SBDC Resources for Young Businesses

SBDC Website

The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) website contains a wealth of information about starting and operating a small business in Western Australia. If you are not able to find an answer to your question within the website you can either contact the small business services team at SBDC, or submit your question by email here.

Small Business Services Team

Sometimes it’s good to get a fresh outlook on some aspect of your business. There are many avenues of support available to help you to develop and grow your business.

If you’re already operating an established business and have any concerns or issues that you would like to discuss about any aspect of running your business…… you’re not alone.

You can contact the small business services (SBS) team at the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) to make a free and confidential appointment to review your business plan, marketing strategy or talk over an idea or a problem. The SBS team can provide guidance in specialist areas such as:

  • Business Migration;
  • Business Planning;
  • Business Structures;
  • Cash flow Management;
  • E-Commerce;
  • Financial Management;
  • First time Exporting;
  • Franchising;
  • Home Based Business;
  • Industry Benchmarks;
  • Industry Sector Research;
  • Leasing Retail Premises;
  • Marketing;
  • Taxation.

Tel: (08) 9220 0222 or toll free for country WA callers 1800 199 125

Bookshop

The SBDC bookshop is located in the Business Information and Licence Centre, 553 Hay Street (Cnr Pier Stree), Perth and is aimed specifically at small business people. It offers over 300 books for sale. Visit the SBDC online bookshop..

Small Business Briefs

The Small Business Briefs are a series of one or two page information sheets that are available in hard copy at no charge from the Business Information and Licence Centre, 553 Hay Street (Cnr Pier Stree), Perth or can be downloaded.

For more information on the briefs »click here.

Business Information Licence Centre

Visit, telephone, fax or email the Business Information and Licence Centre (BILC).

The BILC is your one-stop service for the business publications and research information you need to start or develop your business and hone your management skills.

There are many business licences required to operate a small business. For example if you operate your business from home you may need a "Home Occupation Licence" from your local council. Through the Centre you have access to information on more than 6,000 local, State and Commonwealth licences.

You can also download all licensing and regulatory requirements for your business from the Business Licence Information Service (BLIS) website – click on Business and Licence Information, then Licence Enquiry, then follow steps 1, 2 & 3.

The Business Licence Information Service can be accessed at www.licence.sbdc.com.au or Tel: (08) 9220 0234.

Workshops

The SBDC conducts regular workshops that are inexpensive, informative and the best place to start. These workshops will increase your knowledge of business and management. Presenters are experienced in business and their practical approach will help you to understand new ideas and how to implement them.

If you’re 18 to 25 years and register as a Young Business Network (YBN) member you can become eligible for the special 50% discount on all SBDC workshops.

» Join the Network
» Find more information on the workshops here

Small Business Mentor Service

Experience is something you can’t gain overnight. It takes years of personal challenges and triumphs to gain wisdom. Mentoring can be done by anyone in almost any place at any time. Mentoring can generally be defined as "having an effect on the life or style of another person". It can be a brief or lifelong relationship.

It is often beneficial to borrow or buy experience from others who are willing to share their own hard earned wisdom and act as a Mentor. This wisdom can come in many forms, such as friends, colleagues, professionals, advisers or strangers who cross our path at just the right time. However, you must remember that a mentor is not a substitute for good professional advice.

The Small Business Development Corporation operates a voluntary mentor service that is provided free to the client. If you are in a position to be able to participate in this worthy service as a business mentor, or could benefit from having a mentor, contact the SBDC on Tel: (08) 92200 220 for more information.

Business Improvement

The Small Business Development business improvement programs include:

  • e-Com Entry Point
    Adopting e-commerce can improve the efficiency of your business by speeding up processes and reducing paperwork. e-Com Entry Point provides a wide range of guidance to help you incorporate e-commerce into your business. Tel: 1300 366 837 (1300 emover). www.e-com.sbdc.com.au.
  • TradeStart
    radeStart, offered by the SBDC in conjunction with Austrade, is a package of free services to assist your business develop overseas markets and make your first export sale. Tel: (08) 9220 0222 for more information, or » click here for more info.
  • Innovation to Market
    The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) Innovation to Market (ITM) program has been created to assist Western Australian small businesses and individuals to commercialise an innovation.

    The ITM program has been designed to assist in the planning of the tasks and activities required to commercialise an innovation. The ITM program also addresses the challenges that may need to be overcome throughout the commercialisation process. To increase the chance of success, the ITM program advocates a structured approach to commercialising an innovation. Tel: (08) 9220 0238 for more information, or visit our website.