Are you having trouble with your landlord about the renewal of your lease? Or wondering where you stand on dismissing an employee who is not pulling their weight? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your first move should be to a free internet-based guide that has been specifically developed to help small business operators and their advisers on legal issues.
The Legal Issues Guide for Small Business provides quick and easy online information about a range of legal issues which frequently confront small business, sources of assistance and preventative measures. Subject areas covered include contracts, employment, fair trading, leases, insurance, credit and debt recovery, finance and taxation.
The Guide links to more than 1500 State, Territory and local government sites as well as other organisations which provide more information and assistance. Search facilities allow the user to tailor inquiries to particular areas of interest. Even if you are not sure which area of law covers your problem, the Guide has a unique menu option which points you in the right direction by asking you the nature of your problem.
Legal advice can be a huge expense for a small business and, when a business is facing a legal nightmare, sometimes the only solution is a lawyer or accountant. Even then, jargon can bamboozle a layperson. The Guide will help you understand the situation and this will help you get better value out of professional advice.
The Guide has been produced by the Industry and Small Business Policy Division within the Federal Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. It is updated regularly so the small business owner can be confident of receiving current and reliable information.
The Guide has been recently updated and can be found at the Legal Issues Guide for Small Business website or the business.gov.au website.
Small Business Adviser Training Program
A package of training materials, using the Legal Issues Guide for Small Business as a resource, is available specifically for small business advisers. The one day training program aims to enhance:
- Business advisers' understanding of key legal issues: and
- The quality of information and assistance to small business managers on legal issues.
Business advisory organisations wishing to conduct their own in-house training can download the free training materials including a facilitator's manual, participants' workbook and training aides.
For further information or to provide feedback on the training materials email the Industry and Small Business Policy Division.