Tag: start a business

Small Business Development Corporation

Resources to help your small business

The Small Business Development Corporation

For nearly forty years, the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) has helped
thousands of small business operators by providing relevant and practical support for every
stage of their business. The SBDC offers a wide range of State Government-funded resources,
tools and services to help small businesses in Western Australia start well, survive and thrive.

The City of Joondalup is proud to be a signatory to the SBDC’s Small Business Friendly program, an initiative that recognises and supports local governments that are
committed to actively supporting small businesses in their local area.

Starting a business

The SBDC’s starting a business guide provides you with all the tools you need to start and
run your business with confidence. It includes information about:

You can also access relevant information on the SBDC website about tax reporting
requirements, employer obligations and closing or selling your business.

Workshops

The SBDC offers practical business skills workshops covering a variety of key topics for new
and prospective small businesses, including the free “Starting a Business” workshop.

Available both online and in-person, these business skills workshops help you to develop and
improve your small business skills.

Advisory services

The SBDC offers free trusted advice on a range of small business matters including:

  • specialist advice in relation to commercial lease agreements
  • a dispute resolution service (DRS) to assist with resolving business to business and business to government disputes
  • general, free advice on challenges and opportunities arising in your businesses.

You can speak to an experienced business adviser for free by calling 133 140 or using the live
chat function on the SBDC website.

Business Licence Finder

You may need licences to start or run a business in Western Australia. These will depend on
your business type, your activities and your location. You can easily find a list of licences and
permits specifically required for your business by using the SBDC’s Business Licence Finder
tool.

Tools, templates and guides

There are a variety of tools, templates and guides to help you and your business stay on
track, including a:

Stay up to date with the latest news

In addition to the wide range of resources listed above, the SBDC posts regularly on their blog
with the latest information and guidance, as well as stories and case studies on small
businesses. You can:

Small Business Development Corporation

The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) assists the establishment, growth and development of small business in Western Australia. The SBDC provides a range of services covering:

  • Business skills workshops
  • Business license finder
  • Advisory Services
  • Commercial tenancy advisory service
  • A low-cost alternative dispute resolution service
  • Business migration

The SBDC has offices in Perth but also provides support in the Perth metropolitan area via a network of expert Business Local program providers.

Joondalup Business Association

The Joondalup Business Association (JBA) represents a number of local business industries. Association members are actively encouraged to promote and build their business through JBA networking events and workshops.

The Association also has a boardroom for hire, which is suitable for workshops and seminars.

ECU Business and Innovation Centre

The ECU Business & Innovation Centre is in the heart of Joondalup and offers subsidised office space and working hub memberships. Business Station manage the Centre and offer numerous business development workshops, business support and advisory services with funding from the State and Federal Government.

Starting a new food business

If you are looking to start a new food business, that includes the construction or internal fit-out of a building or mobile food truck, then you will need to be aware of the construction requirements of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code .

These requirements will also apply to an existing food business that may be subject to any alterations or additions.

It is recommended that you speak with an Environmental Health Officer before undertaking any works. An application for Food Business Registration is required prior to starting your food business.

You will also need to consider whether a development (planning) approval or building permit is required, before starting any works.

Business approval requirements

Starting a business will require some type of approval from the City, even for a home-based business.

It is critical to ensure that all approvals are provided prior to signing up to any lease or purchasing a commercial property. The City encourages businesses to seek independent professional legal advice before signing anything. It is not unusual for a business owner to commence operating without the correct approvals in place and this can be a costly mistake – especially if any commercial contracts, such as a lease, have been signed.

Types of approvals you may require

Development (planning) approval may be required:

  • to ensure that the business is consistent with the planning framework and zoning in place for the location. For example, a vehicle panel beating/spray painting business may only be located in very specific areas and would definitely require development (planning) approval
  • if you are proposing external signage or additions
  • a building permit may be required for new building, alterations and additions, new fit outs and other structures such as signage.

An environmental health approval may be required depending on the nature of your business. This may include:

Home Business

A home business is a business operating at home by a resident of the property.

There are three types of home businesses under the City’s Local Planning Scheme No. 3 (LPS3):

  • Home office
  • Home occupation
  • Home business

Home businesses must be operated in accordance with the City’s Home Business Local Planning Policy.

Planning requirements

An Application for Development (Planning) Approval is required for all Home Businesses with the exception of:

  • A Home office.
  • A Home occupation
  • A Home business within the mixed use or commercial zone which meets all requirements of the Home-based Business Local Planning Policy.

Refer to the Development Approval – Home Business Checklist / Management Plan for information on application requirements.

Environmental health requirements

Depending on the type of business you are operating, an environmental health approval may be required. This includes:

Building permit application requirements

A building permit application may also be required if there is a change of building classification. To confirm if an application is required, please place your request in writing to the City’s Building Services, outlining what the business is and what room(s) in the house will be used.

Ongoing support

The City is committed to supporting new and existing businesses to grow and thrive in the region. All businesses located in the City can contact the Economic Development Team for advice, services and programs to help them start, connect and grow their business.

Please contact the Economic Development Team via email or call 9400 4000.

Local business advice and support

Business Station

Business Station manage the ECU Business and Innovation Centre (ECUBIC) in Joondalup.

If you are starting a new business, or run an existing small business, you may benefit from a number of free or low-cost programs, services and workshops delivered by Business Station to help your business grow. These include support services through the following State and Federal Government programs:

  • Business Local* – an outreach advisory service providing access to free advice and guidance for small businesses owners
  • Australian Small Business Advisory Services (ASBAS) Digital Solutions – includes workshops and webinars for websites and selling online, social media and digital marketing, using small business software, and online security and data security

* Please note that Business Local utilises a number of service providers across the Perth Metropolitan region. For more information on Business Local support services please visit the Small Business Development Corporation website.

E-newsletters and workshops

To keep up to date with business support services delivered by the Business Station team:

Business advice consultations

You may also like to consider booking a one on one business advisory session with a Business Station advisor at ECUBIC in Joondalup or at one of their other locations. The following options are available:

  • General business advice for e.g. starting your business and general business development issues for SMEs (Free service)
  • Advice on digital business solutions such as websites and selling online, social media and digital marketing, using small business software, and online security and data security ($20 cost for initial appointments and $40 for subsequent)

For more information and to book please call 08 9301 8000 or email.

Other Business Workshops in the City of Joondalup

To find more business workshops and business events in Joondalup: