The government has allocated $9.4 million in funding to the Services NSW-led Easy to do Business program, which aims to slash red tape for small business owners.

Minister for Finance, Services and Property, Victor Dominello, said the funding would cut the time it takes to start a small business. 

“Small business owners in NSW make a major contribution to our economy with the sector paying more than $47 billion in wages each year and employing more than 1.5 million people,” he said.

“The Easy to do Business program is a smart customer-centric solution which helps to navigate all tiers of government and streamlines processes across the entire business start-up process, enabling businesses to focus on important tasks like hiring staff.”

The Easy to do Business initiative is delivered by Service NSW in partnership with the Customer Service Commissioner and the Small Business Commissioner.

It offers businesses a single online portal for interacting with the three tiers of government.

Bathurst Business Chamber president Stacey Whittaker has praised the initiative, saying it will encourage more people to continue with the process of starting a small business.  

“I think it is a fantastic initiative shown by the state government [to invest in Easy to do Business],” she said.

“The biggest downfall of small business is just the amount of red tape you have to go through.

“If there is so much red tape at the start of the process it can discourage you from setting up your business.

“With this system, it ensures all the boxes are ticked.”

Easy to do Business was first trialled in Parramatta, where it helped to replace up to 48 forms across13 different agencies.

The average opening time of a café, restaurant and small bar went from 18 months to less than 90 days.

Earlier this year, the initiative expanded to Georges River, Dubbo and the Northern Beaches local government areas.

With the additional funds, Easy to do Business will expand into more areas around the state and is expected to save business owners, on average, 57 hours of red tape and accelerate the process of starting up their business.

For more information, visit the Service NSW website or phone 13 77 88.