Today we released our latest edition of the Small Business in Focus report covering recent developments and outcomes across the small business, franchising and agriculture sectors.
From January to June this year, we received nearly 3800 contacts (reports and enquiries) about small business issues plus 263 contacts about franchising issues. The most common issue reported to us by small businesses was misleading conduct and false representations with over 1000 reports. Small businesses also reported a total of $2.3 million in financial losses to scams.
The report also highlights recent ACCC activities, including:
- enforcement action, including court ordered penalties against ABG Pages Pty Ltd, Domain Corp Pty Ltd and Domain Name Agency Pty Ltd, plus court-enforceable undertakings and proceedings against businesses over potentially unfair contract terms
- our submission to the inquiry into the operation and effectiveness of the Franchising Code and Oil Code, which included 10 recommendations relating to penalty provisions and additional requirements for franchisors
- the release of the Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry final report and its recommendations, which aim to assist small business
- our role in providing guidance to food-related businesses on the country of origin labelling and monitoring compliance with the new requirements.
Visit the ACCC website to read the Small business in focus report and find out more in our media release.
You can also contact us using our online form or by calling our small business helpline on 1300 302 021.
Kind regards,
Small Business team
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
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