Small business financial counsellors and rural financial counsellors

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Small business financial counsellors

The Small Business Financial Counselling Service provides free financial counselling support to business owners who are experiencing or are at risk of financial hardship.

Financial counsellors provide confidential, impartial, face-to-face support to sole traders, micro, and small businesses across Queensland.

Small business financial counsellors work with business owners to:

  • conduct a business health check to understand their current financial situation and identify ways to best manage their finances
  • access government support (such as grants)
  • find tailored solutions to financial challenges
  • identify financial risk and put risk mitigation strategies in place
  • manage debt (including negotiating and identifying manageable solutions)
  • undertake succession planning
  • update or create business plans
  • undertake a dignified transition out of business (if required)
  • connect with broader specialist support services such as legal advice, marketing support, or accounting advice.

Small business financial counsellors work as part of the Small Business Support Network, which also includes small business wellness coaches and rural financial counsellors, to provide a wraparound support service for you and your business.

Support for disaster impacted small business owners

Dedicated support is available for small businesses in defined disaster areas that experienced direct or indirect disaster impacts, to re-establish operations, maintain employment, and become more resilient for future disaster events.

The program provides additional small business wellness coaches and financial counsellors in impacted areas.

This program is administered by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT). It is jointly supported by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Commonwealth State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Small business financial counsellor locations

Small business financial counsellors are available across Queensland. They are located in:

Support

If our financial counsellors aren't located nearby, you can contact your closest financial counsellor for virtual support.

If you need help in your language, financial counsellors can help you access free translator and interpreter services.

Eligibility criteria

To access a small business financial counsellor, your business must (at the time of applying):

  • have fewer than 100 employees (full-time equivalents)
  • be experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, financial hardship
  • have an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • be based in Queensland.

Microbusinesses and sole traders are eligible to access a coach.

Rural financial counsellors

Rural financial counsellors help farmers, fishing enterprises, forestry growers, harvesters, and small related businesses experiencing financial challenges in their business. They can help you:

  • transition out of financial crisis
  • improve financial wellbeing and resilience
  • improve business profitability
  • facilitate a dignified exit through sale or succession (if required).

Rural financial counsellor locations

Rural financial counsellors are available across Queensland. They are located in:

Support

If our rural financial counsellors aren't located nearby, you can contact your closest rural financial counsellor for virtual support.

If you need help in your language, financial counsellors can help you access free translator and interpreter services.

Eligibility criteria

To access a rural financial counsellor, your business must (at the time of applying):

  • be a commercial primary production business
  • be experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, financial hardship
  • have an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • be based in Queensland.

Also consider...

  • Last reviewed: 31 Oct 2024
  • Last updated: 31 Oct 2024