The following list of useful links and contacts is for information only. It may not be exhaustive and IP Australia does not recommend or endorse any businesses on this list.

Intellectual Property Links and Contacts

Intellectual property  

World Intellectual Property Organization
www.wipo.int

For more specific information on WIPO's SME resources see
www.wipo.int/sme/en/

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Copyright

Attorney-General’s Department
Copyright Law Branch.
www.ag.gov.au

The Australian Copyright Council
www.copyright.org.au

Circuit layout rights

Attorney-General’s Department
www.ag.gov.au

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Patents, trade Marks, designs and plant breeder’s rights

IP Australia
www.ipaustralia.gov.au

Patent and trade mark attorneys

The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia (IPTA)
www.ipta.com.au

Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys
www.psb.gov.au

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Accountants

Your accountant can provide advice about valuation of your IP. There are various accounting professional bodies that have lists of accountants who specialise in different areas of small business.

CPA Australia
www.cpaaustralia.com.au

Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
www.icaa.org.au

National Institute of Accountants
www.nia.com.au

Awards and grants

AusIndustry is the Commonwealth Government’s principal agency for delivering information, programs and services that support industry, research and innovation. It does this by providing a range of commercial incentives and information services for Australian businesses.
www.ausindustry.gov.au

The Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme is administered by Austrade and is aimed at encouraging small and medium sized Australian businesses to develop export markets by reimbursing up to 50 per cent of export promotion expenses above $15,000 incurred in the previous financial year.
www.austrade.gov.au

The Yellow Pages® Business Ideas Grants is an annual awards program that encourages, recognises and rewards good business ideas from the small business sector. The grants provide financial support, access to skills and expertise and prizes.
www.yellowpages.com.au/big/

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Business assistance

www.business.gov.au provides government information to small business. You can apply for an ABN online and find out about business planning or tax issues for small business.
www.business.gov.au

New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) is a self-employment program for unemployed people who wish to start their own independent business.
www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/programmes/neis

Enterprise Connect offers a comprehensive business review free of charge to small and medium enterprises. They provide a national network of services and support for eligible SMEs to access expert, practical advice and support tailored to their individual firms. www.enterpriseconnect.gov.au

Australian Apprenticeships provides financial assistance for eligible employers to help reduce the real cost of training.
www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au

Business enterprise centres (BECs)

Business Enterprise Centres (BECs) assist small businesses, including start-ups and those already in business through an advisory and counselling service.
www.beca.org.au

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Chambers of commerce

Chambers of Commerce can offer assistance, information and resources for start ups.

NAT www.acci.asn.au
SA www.business-sa.com
ACT www.actchamber.com.au
TAS www.tcci.com.au
NSW www.thechamber.com.au
VIC Ph www.vecci.org.au
NT www.chambernt.com.au
WA www.cciwa.com
QLD www.commerceqld.com.au

Employer Organisations

Australian Business Ltd
www.australianbusiness.com.au

Australian Retailers Association
www.ara.com.au

Business Council of Australia
www.bca.com.au

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Franchising

The Franchise Centre
www.franchisecentre.com.au

Franchise Council of Australia
www.franchise.org.au

The Franchisee’s Guide
The Australian Competition & Consumer Competition (ACCC) has a free booklet to help franchisees make commercial decisions.
www.accc.gov.au

Inventor’s associations

This site will provide you with each state and territory’s inventor’s associations .
www.inventors.asn.au

Government (State) departments responsible for small business

ACT Business ACT www.business.act.gov.au
NSW State & Regional Development www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au
NT Territory Business Channel www.tbc.nt.gov.au
QLD Tourism, Regional Development and Industry www.smartsmallbusiness.qld.gov.au
SA Office of Consumer and Business Affairs www.ocba.sa.gov.au
TAS Economic Development www.development.tas.gov.au
VIC Dept of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development www.business.vic.gov.au
WA Small Business Development Corp. www.sbdc.com.au

Government (Federal) department responsible for small business

Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
www.industry.gov.au

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Home based business

The Micro Business Network incorporating the Home-Based Business Association
www.mbn.com.au

Incubators

Business incubators provide an environment for fledgling businesses until they are ready to take on a commercial lease.
www.ausindustry.gov.au


Innovation

National Innovation Council
www.innovation.gov.au

The Innovation Xchange Netowk provides a secure, managed environment for the exchange of insights and opportunities between firms, universities and governments.
www.innovationxchange.com.au

ausinventis the online Innovation Advisory Service helping innovators develop their bright ideas. Includes the latest innovation related news and events, access to free and subsidised innovation services, an online exhibition and more. ausinventis an initiative of the NSW Department of State and Regional Development.
http://www.ausinvent.com

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Innovation centres

Innovation Centres assist small businesses and innovators in their early stages of development and technology commercialisation. Details for these centres can be located in your local White Pages Directory or on the internet.

INNOVIC is a not for profit organisation assisting over 1,800 innovators each year, helping to turn new ideas, inventions and innovations into viable products and new businesses. We offer a wide range of services, free seminars and innovation resources to help your business idea, invention or innovation through all stages of commercialisation.
http://innovic.com.au/

Searching

Professional search companies and patent and trade mark attorneys can help you with this. Check the Yellow Pages for contact details. Alternatively, visit www.ipaustralia.gov.au for a list of domestic and international IP professionals and searching firms.

Small business information

Catapult website for young innovators and small business www.abc.net.au/catapult

Dynamic Small Business Network www.dsbn.com.au

Entrepreneur Business Centre www.ebc.com.au

Micro and Home Based Business Network www.mbn.com.au

NineMSN small business website www.smallbusiness.ninemsn.com.au

Yahoo small business website www.smallbusiness.yahoo.com.au

Ms. Entrepreneur http://www.msentrepreneur.com.au

Online magazine for Entrepreneurs & SMSs www.smartcompany.com.au

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Legal help

Check the Yellow Pages to contact the Law Society in your state.

Licences

For specific information about business licences, most states and territories have a one-stop shop that can tell you what licences you need for your business and send you the paperwork. See www.business.gov.au for links to all the state and territory departments responsible for licences.
www.business.gov.au

Marketing and graphic design  

Australian Marketing Institute
www.ami.org.au

Australian Graphic Design Association
www.agda.com.au

Mentoring

There are private and government mentoring programs run in each state and territory. Check with your state government department responsible for small business for details.

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Registering your business name

See www.business.gov.au for links to all the state and territory departments responsible for registering business names.
www.business.gov.au

Registering your company name

Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC)
www.asic.gov.au

Registering your domain name

Visit the .au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA) website for a list of accredited domain name registrars.
www.auda.org.au

Research and data

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
The ABS is a good place to find free economic data on particular markets or industries.
www.abs.gov.au

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TAFE courses

Some TAFE courses include a Certificate in Small Business Enterprise to help you to determine the feasibility of a small business idea and to develop an operational business plan. Check the Yellow Pages for your local TAFE institution.

Taxation

Australian Taxation Office
www.ato.gov.au

Venture capitalists

Australian Business Angels
www.strategon.com.au/Capital1.htm

Australian Distributor Incubator
www.adinc.com.au

Australian Venture Capital Association
www.avcal.com.au

Business Angels Pty Ltd
www.businessangels.com.au

Exporting

Information and government assistance for new exporters

www.austrade.gov.au

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