Brisbane businesses can apply for up to $5000 (exclusive of GST) in funding to support the growth and development of their business. 

With a total fund of $250,000 available, the business grant can be used to purchase vital equipment, education and training, and procurement of professional services. 

The 2022 winner, Giddy Citizen's founder Georgie Woods used the grant to purchase a new vegetable shredding machine suitably named 'Giddy'.

Photo: Here is the Commissioner with Georgie at the Meet the Makers event on the Sunshine Coast. 

Queensland Small Business Commissioner

Level 18, 53 Albert St, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000
qsbc.qld.gov.au | 1300 312 344