1. Engaging with Small Business Lessons learnt so far from the ATO trials and other forums and activities.
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

2. Some common attitudes towards small business (not from the ATO!)
Small business need to become better managers.
Doesn’t really matter if a small business falls over, there is always someone else to take their place.
Why are small business operators so hopeless?
It’s their own fault if they fail.
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

3. They do not provide comments on government discussion papers.
Background
Traditionally Small Business Operators do not take a lot of interest in changes that are on the way or support that is available.
They do not provide comments on government discussion papers.
They don’t access support.
You can tell them a million times about something and they just seemt to forget
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

4. Not sure that they understand the issue No confidence No time
Why?
Not aware of the issue, the change, the request for submissions or the support available
Not sure that they understand the issue
No confidence
No time
No interest
Embarrassed
Afraid of what might happen
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

5. Emails aren’t always used and the same type of prioritising will occur
If the mail arrives and there are three cheques, five invoices, two orders, a bank statement, five advertising features and a note from the ATO/ASIC/local government. There is a chance that the note may be overlooked or put at the bottom of the pile.
s aren’t always used and the same type of prioritising will occur
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

6. Big business just tell their experts to fix it.
Consulting with Small Business Operators is not like consulting with big business
A Small Business Operator will behave like an individual not like a medium/large business.
Their behaviour is affected by time, demands from family and by business cycles, or by normal life events such as holidays, illness, staff shortages, IT equipment problems or just plain stress.
Big business just tell their experts to fix it.
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

7. If we want more input from Small Business Operators we need to
Create an awareness
Develop willingness
Find Small Business Operators with an ability to understand the real and potential impacts of any proposed changes or support offerred
Create a desire and capacity, and the confidence, to provide a response or seek the support
Create better small business focused responses from small business supporters such as associations, peak bodies, accountants and tax agents.
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

8. If we want Small Business Operators to access support we need to
Make that support compelling
Use their language
Use their supporters
Understand their business cycles and demands
Communicate with them as though they are individuals
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

9. Communicating with small business
Communicate on their terms and at their time
Work with their business cycles
Small business is not an homogenous group but many varied sub groups who communicate differently and at different times
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

10. Methods for engaging small business operators include:
Using the language that Small Business Operators understand
Use of case studies and examples
Using mediators to communicate issues. These groups can include industry associations, accountants, tax agents, banks, financial advisers, bookkeepers, networks & websites.
Thinking outside the square – eg - BeyondBlue, Lifeline, targetting life partners, ???
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

11. Methods for engaging small business (continued)
Use of websites frequently visited by small business operators
Highlighting specific issues
Use of local business networks, chambers and web based networks
Targeting specific industries and regions
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

12. Involvement of Industry Associations Industry associations know the language, the business cycles and the preferred means of communications of their members
Care needs to be taken as submissions or activities from these groups can be:
responses that claim to cover issues for all business - large, medium and small - but which, by their nature, will focus on large business.
the opinion of a CEO, an executive officer or a board of management that does not reflect the real issues facing Small Business Operators,.
will reflect the policy position of an organisation rather than the needs of Small Business Operators.
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

13. Use of Accountants and tax agents
Accountants and business professionals, especially from suburban and regional areas, can provide informed realistic comment.
At present they often provide comment and recommendations on policy and on process.
They can be better utilised for commenting on the impact on small business by targetted questions and by seeking examples and case studies.
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

14. Websites and newsletters Targetting select groups or regions
Some specific activities that are successful in engaging small business
Focus groups
Targetted Surveys
Websites and newsletters
Targetting select groups or regions
Seeking short focused comments on particular issues
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA

15. Summary
Small business acts and communicates like individuals, not like large companies
Use networks and supporters to seek and provide information
Be specific to the needs of individual groups of small business
Presentation to The Tax Commissioner’s Small Business Forum March 2008 by Peter Strong, COSBOA