Business Support Services

Starting a business or wanting to make the most of the one you have? Then take the time to seek the right advice. This can often save you more time and importantly money.

There are some great free online services to get you started but it's also worth exploring many other options available to help such as business coaches, business planners, accountants, web designers and brokers.

There are many exceptional local Adelaide Hills businesses providing these types of services, and you can support their business by supporting yours.

Businesses within the fire scar of the Cudlee Creek Fire (December 2019) have a number of support options available to them. Please refer to the Cudlee Creek Bushfire recovery information for all the details.

The Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) can help you find what you need to meet your business compliance needs.

If you are starting, operating or closing a business, you can use ABLIS to find out which permits, registrations, approvals, government licences, standards, codes of practice and guidelines apply to your business and create and download a personalised report containing:

• A summary of local, state and federal government requirements
• Information about licence fees, periods of cover, renewals and applications
• Where to access application and renewal forms
• Where to go for more information and help.

The SA Business Information Hub is an online government resource for the Australian business community. It's a whole-of-government service providing essential information on planning, starting and growing your business with simple and convenient access to all of the government information, assistance, forms and services you need.

Small businesses need a competitive and fair operating environment to grow. The Office of the Small Business Commissioner provides services where disputes can be resolved with as minimal stress as possible to small business operators. The Commissioner also provides information to improve the capacity of small businesses to manage their affairs and inform their decision making, so that disputes are less likely to occur.

Regional Development Australia (RDA) Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island is providing free one-on-one mentoring and advice for businesses and community groups. Topics include:

• Development of ideas and business cases
• Growth Strategy
• Access to Capital (including grants)
• Problem solving
• Connections and Collaboration
  

If you want to meet with an RDA representative in your local area, email to book an appointment.

Stay up to date on grant opportunities by visiting the Hills & Coast Grant Finder. This service is provided through the RDA Adelaide Hills Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island to provide a regional specific service to businesses wanting assistance to find and manage grant applications. As well, if you need assistance to write a grant application, the site provides a list of grant writers who service our region.

As the response to the recent fires turns to helping Adelaide Hills communities get back on their feet, Rural Business Support (RBS) has expanded its services to help. The organisation can now assist eligible farmers and small business owners who have been impacted by bushfires and /or COVID-19, to develop and implement plans to recover.

Building on the support that RBS rural financial counsellors provide to primary producers under the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS), a new Small Business Financial Counselling (SBFC) program is now available to assist eligible small business owners beyond the farm gate.

Both of these services are free, independent and confidential.

RBS was actively involved in supporting people to work through the decisions that had to be made following the Sampson Flat and Pinery fires, so offers experienced and empathic support for rural business owners affected by the Cudlee Creek fire to assess their options and find a way forward.

The RBS Small Business team can help eligible small business owners (with 19 or fewer employees) to:

Consider different options to manage financial issues

• Develop budgets and cash flows
• Negotiate with creditors
• Access dispute resolution services
• Connect with broader professional advice and support
• Apply for government and community grants, programs or schemes

RBS also has access to a Professional Services Fund, which enables approved clients to access specialist third-party advice beyond the scope of financial counselling services.

Supported by the Australian Government and Governments of South Australia and the Northern Territory, RBS is currently supporting more than 600 rural business owners across South Australia and Northern Territory.

To be connected the RBS team, please visit their website.

Green Industries SA has provided information to assist and encourage Adelaide Hills businesses in their sustainability journey.

Sustainability is not just reducing impacts on the environment and society, but getting the most out of our resources, including energy, water, waste, labour, and capital. The circular economy, where less natural and raw materials are used, and products are designed to be reused over and again, is a sustainable alternative to the current linear ‘take, make, waste’ economy.