Resources, licences & regulations

Getting started

Once you have your business plan finalised and are ready to set up your business, you may have a seemingly endless list of things to do. To make sure that you're ready for the next step, consider the following:

Setting up your premises

When you set up your office, you may need new furniture, office equipment and information and communications systems. It's a good idea to assess your business requirements first, shop around, compare prices, ask for advice from other home-based business operators and buy only what you need.

If you decide to rent or lease equipment rather than buy, you may be able to claim the payments as a tax deduction - see the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website about business deductions.

Your phone service provider may have services that cater for the needs of home-based businesses. Make sure your phone service is appropriate for your changing phone use, and consider installing a dedicated phone line for your business to ensure all business calls are answered professionally.

You should also protect your electronic data by regularly backing up business information and storing a copy in an external location.

Setting up your finances

The way you set up your business in your home may affect your tax deductions. See the ATO information on home-based work and deductions.

It's important to set up and maintain separate bank accounts for your business and personal funds. This will make record keeping easier and provide a more professional image. Find out what business services your bank offers and make sure their services are competitive.

Setting up your working conditions

You'll be spending a lot of time there, so make sure your workplace is a pleasant, comfortable and safe environment for you and your clients. Safe Work Australia can provide you with advice about occupational health and safety (OH&S).

You may need to employ staff or outsource work to contractors and you'll have certain obligations to them. See our topic on Employing people for more information about work conditions.

This information is brought to you by business.gov.au and Moorabool Shire Council