The statement has acknowledged the importance of small businesses to the state and the challenges they face such as the high cost of doing business, regulatory burden, the impact of global uncertainties and digital transformation.

“A supportive business environment, with a reduced regulatory burden, reduced operating costs, improved access to workforce and skills, easier access to improved services and supports, and higher rates of productivity and innovation, is critical to Queensland’s future success,” the statement said.

In addressing these challenges, the state government stated it is committed to improving the experience of small businesses in dealing with government and making the necessary “positive changes”. As a first step, the state will invest over $100 million within four years to deliver outcomes with the following measures:

• Easier access to government services with Queensland’s first dedicated Business Concierge service and improved access to services.
• Tailored support for small businesses at every step of their business journey.
• Identify and respond to red tape and other pain points with the establishment of a small business first lens to regulation.
• Boost procurement opportunities for small businesses.
• An Apprenticeship Pilot Program that will support small and family businesses taking on apprentices.

In addition, the state government will also seek to address the challenges of the ageing small-business owner population by encouraging more young people to take over or create new businesses.

Small and Family Business Minister Steve Minnikin said that the Action Statement provides practical support and assistance to small and family businesses across the state.

Groups such as CPA Australia have welcomed the Queensland government’s pronouncement, saying that these plans offer reassurance of small-business support. However, they also pointed out that more needs to be done.

Gavan Ord, CPA Australia’s business investment and international lead, emphasised that the State government should “place a stronger focus on supporting digital adoption among small businesses. Australian SMEs are falling well behind larger businesses and small businesses in Asia in terms of technology uptake. This gap is undermining their performance and competitiveness.”

Ord added, “It’s crucial for the federal government and state governments to work together to address the challenges being faced by businesses, including how to ease tax and regulatory burdens and provide greater relief and incentives through targeted policies.”

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During Queensland’s small business month this May, the clinics will provide tailored financial advice and business wellbeing support on managing the impacts of natural disasters through one-on-one sessions with small business experts. 

The clinics will provide access to financial counsellors to help with financial goal setting, action plans, cash flow, lease negotiations, and creditor and dispute resolution services.

Business wellbeing coaches will provide support to managers dealing with mental health or emotional challenges along with business, personal, relationship or health issues.

The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority will provide personalised assistance regarding eligibility criteria for low-interest loans and grants to help small businesses recover.

The Queensland government business concierge team will be accessible to those requiring more information on programs and services available to support businesses with challenges.

Clinics are located in Winton, Cardwell, Hervey Bay, Capalaba, Townsville, Gold Coast, Ingham, Giru and Logan. 

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Eligible businesses in 16 LGAs can receive up to $25,000 to help them clean up and return to operations. These will include expenses associated with:

• Removing debris
• Replacing damaged equipment
• Repairing building
• Paying for a safety inspection
• Restocking goods and replanting crops

The grants are available to businesses in the following LGAs:

• Brisbane City Council
• Bundaberg Regional Council
• Fraser Coast Regional Council
• Gold Coast City Council
• Gympie Regional Council
• Ipswich City Council
• Lockyer Valley Regional Council
• Logan City Council
• Moreton Bay City Council
• Noosa Shire Council
• Redland City Council
• Scenic Rim Regional Council
• Somerset Regional Council
• Southern Downs Regional Council
• Sunshine Coast Regional Council
• Toowoomba Regional Council

Grants of up to $10,000 are available to rural landholders and lessees of at least 10 hectares who sustained direct damage from ex-TCA, but who are not eligible for other Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Some small businesses can also apply for Disaster Assistance Loans (up to $250,000 for recovery efforts) and Essential Working Capital Loans (Up to $100,000 to assist with immediate operational costs like wages, rent, and creditor payments).

The post New disaster recovery grants for small businesses impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred appeared first on Inside Small Business.

Businesses can have their say on the Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC)’s website. Feedback will be collated by the QSBC and used by the organisation, as well as the state government, to inform advocacy efforts.

According to Queensland Small and Family Business Minister Steve Minnikin, the cost of regulation has doubled in the past two years to $50,000 per business.

“Small and family businesses are telling us that growing red tape and inefficient regulation is stifling their business growth and competitiveness,” said Minnikin.

The QSBC has already received feedback from the state’s chambers of commerce. Mr Minnikin revealed some of the complaints from this preliminary round, including overcomplicated language on government forms, contradicting information from different government departments, and duplication in auditing and monitoring requirements.

The post QLD SMEs invited by Government to submit feedback on red tape appeared first on Inside Small Business.

As part of this commitment, the Commissioner is set to consult and collect feedback from small and family businesses to identify practical solutions to remove red tape, alongside dispute resolutions.

Small and family businesses employ more than one million Queenslanders and are one of the largest employers in the state. However, it has also experienced the highest failure rate of businesses of anywhere in the nation, with more than 30 per cent of new small businesses failing within the first five years.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli stated that red tape had been weighing down businesses, especially SMEs, across Queensland for far too long.

“These are the first steps to unleashing the true potential of small and family businesses here in Queensland,” Crisafulli said. “We will do all we can to ensure they can get on with running their businesses without bureaucratic red tape.”

