A Business Continuity Plan prepares your business for unforeseen risks or disaster. The NSW Small Business Commissioner has put together a practical guide to help businesses create a Business Continuity Plan.

Click here for more information.

The NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce supports Aboriginal entrepreneurs, business owners and enterprising communities. It provides a variety of services across a wide range of industries.

Read more here

If you are not set up on Google My Business you are missing out on customers who use Google searches to find what is available in an area.

Google my Business launched in Australia six years ago and still only 13 per cent of businesses have their Google My Business listings set up correctly. The number is even less in regional communities.

This means 87 per cent of businesses are failing to fully capitalise on the power of Google... and that's only part of the problem.

It also affects the performance of Google "local" Search and the accuracy of Google Maps in your LGA. This is because Google's search and mapping platforms rely on data from Google My Business listings.

Consider reviewing or adding your Google My Business listing to improve your customer visibility and accessibility to your business.

The Business Concierge team at Service NSW provides free, personalised support to small business owners as they start, run and grow their businesses, and as they adapt and recover in times of crisis.

If you own a small business in the City of Canada Bay , your local Mobile Business Concierge can help you find the support you need. Call Service NSW on 13 77 88 and request to speak to Graeam Kingham or visit the Service NSW website here to request a call back.

Operators across NSW are encouraged to register for the State’s expanding small business advisory program to help them navigate these challenging times. Support can be accessed either by calling 1300 134 359 or by clicking here.

Free professional business advice is available from people who have run their own small business. To develop a customised recovery strategy, manage your cash flow, access finance, learn how to market your business to new customers and connect to other government support speak to a professional advisor for free. You can select an advisor online and book an appointment here or call 1300 134 359.

Click here to browse their services.

NetStripes seminars and webinars

Business Connect consultant NetStripes are offering free webinars focused on digital marketing to assist your business to adapt to the current digital paradigm. For more information click here.

Business Connect also has a range of webinars available online. Click here for more information.

The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), with support from the Federal Government, is providing a suite of free service offerings, advice and tools designed to support business continuity through the use of technology. This support includes advice about remote communications, collaboration, workforce management and video conferencing.

Beyond Blue is a mental wellbeing support service which provides a range of information, advice and strategies to help manage wellbeing and mental health. We encourage you to visit Beyond Blue for practical advice to help you navigate this tricky time.

Pressure on revenue, employee management issues including staffing levels, working from home arrangements for short or extended periods, and planning for the future while dealing with the present, are all weighty issues that need to be addressed. Looking after your own mental health as well as that of your staff is equally important.

Beyond Blue has previously developed a guide for small business owners that you may find useful. For more information, click here to visit their website.

Want help to turn your business idea or existing small business into a viable business? If you are not already in education or employment (or both) for more than 25 hours per week you may be eligible for the Self-Employment Assistance Program.

There are many options to explore, depending what you need, and most of these are free.

• Exploring Self-Employment Workshops
• Business Plan Development
• Free accredited Small Business Training
• Business Advice Sessions
• Business Health Checks
• Small Business Coaching.

For more details, click here.

One of the local providers is Sydney Business which offers free training and access to training materials.

To visit the Sydney Business website click here.

The NSW Government and TAFE NSW are offering a fully subsidised online program for women who are looking to establish a micro business, a small business, or who are already operating a business. Hear from some of Australia’s leading female entrepreneurs and access information about upcoming events and services which will assist in setting up and growing your business.

For more information and to check your eligibility, click here.

The FWO has created a number of letter templates to help small business owners manage their rights and obligations in relation to COVID-19.

Click here to view the templates.

For more information about workplace entitlements and obligations, click here.

Many banks are making their own provision of support for businesses. Examples include the four major banks:

• Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ)—Applying for assistance due to financial difficulty
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)—Financial hardship
• National Australia Bank (NAB)—Financial assistance
• Westpac—Financial hardship assistance

National Debt Helpline

To assist those who are struggling on a financial level, be they employees, ex-employee's or friends, National Debt Helpline offers a free service which may help.

Click here to visit their website or call 1800 007 007 (Monday–Friday, 9:30am–4:30pm).

Moneysmart

Moneysmart also offer information surrounding financial counselling which may be of use. To visit their website, click here.

The Small Business Debt Helpline

The Small Business Debt Helpline is a dedicated small business financial counselling service offering free, independent, and confidential phone-based support to small business owners nationally.

