Small business complaints & inquiries

All businesses in Australia have the right to operate in a competitive and fair environment. Just like all other businesses, small business operators have various rights and obligations under Competition and Consumer Act (2010).

The role of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is to administer the Competition and Consumer Act and we do this:
  • by preventing or deterring anti-competitive conduct so that all businesses have the opportunity to thrive, and to conduct their business in a way that is in the interests of the Australian public
  • by protecting consumers against misleading and deceptive conduct.

Small businesses play an important role in the Australian economy as suppliers of goods and services, and as consumers and competitors. Often small businesses rely on bigger businesses to be their suppliers and in some situations they are also their competitors. In the course of everyday business operations, circumstances might arise where you feel that you have been dealt with unfairly, anti-competitively or have been misled in some way.

The small business complaints form (below) has been developed as a result of the ACCC's continuing focus on the small business sector. It has been designed to provide small business operators with a useful avenue to inform the ACCC of your particular problem or situation and to seek our advice.

If you require assistance when completing the form, you can contact the ACCC small business helpline on 1300 302 021 Monday to Friday between 8.30 am EST and 6.00 pm WST.

Confidentiality

The ACCC recognises that much of the information it gathers when assessing complaints may be commercially sensitive. All information provided to the ACCC will remain confidential unless the person who provides that information grants permission for it to be disclosed to a third party or upon the order of a court or tribunal. Please read our privacy statement.