Starting a home based business is appealing - lower overheads, less travel time and greater flexibility with balancing work and family. Improved information and communication systems have now made working from home an even more viable option.

For people interested in starting a home based business, the following resources are available:

Tailored information
Resources specifically designed for home based businesses include:

• The Home based business manual looks at many of the aspects of operating a home based business. The manual provides you with information for marketing, finance, business, strategic and action planning. Additionally, there are several case studies used to illustrate some of the key points.
   
  
• Smart Skills offers a number of the Department's business skills programs in an interactive, online format.

General business information

• The Government Business Information Service (GOBiS) is a free service that acts as your first point of contact to access up-to-date information about State and Commonwealth government support programs available to businesses.
  
  
• The Department's Business Resource Centre can provide industry and market information packages tailored to your particular business type and proposed location. Information packages contain demographic data for geographical areas to help you determine whether you are maximising access to your target market, without providing too much competition.
  
  
• The Department publishes a series of SmartGuides for different industry types. The guides provide information on licensing, business planning, market research, and government support services.
  
  
• SmartLicence is a one-stop shop for finding out what local, State and Commonwealth Government licences your business may require. By completing a series of questions online, SmartLicence Online will identify the relevant licences, permits and registrations for your business.
  
  
• Contact your closest regional centre to talk through some of the key issues on starting up your business. You will learn about the many free services available in your community to assist you. These include SmartLicence Online, government support programs, business mentoring, business workshops, export assistance and many more.
  
  
• Contact the Business Hotline on 1300 363 711 (interstate/overseas callers +61 7 3001 6359) to speak with a specialist officer from the Department.