The best place to start any business is with proper planning and the right business, financial and legal advice.

The Department of Industry's Business Connect program will connect you with an experienced business advisor who will give you personalised guidance face-to-face. You’ll get vital advice and key business skills at the most crucial time. The business guidance is extremely affordable thanks to a NSW Government subsidy. And it’s available in your local area (just put your postcode into the 'Find an advisor' tool ).

You should consider seeing a solicitor and accountant to make sure your business is properly setup to meet its legal and financial obligations.

Getting good advice early could save you serious expense and time down the track.

Call our Dispute Resolution Unit on 1300 795 534 for free confidential assistance before signing important contracts.

Entering into a contract is a serious decision and it is important to seek advice from various sources. If you agree to personally guarantee the business your personal assets are at risk if you want to break the contract.

Our Business Connect program will put you in touch with an experienced business advisor who can give you personalised guidance face-to-face. You'll get vital advice and learn key business skills at the most crucial time for your business. The business guidance is very affordable thanks to a NSW Government subsidy. And it's available in your local area (just put your postcode into the 'Find an advisor' tool).

You can also call the Commonwealth Government's Small Business Support Line on 1800 777 275.

The first thing you should do is call one of our advisors on 1300 795 534 to talk about your situation. You can also email we.assist@smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au, but small business issues can be complicated and it’s often easier and faster to talk about them on the phone than by email.

If you need it, we provide low cost dispute resolution services. We here to help all parties find a solution before the matter ends up in the courts. It doesn’t matter if both parties are small businesses or one is a bigger business or a government department or agency. We are completely neutral. Our job is to help all parties find the best solution for everyone involved.

You can help us to help you by letting us know of compliance or regulation issues you think are excessive and that are negatively affecting your business. Please call us on 1300 795 534 or email us at
we.assist@smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au

We are working with government agencies to try to improve opportunities for small business to work with government.

If you would like to raise any issues about the NSW Government procurement process, we want to hear from you. Please call us on 1300 795 534 or email us at we.assist@smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au

For the first time small businesses in NSW have a dedicated Commissioner to represent them.

The Office of the NSW Small Business Commissioner's role is to:

• Represent small businesses within government and to help resolve issues at the earliest possible opportunity
• Help close information gaps and stand up for businesses where there is systemic unfair treatment of a group
• Help small businesses to navigate government
• Work with government agencies to help them better engage with small businesses

To achieve these goals, we offer a number of services. These include:

• Dispute resolution services
• Speaking up for small business within government

If you need help with a dispute or would like to make us aware of an issue you are experiencing with government, contact the Office on 1300 795 534 or email us at we.assist@smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au