The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) supports new and existing small businesses with a range of free and low-cost workshops. Experienced business advisers can also provide help by phone, email or in person. An online business licence finder will direct you to the licence and permits you need. A range of practical business resources, tools and templates are also available in print and online.

For more information, please visit the Small Business Development Corporation website.

Stirling Business Association is a membership based organisation that provides networking opportunities, hosts functions and events and provides relevant business information to membership base.

For more information, visit Stirling Business Association or contact (08) 9240 1288.

 The Stirling Business Centre has office space, meeting rooms and a co-working space where you can connect and collaborate with other business owners.

For more information, visit Stirling Business Centre or contact (08) 9240 1288.

Business Station offers a free one-to-one business advisory service on a range of topics including business start-ups, marketing, digital engagement, management and finance. Business Station advisors are qualified and experienced professionals, focused on providing the necessary tools to help your small business prosper.

Launching on Tuesday 11 June 2024 is the Jump Start program. The program is $350.00, with the City of Stirling sponsoring a limited number of locally based businesses with a reduced cost of $99.00.

As a bonus, you'll get free access to a Profit Accelerator Software, a tool worth $250 a month, helping you see results faster.

To access this reduced cost, please email ecodevelop@stirling.wa.gov.au with your name, business details and trading address. The City will supply a discount code for use on sign up.

Jump Start program

For more information, please visit the Business Station website.

Business Foundations is a Not-for-Profit organisation dedicated to encouraging entrepreneurial activity and offers workshops, business advisers and the Self Employment Assistance program. This initiative aims to promote self-employment through a range of activities and is designed to encourage and enable unemployed workers to create their own jobs by starting their own small businesses.

Innovation Centre WA provides infrastructure and services to emerging and innovative small to medium enterprises, to increase their commercial potential. Commercialisation advisers provide support to turn ideas into viable, sustainable enterprises and products.

For more information, please visit the New Industries website.

Supply Nationis dedicated to growing diversity within the supply chain, by connecting Australian corporate and government organisations with its membership base of Indigenous business suppliers.

For more information, please visit the Supply Nation website.

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access the skills, knowledge and resources required to start and grow a viable and sustainable business.

For more information, please visit the Indigenous Business Australia website.

Aboriginal Business Directory WA is a free service which gives Aboriginal businesses an opportunity to promote their products and services to potential buyers from government and private organisations.

For more information, please visit the Aboriginal Business Directory WA website.

There are many challenges that can effect mental health in the workplace, including long work hours, social isolation, customer demands, cash flow issues, work-life balance and job insecurity.

Heads Up is an organisation to improve mental health in the workplace can help if you, or someone you know might need support.

• If people can’t physically access your business, they won’t
• Provide a firm, level path of travel from the car park to the entrance. If it is not possible to remove steps, install a ramp
• Automatic sensor doors are preferred
• Ensure counters are accessible to a person using a wheelchair
• Keep access areas free from items that may cause an obstruction or tripping hazard
• Provide a unisex accessible toilet with adequate space for a wheelchair
• Be aware of reflective glass at the entrance to your business and consider applying contrasting strips across any glass doors for ease of recognition.

People with disabilities have the same rights as the rest of the community to access services, facilities, and information. Failure to provide the same levels of access or opportunities could be viewed as discrimination under the Disability Discrimination Act (1992).

• Use clear and concise language
• Always emphasise the person first, not the disability
• If the person is deaf or hard of hearing, look directly at them and speak clearly at a normal pace, keeping your hands clear of your face
• Communicate using pen and paper if this assists
• If the person has a vision impairment, identify yourself and introduce any other people also present
• When handing paperwork or money to a person with a visual impairment, place the money in the person’s hand, giving them notes and coins separately
• Provide a customer service area at a height that is suitable for people using wheelchairs, with leg clearance underneath
• Improve customer service by providing staff with training on disability awareness and effective communication strategies.

Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS): 131 450 or visit the TIS website.

TIS National provides access to the following interpreting services:

• Immediate phone interpreting (131 450)
• ATIS automated voice-prompted immediate phone interpreting
• Pre-booked phone interpreting
• On-site interpreting
• Telehealth video interpreting service.

National Relay Service (NRS): 13 36 77 

The NRS can help you communicate with people who are deaf and/or find it hard hearing or speaking with people who use a phone.

• The NRS has specially trained staff called Relay Officers who help with every call
• Depending on the type of call, a Relay Officer will change voice to text or text to voice and AUSLAN to English or English to AUSLAN
• Relay Officers stay on the line throughout each call to help it go smoothly, but don’t change or get in the way of what is being said
• Except for calls made through Video Relay, the NRS is available 24 hours a day, every day.

