Resources

Australian Business Owner Help Centre

Practical tools, calculators, templates and plain-English guidance to help you start, understand, run and grow your business. Begin with a question, then choose the next useful action.

What do you need help with?

The business owner journey

Find help for the stage you're in.

01 · StartSet the foundationsABN, structures, registrations and first decisions.Explore 02 · RunKeep operations movingCustomers, suppliers, invoicing and cash flow.Explore 03 · UnderstandRead your numbersProfit, cash, margins and working capital.Explore 04 · FundCompare financeStructures, lenders, criteria and costs.Explore 05 · GrowPlan expansionContracts, stock, new locations and acquisitions.Explore 06 · ProtectManage riskInsurance, continuity and cyber security.Explore 07 · TroubleAct earlyATO debt, cash pressure and professional help.Explore 08 · ExitPlan the transitionSale, succession, closure and obligations.Explore

Start with a question

Tools & calculators

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Cash flow forecast builderMap opening cash, receipts and payments for three periods to see possible shortfalls before they arrive.Business health checkA private, educational check-in across cash, customers, records and planning. No score or lender assessment.Break-even calculatorEstimate how many units you need to sell to cover fixed costs at a given price and variable cost.Working capital calculatorCalculate the short-term assets left after short-term liabilities and see the current ratio.

Make a working plan

Templates & checklists

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Business plan templateA practical plan you can revisit as you learn what customers need and what the numbers show.Cash flow forecast templateRecord when money is expected to arrive and when payments actually fall due.Business budget templatePlan sales and expenses, then compare actual results with your original assumptions.

Free course · 8 short lessons · no sign-upUnderstand Your NumbersThe numbers every business owner should understand, explained in plain English: profit vs cash, your P&L and balance sheet, cash flow, debtors, working capital, margins and what lenders may look at.Start the course

Run & grow

Build a stronger everyday business.

Getting paid, pricing, suppliers and making room for growth.

Explore running a business

Solve a problem

Know your first practical step.

Cash pressure, tax debt, late customers and when to get specialist help.

Explore problem guides

Explore by topic

Use topics to find related guides and tools. The eight-stage journey above remains your main way through the Help Centre.

Starting a businessStructures, registrations and the first practical decisions.Understanding your numbersProfit, cash, statements and useful ratios.Managing cash flowForecasting, payments, working capital and pressure points.Running & growing a businessDay-to-day operations and deliberate growth.Tax & business obligationsGST, BAS, records and where to seek specialist help.Problems & helpPractical first steps when the business is under pressure.Financing your businessHow finance works and what to compare.

Browse guidance by subject

Starting a businessABN, ACN, Director ID, GST and choosing a structure.9 guides Running a businessGetting paid, managing debtors and buying equipment.10 guides Understanding your numbersA free 8-lesson course on profit, cash flow, margins and your financial statements.9 guides ATO and taxPayment plans, overdue BAS, super, DPNs and tax debt.8 guides Cash flowWorking capital and cash-flow warning signs.6 guides Business under pressureStatutory demands, winding up and where to get help.4 guides Business finance explainedHow each type of business lending works.11 guides Getting finance readyBorrowing power, LVR, credit and preparing to apply.7 guides

Business context

Explore by industry

All industries

Industry guides describe common operating needs and link back to finance discovery when relevant.

Construction & Trades Retail Hospitality Professional Services Transport & Logistics Agriculture & Farming

When finance becomes relevant

Understand your options, then compare.

Read how funding structures work and what lenders may ask before using the marketplace.

Learn about business finance

Recently reviewed guidance

Backups your business can actually restoreReviewed 2026-10-02 Budget vs actual: what changed and why?Reviewed 2026-10-02 GST and cash flow: why the bank balance can mislead youReviewed 2026-10-02 How do I know if a job is profitable?Reviewed 2026-10-02

More ways to explore

Find professional helpFind or check an accountant, tax agent, bookkeeper or adviser.Learning HubPlain-English guides to business finance.Business and finance glossaryPlain-English definitions of tax, accounting and lending terms.Documents checklistWhat lenders usually ask for.Repayment calculatorEstimate repayments and total cost.Lender directoryEvery lender in our marketplace.How we compareOur data sources and methodology.

Sources and review

Our guides explain the issue in plain English and show sources and review dates on each page. Official services are the place to confirm current requirements or complete an action.

Not sure where to start?

Start with the question you have today.

Search for something you want to do, understand or solve. A guide can explain the idea, a tool can help with the numbers, and a worksheet can help you plan the next step.

Explore guides Use a tool Open a template Start the numbers course