Support is provided across a range of complex issues including:

• Avoiding bankruptcy
• Negotiating payment plans
• Debt waivers
• Grant applications
• Insolvency.

Click here to visit the website or call 1800 413 828 between 9am and 5:30pm Monday to Friday.

The Australian Government has announced arts sector funding to help regional artists and organisations develop new work and explore new delivery models, to support Indigenous artists and arts centres, and to provide mental health services.

The Government has also announced a $400 million incentive to attract film and television productions to Australia, with the aim of boosting employment opportunities within the screen industry.

Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program provides funding opportunities for arts and cultural organisations, professional artists and arts/cultural workers across a wide range of artforms and disciplines.

Individuals

Small Project Grants (Quick Response) support the creation, development and presentation of new work and professional development opportunities for NSW-based professional artists and arts and cultural workers. This quick response grant offers grants from $500 to $5,000 towards projects.

Go to Small Project Grants (Quick Response)

City of Sydney’s COVID–19 relief grants for a range of artistic, cultural and community activities have now closed, but other grants are still available, including ‘quick response grants’. To find out more and check eligibility, click here.

Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres (Canberra)

Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres (Canberra) have posted an Artist Toolkit Livestream: Centrelink for Artists. This online session features a community lawyer answering questions and explaining how to navigate Centrelink and government support for artists and creatives.

Click here to view.

Accessible Arts

For artists with disability, the team at Accessible Arts are continuing to work as much as possible with all stakeholders to deliver programs and services. They can be accessed via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Click here for more information.

A number of networks are available to support particular artists through these difficult times. It is important to take care of your mental health so please reach out to the below organisations if you are in need of assistance.

Support Act provides crisis support for people who work in the live music and events industry.

The Artists Benevolent Fund provides crisis support for visual and fine artists.

The Actors Benevolent Fund provides crisis support for performers and theatre workers.

Restrictions on activities and size of gatherings are in place in accordance with the Federal Government’s National Cabinet and State Government. Full details of current restrictions are available from:

Australian Government Department of Health

NSW Government

AUSactive (formerly Fitness Australia) is a not-for-profit industry association that exists to professionalise the fitness industry through engaging in partnerships, advocacy, delivering education, quality and accreditation.

They have a range of resources available through their online Business Toolbox. Click here to access. When visiting the categories, be aware that the information is immediately shown in alphabetical order. To get the most recent information, use the drop down menu to sort by ‘most recent’.

Many fitness organisations are offering alternatives to their facility-based classes such as virtual classes via Zoom or uploading content to social media platforms. One example of this online presence is Les Mills. This international fitness company has partnered with Council’s Five Dock Leisure Centre to provide instructors a range of classes. Short sample videos of their workouts are freely available to the public, click here to view.

This approach enables fitness practitioners to continue to engage with customers, support the community with their health and fitness and generate new interest in their classes and services.

To assist food businesses to create a COVID–19 Safety Plan, our Environmental Health Unit has produced a series of videos to show what is required. Click here to view.

The NSW Government has introduced new measures allowing increased flexibility for the continuing operation of food trucks and easier set-up dark kitchens (those that cook meals solely for delivery, rather than eat-in orders) in any existing commercial kitchen.

These are businesses that could offer additional food delivery options for the increasing number of people working from home, or produce greater quantities of meals for people in quarantine or in medical, health or aged care facilities. Food trucks will now be able to operate on any land, at any time, providing they have the landowner’s consent.

A new digital marketplace is giving Aussie producers a new home to connect with consumers seeking food and beverage products grown or made in their own backyard. The website Fair Foodie has arrived with a mission to celebrate Australia’s diverse food and beverage producers through an interactive platform bringing farmers, chefs, providores, brewers, winemakers and other artisans together with local-loving consumers to help Australian businesses flourish.

Click here to read more.

Some information to think about for your menus:

There are many businesses coming up with new ways of doing things, for example:

The Australian Hairdressing Council has produced a Salon Guidance Plan to help business owners protect their staff and customers. Click here to view.

Restrictions on the numbers of people allowed in your premises can change. It's important to regularly check on current rulings on the NSW Government website.

When calculating how many people can attend your business:

1. Measure the length of the room
2. Measure the width of the room
3. Multiply the length by the width to calculate the area of your room in square metres
4. Divide the area of your room (calculated in square metres) by square metre ruling to calculate the maximum number of people allowed.

example provided below for 4 square metre ruling:

The Hairstylists Australia union is advising hairdressers they have the right to refuse service to anyone with symptoms of COVID–19.