Make sure all of your customers are able to access the information they need from your business.

• Display information in an accessible location
• It is recommended that information is provided in a minimum size 12 font with a sans serif typeface such as Arial
• Use matte or low-sheen paper
• Use high-contrast colors for printed information
• Provide clear, easy-to-read signage
• Lower your pamphlets and brochures to an accessible height for people of short stature or people using wheelchairs
• If your business is a restaurant or fast-food outlet, have a few menus in large print available to assist people with vision impairment.

Australia is currently experiencing a skills shortage, and the one in five Australians, or 4.4 million people, living with a disability represents a vast pool of talent that employers can tap into.

The business case for hiring people with disabilities is strong. People with disabilities generally take less sick leave and stay in jobs longer than other workers.

To access short video guides and downloadable resources with practical advice on disability and employment—from inclusive policies and recruitment to workplace changes and managing staff—see the Australian government’s Jobaccess Employer Toolkit.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer, the City of Stirling values the creativity and innovations of a diverse workforce to help us better meet the needs of our diverse community.

The City’s 'Rethink Employment' video is a short guide to inclusive employment and can be viewed below.

The expectation of accessibility is now greater than ever, whether it is physical access to the built environment, customer service access, or access to information.

The City of Stirling is offering businesses a free informal walkthrough by friendly volunteers with personal experience of disability to provide your business with confidential recommendations for access improvements.

Walkthroughs are a proactive starting point for businesses to identify issues for consideration and develop a practical approach to improving access for everyone, including staff, customers, and visitors.

Walkthroughs may take one to two hours depending on the size of your business and can be arranged Mondays to Thursdays between 10.00am and 2.00pm, as mutually convenient. Following the walkthrough, a report will be developed and usually forwarded to your business within three weeks.

All information remains confidential, and there is no requirement to implement the advised recommendations.

Please note that an 'access walkthrough' does not address access for every element within a building. It is not intended to take the place of a formal access audit, which inspects and assesses to determine compliance with relevant access legislation, codes, and standards. Rather, a 'walkthrough' offers advice based on volunteers’ personal experience of disability.

To book an access walkthrough of your business, please email accessandinclusion@stirling.wa.gov.au or, for further information, please contact the Customer Service Team at (08) 9205 8555.

Liability disclaimer:

The City of Stirling shall in no event be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, or any damages whatsoever arising out of the business walkthrough, the use of information provided during the walkthrough, or in the walkthrough report. The walkthrough report is not intended as a substitute for professional advice.

At Stirling Business Centre tenants enjoy a collaborative community that offers coaching, training and networking to support the local small business owner to succeed and grow. The centre offers collaborative co-working, virtual offices, meeting and training rooms as well as pleasant communal areas to encourage interaction and engagement between tenants. With its vibrant feel and professional management Stirling Business Centre is the ideal stepping stone for your business journey.

For more information, please visit the Stirling Business Centre website.

Tradie HQ is a world first co-working facility specifically for tradies and trade based businesses. 

Based in the commercial hub of Osborne Park, Tradie HQ blends classic open space, hot desk co-working and dedicated or shared offices with a modern, well appointed workshop with fabrication, set out, storage and training space.

Tradie HQ is the perfect stepping stone between working from home and getting your own commercial space to operate your business.

Email enquiries@tradiehqwa.com.au to book a tour or visit the Tradie HQ website.

Flowspace is a co-working hub in North Beach designed for small businesses who want a fantastic location, access to meeting and boardrooms, and to work in an open-plan environment with high speed Wi-Fi.

For more information, please visit the Flowspace website.

Integrity Business Centre is located in Osborne Park and offers 20 serviced offices in a variety of sizes to suit one to 12 people. There are also co-working meeting rooms and virtual offices that are available, in a range of pricing packages.

For more information, please visit the Integrity Business Centre website.

Regus have set up shared offices in Osborne Park, with a variety of options such as dedicated offices, meeting rooms, shared work spaces or a virtual office. Additional facilities include a 20-metre swimming pool, alfresco poolside café, fully equipped gym, barbeque facilities and full-size tennis court.

For more information, please visit The Garden Office Park.

The Perth Artifactory was established to promote the creative and artistic use of technology and offers a communal workshop in a large warehouse in Osborne Park. Members get access to tools, machinery and skills training, including a 3D printer, laser cutters and an electronics workbench, to make anything they want. Clients can use the facilities on a casual ‘drop in’ rate or a monthly membership, and it is a not-for-profit operation run by volunteers.

For more information, please visit the Perth Artifactory website.