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Starting a Small Business

WAiS, through an Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) grant is excited to be able to provide information and support to people and their families in relation to starting a small business, to support them with their entrepeneurial goals.  WAiS are collaborating with the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) in delivering this information.  The SBDC provide free information, workshops and advice to small businesses across WA.  You can go to their website for more information.

WAiS have been developing a suite of Easy Read resources based on a selection of what SBDC has on offer. Please contact WAiS if you have any queries about this project or want to meet with WAiS for support in relation to starting a small business.

You can download the Easy Read resources by clicking the images below.

8 Steps to Starting a Business

This resource is a great starting point on your small business journey, it covers all the essential things you need to think about when starting a business.

Checklist for Starting a Business

This Checklist is for you to use along with the 8 Steps document. You can use it to see what you have done and what you still need to do, by ticking off the things you have done.

Simple Action Plan

The Simple Action Plan will help you to set goals and work out how to achieve them. This is a plan that you can fill in with information about your business.

Step 1 Am I Ready?

Starting your own business is a big decision to make, there are lots of things you need to think about. This resource can help you to think about these things and decide whether you are ready to start your own business.

Step 2 Think About My Business Idea

Before starting your business it is important to do some research to help you think about whether your business idea will work. This resource will help you to go through everything you should research and think about to decide whether you have a good business idea.

Step 3 Business Plan

The Business Plan is very helpful resource where you can put all the information about your business in one place. This includes your goals, mission, research, strategy, your products or services, finances and more.

Step 4 Choose the Legal Structure of My Business

This resource will help you to think about the different ways that you can run your business and decide which one would be best for you.

Step 5 Legal Responsibilities

This resource goes through all of the laws and responsibilities that you have as a business owner. It covers registrations and licences, contracts, insurances, hiring workers and more.

Step 6 Build My Support Team

It is important to have people you trust to help you when starting your own business. This resource gives you ideas about the types of people you may need to help you in your business.

Step 7 Finances

It is important to understand money in your business. This resource can help you to understand how to manage your money, earn money, borrow it if you need to and much more.

Step 8 Marketing Plan

This Marketing Plan takes you through all the things you need to think about  to make sure that the right people know about your business and buy from you. You can fill this with information about your business.

 

Hobby or Business?

A lot of people ask what is the difference between a hobby and a business.  Deciding if what you have is a hobby or a business makes a difference to your legal responsibilities.

Image of heart and someone reading, riding a bicycle and holding a bat.

 

A hobby is a pastime or leisure activity you do in your spare time for recreation or pleasure. If you have a hobby then you do not have any additional tax or reporting responsibilities.

 

Image of happy workers in front of a multi level building.A business is if your activity is commercial and you want to make a profit.  If you have a business, you will have additional tax and reporting responsibilities.

 

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has more information on hobbies and businesses.

The Australian Government is trialling a tool to help people decide if they have a hobby or a business.

Taxation and Superannuation information

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has a series of videos to help small businesses understand their tax and superannuation obligations.

The videos are about a variety of topics including:

  • Starting a business
  • Activity statements
  • Paying your tax
  • Deductions you can claim
  • Paying workers
  • Record keeping
  • Selling or closing your business
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