Starting a Business
Starting a Business
You might have a great idea, be a creative person, looking for a side hustle or already working in the industry, but want to be your own boss – there are many different pathways that lead to starting a business. This time can be one of the most exciting, challenging, overwhelming and rewarding times of your life. Being a business owner often means, long hours, sacrifice and limited cash flow when you are first starting out. The key to business success is preparation, understanding the industry you will operate in, having a clear business plan, strong marketing strategy to promote your products or services, being self-motivated and goal orientated and most of all having strong support systems around you to seek advice from or to lend a hand. The Indigenous business sector in Australia is a high growth area, particularly in the arts, education and speciality cultural services and tourism space. This growth means there are a lot of resources and support available.
Indigenous Business Australia
IBA’s objective is to provide quality leadership in facilitating and enabling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement in the wider economy. Our vision is for a nation in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are economically independent and an integral part of the economy. IBA was created to assist and enhance the economic development opportunities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.
IBA can provide business finance and partnerships – from big ideas through to making them happen, we can provide the right mix of products, services, advice, networks and capability.
Supply Nation
As Australia’s largest database of verified Indigenous businesses, Supply Nation’s Indigenous Business Direct, is mandated by the Federal Government in the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) as the first port of call for procurement officers to search for Indigenous suppliers to fulfil their targets. Supply Nation connects government and commercial businesses with Indigenous Business owners. It is free for Indigenous Businesses to register.
Small Business Development Corporation Government of Western Australia
We are a State Government agency that provides free advice and low cost services to small business owners in Western Australia. Running a small business requires skills and knowledge of a variety of areas. We provide a range of resources, tools and services to help develop your business. We offer a range of practical workshops across Western Australia. They are delivered by selected presenters who are specialists in their subject matters and have a background in small business.
Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC)
The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations is an independent statutory office holder appointed by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act). It provides a tailored service that responds to the special needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups and corporations, and strives for national and international best practice in corporate governance. It offers advice on how to incorporate, delivers training for directors, members and key staff in good corporate governance, makes sure corporations comply with the law, and intervenes when needed.
National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) Economic Development
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make invaluable contributions to Australia: our places, communities and economy. We work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to grow the demand for Indigenous businesses, products and services. We continue to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrepreneurs and communities to take advantage of commercial opportunities to start and expand businesses, including through leveraging land assets and cultural knowledge.
Indigenous Business Month
Indigenous Business Month is an initiative driven by the alumni of Melbourne Business School’s MURRA Indigenous Business Master Class Program, who see business as a vehicle towards self-determination, a way of providing positive role models for Indigenous Australians and improving quality of life in Indigenous communities. Since its establishment in 2015, Indigenous Business Month is an annual celebration that occurs every October and 2021 marks it’s 7th year.
Business.gov.au
Support for businesses in Australia
Simple, Trusted, Helpful
business.gov.au puts the needs of businesses first. It’s a single entry point for the Australian business community to access information from all 3 levels of government. We make it easier for you to find information. We collate information and resources from government into 1 website to reduce the number of websites you need to visit. Information, grants, services and support from across government to help your business succeed. business.gov.au is a whole-of-government website for the Australian business community. It is a simple and convenient entry point for information, services and support to help businesses succeed in Australia.
Aboriginal Business Directory WA
An increasing number of State Government and private organisations are looking to work with Aboriginal businesses. This directory is a free service which brings together Aboriginal businesses operating in Western Australia with potential buyers. If you are a business owner we encourage you to list your details in the directory and take advantage of the free promotion and increased exposure to your potential customers. If you are a buyer in search of goods or services supplied by an Aboriginal business, this is the place to start your search
Noongar Chamber of Commerce (NCCI)
The Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a business advocacy group for Aboriginal owned businesses in Western Australia.
We support contact between Aboriginal owned businesses and the broader WA business community. Our Mission is to build the economic capacity and wealth of Aboriginal people.
NCCI exists for our members, the owners and operators of Noongar and Aboriginal businesses, and we welcome new relationships with our corporate partners who come to us for our extensive referral network.
Waalitj Hub
The Waalitj Hub is here to assist the Indigenous business sector thrive in WA. We provide support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people wanting to start, grow or sustain their businesses.
With our in-house business coaching – plus direct access to independent, professional support – we inspire and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to build their business capability.
