As we approach the federal election, business owners across the country are watching closely, not just for promises, but for policies that will genuinely ease the rising cost of doing business in Australia.
For small and medium businesses (SMBs), the backbone of our economy, the current climate is more than just “challenging.” It’s a daily tightrope walk. From surging energy bills and salary pressures to navigating a fast-changing regulatory landscape, the costs are stacking up and they’re hitting hard.
At Localsearch, we work with thousands of small businesses across the country, helping them to grow their customer base, and ultimately their income, through digital marketing. For over 30 years, we’ve provided local marketing solutions to help businesses achieve their goals. We hear their stories every day. These are hardworking people – tradies, café owners, consultants, family-run retailers. All who want to build something sustainable and successful. But right now, many are simply trying to stay afloat.
The past couple of years have delivered wave after wave of pressure for business owners: inflation, rising interest rates, supply chain issues and now, ongoing uncertainty in global markets.
Labor shortages remain a major concern, especially in regional areas. Business owners are often paying more to attract and retain talent, while simultaneously managing higher supplier costs, increased rent and rising insurance premiums. With an election on the horizon, now is the time for all sides of politics to come to the table with practical, forward-thinking and innovative solutions that speak directly to the realities of doing business in 2025.
Here are five areas we, at Localsearch, believe deserve serious attention in the next policy cycle:
1. Energy Cost Relief
Energy bills are climbing fast and that hits every business, whether you’re running a bakery or a data center. While short-term relief programs are welcome, we need a longer-term roadmap for affordable and reliable energy. This includes support for businesses investing in renewable technology, like solar or energy-efficient equipment. It’s not just good for the environment, it’s good for the bottom line.
2. Simplified, Streamlined Compliance
Time is money and too much time is being spent on compliance that could be automated, digitised or simplified. We’d like to see continued investment in digital tools that reduce paperwork, streamline tax and payroll and cut through red tape. Let small business owners focus on serving their customers, not chasing down government forms.
3. Digital Infrastructure for Regional Business
For many regional SMBs, poor internet and limited digital infrastructure are real barriers to growth. In a world where most customers search online first, slow speeds or limited connectivity is more than just an inconvenience, it’s lost revenue. Investment in digital infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas, is essential to keeping regional Australia competitive. Small businesses aren’t just the backbone of thriving cities, but the country as a whole – even more so regionally.
4. Skills, Not Just Headcounts
Yes, we need more workers. But more importantly, we need the right skills in the workforce. Incentives for training, apprenticeships and micro-credential programs that align with real business needs could go a long way in bridging the talent gap. Encouraging partnerships between education providers and SMBs can ensure we’re building a pipeline of workers ready to hit the ground running. While there are many incentives in the trade industry, I’d love to see more specialised opportunities available – particularly for people who don’t have the resources to attend university.
5. Support for Digital Transformation
We have obviously entered a digital age where social media, digital marketing and online presences can be the difference between a thriving business and a struggling one. At Localsearch, we’ve seen firsthand how our tools can change the game for a small business. But digital transformation isn’t always intuitive and many SMBs still struggle with knowing where to start.
We believe there’s a role for the government to play in encouraging and supporting digital capability, not just for startups, but for local mechanics, florists and every business in between. Grants, mentoring programs and digital literacy initiatives could unlock incredible growth.
Australian small businesses don’t want handouts – they’re short term fixes that increase ongoing costs and create uncertainty. They want solutions that deliver the sustainable relief that businesses really need. Clear, stable policy settings that enable them to plan, invest, hire and grow will be the long term solution.
The upcoming federal election is an opportunity to put the focus where it belongs and have meaningful discussions with those who can make a change. We want to focus on the real, everyday experiences of business owners working hard to keep their communities strong.
Let’s talk about realistic, timely solutions. Let’s talk about long-term thinking. Let’s talk about what it really means to make this country the best place in the world to run a business.
At Localsearch, we’ll keep doing our part. We recently launched three game-changing digital marketing solutions. As an industry-first, we have bundled solutions like LocalVis and LocalRank, to make it easier and more affordable than ever for small businesses to boost visibility, engage customers, and grow without a hefty marketing budget or deep technical expertise. These products will revolutionise the experience of small business owners in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. With the rising cost of operating a business dominating headlines and keeping small business owners up at night, Localsearch has created products with small business owners’ perspectives and issues at the forefront of their solutions.
This election season, we hope the small business voice is heard… and heeded.
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