He added, “With the refocusing of the Small Business Commissioner, we can ensure these small businesses spend more time ensuring their customers are serviced rather than servicing Government.”

Small and Family Business Minister Steve Minnikin said that the refocus would enhance the operating environment for small and family-owned businesses to allow them to create jobs, drive innovation and provide essential goods and services that enhance all Queensland communities.

“There are almost 500,000 small and family businesses employing more than one million Queenslanders and it’s time to start reducing unnecessary barriers to allow them to succeed,” Minnikin said. “We want them to get on and operate in a business-friendly environment that fosters innovation and growth. We are living through challenging economic times, and we want to make sure that businesses are given the opportunity to thrive.”

Queensland Small Business Commissioner Dominique Lamb stated that red tape reduction was the key to unlocking the growth of many of Queensland’s SMEs and reducing their stress levels.

“Small businesses are the heart of our local communities, and because of this, it is imperative that we tackle the challenges that they face,” Lamb said. “I want to make sure small businesses across all of Queensland have access to information, guidance and assistance that makes their lives easier so that they can continue to contribute to our state’s economic future.”

“I’ve committed to gathering insights into the small-business experience when attempting to comply with regulation in Queensland and ensuring that those experiences are shared directly with the Minister and the relevant government agencies. By working in collaboration, I am confident that we can deliver meaningful support and create great outcomes for our small business community,” she added.

The post Queensland commits to fighting red tape for SMEs appeared first on Inside Small Business.

The Big Build initiative is envisioned to be the biggest decade of infrastructure delivery in the state’s history.

A total of 31 small businesses will be chosen for the program. Those selected will share in funding worth over $2.2 million in total, which they can use for the purchase of a variety of equipment they will need for their operations.

“[The] Government is proud to back Queensland small businesses with record levels of funding and support so they can do what they do best – create jobs and grow our economy,” said Employment and Small Business Minister Lance McCallum.

Labor Candidate for Mackay Belinda Hassan also commented, “With a $100 billion Big Build on our doorstep, there’s no better time than now to give our small businesses a big boost –- providing funding to businesses with high-growth potential to buy the equipment they need to take their operations to the next level.”

Apart from the aforementioned program, the Queensland Government has been providing a range of grant programs to support small businesses at different stages of growth to increase key capabilities, embrace innovation, and capitalise on high-growth opportunities. They have also launched education and development programs, such as the energy-saving QBEST program and the Food & Agribusiness Network (FAN) program.

The post SMEs to receive $2.2m towards Queensland “Big Build” appeared first on Inside Small Business.

The VCDF funding will enable Farmers2Founders to deliver its flagship pre-accelerator program for early-stage founders and established agtech start-ups, as well as its accelerator program designed for Pre-seed or Series A Australian agtech businesses with high potential for scalability and global expansion, with a focus on product development, customer engagement, business and team modelling, and investment readiness.

“As the sole agtech accelerator provider involved in the VCDF project, we are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the remarkable Queensland agtech sector,” Duncan Ferguson, Head of Venture Growth and Investment at Farmers2Founders, said. “Our presence in Queensland extends beyond our operational support; we are deeply ingrained in the local agriculture and food technology community. This funding ensures that we can continue to drive meaningful impact and sustainable growth in the Queensland agriculture industry.”

As part of the project, Farmers2Founders will roll out a Queensland pre-accelerator program and accelerator program each year in 2024 and 2025. Each program will include a cohort of 10 participants, equating to a total of 40 participants at the end of the two-year project. The 2024 pre-accelerator is set to commence in June, and the accelerator in July.

The VCDF will be further bolstered by the participation of five leading venture capital firms that have also received funding to inject and invest in participants from the selected accelerator programs. This will allow for Farmers2Founders participants to not only gain greater access to investment opportunities but also the freedom to choose the most suitable partnerships for their ventures.

Farmers2Founders has also created its pathway to specifically support the needs of agtech businesses and the agriculture sector in general to produce safe, high-quality food in production systems that are climate-smart, transparent and sustainable, as well as the need to be more inclusive by upporting and championing female founders in the sector.

“The start-up journey in the agtech sector is a unique niche. As industry experts, we see the adoption of technology presenting significant opportunities for Australian agriculture,” Ferguson said. “We understand that a producer-centric approach is essential for driving innovation and sustainability in agriculture and food. That’s why we put producers at the core of our efforts.

“The VCDF program is funding the delivery of our pre-accelerators and accelerators, and local founders have the opportunity to participate if it’s the right fit,” he added. “But our services and support goes beyond this as we don’t fit founders into our model; we adapt to fuel their success. This means the individual needs of each agtech drives our approach, our pathway supports their journey, at whatever stage they are at, with customised solutions.”

With over five years of operation, Farmers2Founders has supported 250+ start-ups and scale-ups across the country. It has further bolstered its support to Queensland’s regional communities and agtech innovators with its sponsorship of the GrainGrowers Innovation Generation 2024 event which culminates at evokeAG in Brisbane in February 2025.

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