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The balancing act of managing a small business is now easier in Queensland's river city thanks to a new initiative from Brisbane City Council to provide $2 million in cuts to fees and charges.
In a bid to reduce compliance costs for getting regulatory approvals over the line, Council is offering 10 per cent, 50 per cent and 100 per cent discounts to small businesses that have up to 19 employees.
Start-ups will receive a higher discount to help them thrive and grow at the time when most help is needed.
Council describes small businesses as the backbone of Brisbane's economy, and its goal is to build Australia's most small business-friendly city with more support in the suburbs.
The new initiative was introduced from 1 July this year.
The cuts are aimed at removing barriers to starting up a small business in Brisbane while helping existing enterprises save money that can be re-invested towards future growth.
Council says the reductions are helping small businesses to succeed and are helping create thriving suburbs with cafes, food trucks, start-ups and more.
In addition, Council is backing more than 124,000 existing small businesses with more support in the suburbs, Small Business Liaison Officers and a 24/7 business hotline.
For new applications, eligibility will be assessed on the application forms (both online and hard copy) and relevant discounts will be applied at the time of submitting the application with the small business paying a reduced fee.
For renewals, the renewal notice issued to the customer will provide instructions for how existing licensees can apply for a discount.
Full details of the discounts offered are available for each category:
- Advertising sign fees
- Amplified music venues
- Brisbane food trucks
- Café, restaurant or takeaway
- Catering business
- Commercial activity in a park
- Display or storage of goods on roadway/footway
- Home-based food business
- Entertainment venues
- Entertainment permit
- Footpath dining
- Food manufacturing
- Market food stall
- Mobile food vehicle
- Personal appearance services licence
- Standing street stall, booth, stand, vehicle or tables or chairs.
This is just one way Council is making "Brisbetter", with other initiatives announced in the Lord Mayor's 2019-20 Budget including free off-peak travel for seniors, first home owners rates cuts and the new double-decker CityCat.
For further information about small business fee reductions, contact Council's Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263), 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or visit the Council's website on small business fee cuts.
This article was written in partnership with Brisbane City Council.
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