Small Business Rural Financial Counselling Service

Small Business Financial Counsellor is now in your area

Talk to a small business financial counsellor. It’s a free, confidential service. They can give you individual support and create a tailored recovery plan.

Mobile: 0427 458 647

Ph:(02) 6551 5879

Small Business Financial Counsellors

Is your small regional business experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship due to the impacts of drought, bushfire or COVID‑19?

We understand this has been a difficult time for small regional businesses that rely on primary production and thriving communities to survive. To help businesses with the challenges they are experiencing and get back on their feet, the Australian Government is investing more than $12.7 million in small business financial counselling:

This support will run until 30 June 2021, which will help you to:

• better understand your financial position
• connect with government programs and assistance schemes
• identify long-term recovery options
• implement plans to improve the viability of your business
• access broader professional advice and support.

Eligibility

These services are for small businesses that:

• have 19 employees or less
• are experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship due to the impacts of drought, bushfire or COVID-19
• are located within a regional area (i.e. not in a metropolitan area)

Services

Small business financial counselling is available through the RFCS in communities across Australia where economic downturn as a result of drought, bushfire or COVID-19 is having a major impact. The RFCS has successfully delivered financial counselling in regional communities for over 30 years.

A Professional Services Fund is also available to help businesses access specialist third-party advice (determined on a case-by-case basis). This includes financial planning, legal, specialist taxation and accounting advice.

How we can help

Small business financial counsellors can help you to:

• understand your financial position and the viability of your business
• identify options to manage the financial issues of your business
• develop budgets and cash flows
• create and implement an action plan to work towards your business goals
• negotiate with your lenders and access dispute resolution services
• identify other government and community grants, programs or schemes
• access broader professional advice and support.

Small business financial counsellors do not give family, emotional or social counselling or financial advice. They can refer you to other professional services, including:

• accountants
• legal services
• mental health services

The Rural Financial Counselling Service

The RFCS has been in operation since 1986, providing free financial counselling services nationally to farmers, fishing enterprises and small, related businesses suffering financial hardship. The RFCS seeks to help eligible clients through the provision of rural financial counselling services, to understand their financial position and the viability of their enterprise, and to develop and implement plans to improve their financial self-sufficiency. Each service provider is an incorporated entity run by a board of directors comprising a chairperson and other members. Service providers are run on a not-for-profit basis, with the majority of the funding from the Commonwealth. The RFCS program is well established with the current 12 service providers ideally placed to deliver the program. The 12 providers have national coverage and are experienced in case managed financial counselling and promoting their service. The RFCS is locally focused and trusted in regional communities.