Business advice and support

Skilled and Business Migration Program

Victoria’s Skilled and Business Migration Program offers a number of services to help investor and business migrants operate a successful business in Victoria. Services include:

• investor and business visa nomination/sponsorship
• dedicated relationship managers – information and investment facilitation support to significant investors and other business migrants
• support for short-term stay business visas
• links to public and private sector agencies who can assist you with:

• information about establishing and operating a business in Victoria
• business introductions
• market potential in Australia
• property and site location needs
• networks
• guidance for working with government.

Find out more about the Skilled and Business Migration Program.

Business Victoria

Business Victoria is the link between business and government. It helps business grow by solving problems, improving skills and making compliance easier.

These handy resources on the Business Victoria website will help you in your journey to set up a business in Victoria:

• Starting a business toolkit
• Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) – find out your regulatory obligations
• I am a business owner in Victoria, Australia Facebook group – join to meet other Victorian business people
• Small Business Victoria update – subscribe to get the latest regulatory changes, tips and trends for Victoria.

Invest Victoria

Invest Victoria provides useful information and support on planning and setting up a business in Victoria.

Visit the Invest Victoria site to learn more on the support available including advisory networks and a site identification and approvals service.

Small Business Mentoring Service

Another source of support and information is the Small Business Mentoring Service – a non-profit, independent organisation that provides business counselling and mentoring to small and medium business operators across Victoria. Mentors are experienced business people with proven track records in a diverse range of industries. For a small fee, they give advice about most aspects of business management.

business.gov.au

business.gov.au is a whole-of-government service providing essential information on planning, starting and growing your business. They offer a number of handy tools:

• start your business checklist – all the issues needed to help you grow your business
• business planning guides and templates – provided free of charge
• Grants and Assistance Finder – more than 500 grants and assistance listings across the federal, state and territory governments
• advisory services.

Business startups

Hatch Quarter have created a playbook to support first generation migrants and refugees who seek to launch startup businesses in Victoria. It is available in five different languages, including English, Mandarin, Hindi, Arabic and Spanish.

You will learn useful techniques to get yourself established, find network directories, and hear from other international entrepreneurs who have found success in Australia.

To access the playbook visit playbook.hatchquarter.com.au.

Local Government support

Local councils in Victoria usually have a business development unit that can provide a wealth of information and services for businesses within their municipality. To find your local council and the information they offer visit the Know Your Council website.

Industry associations

Visit our guide to Victorian industries to find out which industry associations and professional bodies represent your industry. Many industry groups run seminars and networking events that can help business migrants build a business in Victoria.

Other business support

More help is available from migration agents, accountants and legal firms as well as community and employer groups.