Small business

We seek to help build a sustainable and productive sector that recognises the value of small businesses to the Australian economy.

Australian small businesses:

• create jobs
• deliver services
• drive innovation
• contribute to local communities and the nation’s prosperity.

Treasury:

• advises government on small business policy issues
• designs and delivers a range of programs and regulatory functions to support small businesses.

Treasury’s responsibilities

We:

• listen to small businesses to understand the challenges and opportunities they face
• gather data and insights to inform evidence-based, integrated policy design across government
• identify opportunities to improve the operating environment for small businesses
• provide expert policy advice and programs to support small businesses
• influence Australia’s broader economic reforms to reflect small business interests
• engage across government to highlight issues impacting small businesses
• deliver the payment times reporting regulator functions under the Payment Times Reporting Act 2020.

Support for small businesses

Treasury provides policy advice to support Australian small businesses.

Supporting the franchising sector

We provide policy advice to government to make sure Australia’s regulatory framework supports the franchising sector.

See how we support the franchising sector.

Improving payment times

We’re committed to ensuring fairer and faster payment times for small businesses.

Reducing long payment terms and slow payment times to small businesses will:

• help improve their cash flow
• boost growth and investment.

To see how we are improving outcomes for small businesses, visit the Payment Times Reporting Scheme website.

Small business dispute resolution

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) is a statutory office holder operating independently within the Treasury portfolio.

ASBFEO:

• assists small businesses and family enterprises in dispute with other businesses or Commonwealth Government agencies
• advocates for small businesses and family enterprise interests concerning relevant legislation, policies and practices.

Visit the ASBFEO website.

Small business programs

We design and deliver a range of programs to support small businesses.

Small Business Cyber Resilience Service

The Small Business Cyber Resilience Service is a free, tailored, one-on-one support service for small businesses to build their cyber resilience and recover from a cyber incident.

Visit the Small Business Cyber Resilience Service (IDCARE) website.

Digital Solutions

The Digital Solutions program helps small businesses harness opportunities and grow in the digital economy.

Small businesses can access up to 4 hours of one-on-one digital advice from a qualified and experienced business adviser for a small fee. Small businesses can also access free workshops, webinar presentations and self-directed tutorials. 

Visit the Digital Solutions website.

Cyber Wardens

The Cyber Wardens program provides small business owners and employees with free, easy to use online training to identify, prevent and protect against cyber threats.

Visit the Cyber Wardens website.

NewAccess for Small Business Owners

The NewAccess for Small Business Owners program provides free and confidential phone-based mental health coaching to help small business owners manage the pressures associated with running a business.

Visit the NewAccess for Small Business Owners website.

Small Business Debt Helpline

The Small Business Debt Helpline provides free and confidential phone-based financial counselling to small business owners in financial difficulty.

Visit the Small Business Debt Helpline website.

International fora

Treasury represents Australia at 2 international small business meetings.

Australia is a member of the:

• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Committee on Small and Medium Enterprises and Entrepreneurship
• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group.

We share knowledge and discuss small business issues at these meetings throughout the year.

This work helps to inform best practice for Australian small business policy.

Activities

Review

• Independent Review of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman 2024 – ongoing

Publications

• New Franchising Code of Conduct: Table of key changes – 11 March 2025
• National Small Business Strategy – 3 February 2025
• Government response to the Independent Review of the Franchising Code of Conduct – 7 May 2024
• Review of the Franchising Code of Conduct Final Report – 8 February 2024
• Small Business and Mental Health – Through the Pandemic – 12 December 2022
• Small business and mental health: supporting small business when they are facing challenges – 22 January 2021

Current research

Digital Solutions – Australian Small Business Advisory Services Program survey