Research before signing a lease

Understanding and having a clear business idea is crucial. Asking yourself the right questions about your business is important to build strong foundations, its important to ask yourself the following questions before starting any paperwork or signing a lease.

• What services will I be providing?
• What type of space would my business require?
• Where geographically would my business thrive?
• Will my business generate any nuisance (sound, pollution, light) that could affect surrounding businesses or properties.

Knowing & understanding these questions will help guide you more into the type of space you can lease, permits, costs that may be involved, goals for opening the business and time frames.

We recommend the following steps when planning:

1. Background research into the type of business you wish to open
2. Visit SBDC website and read the following support and guides:
   1. https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/starting-and-growing/steps-to-starting-a-business
   2. Business advisory service: https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/business-advisory-service
3. Australian Government Business support: https://business.gov.au/planning
4. Do we create a Shire flowchart of opening a small business? (City of Kwinana example)
5. When choosing a location for your business, it’s important to consider factors such as land use zoning, traffic accessibility, potential future development and environmental health before committing. Its advised you obtain planning and building approvals before committing to a lease or making a purchase offer, however if obtaining these approvals in advance isn’t possible, its to be noted that any purchase should be contingent upon obtaining council approvals to ensure the site complies with all necessary requirements. Below are some tools to help you determine what location or building type is suitable for your business.
   1. Pozzie link?
   2. Business classification 1 pages, and changing classification

• Shires planning scheme (if we have one?)

Types of approvals and permits that may be required

Types of approvals and permits that may be required:

• Planning Approval (development approval)
• Building Permit
• Health Approval
• Occupancy Permit
• Liquor License
• Trading Permit
• Noise Permit
• Signage License

We’ve also created simple checklists for various business types. These were designed to help guide you through the key steps and requirements for starting your business.

• Skin Penetration
• Hairdressing
• Commercial Food business
• Home Food business
• Mobile food business
• Gym/ Health & Wellness
• XX
• XX
• XX

Step 1 Planning

Planning applications can be lodged [insert how they can be lodged].

Planning approvals may be required for the following circumstances:

• Most developments within the Shire of Northam
• Changing the type of business that is currently on the property (i.e. hair salon to a restaurant)
• Any external works

We have created information sheets to assist you in lodging planning applications.

• When is a planning application required?
• Development application checklist
• Section 40 Liquor License
• Application for home occupation
• Home occupation vs home business
• Development or planning approvals

Application process

• Lodge your application → May be contacted for RFI → Your application is formally accepted → Your application is assessed → Your proposal may be referred to other offices or agencies → Your proposal may be advertised to public for comment → Determination

What are the Planning application assessment timeframes?

• [Insert time frames]
• [Insert time frames]

Next Step: Submit Additional Applications (if needed)

Once Planning Approval is granted, apply for any required permits, such as building or health.

Important: If Health Approval is needed, apply for pre-approval before the Building Permit and fit-out to ensure health requirements are met first.

Step 2 Health Approval

Health approvals are essential for businesses dealing with food, hairdressing or skin penetration [any more?]. If the business, you are considering are any of the following a health approval will be required:

• Public Building [Link app form/s]
  • Permanent (Gyms, Childcare, Bars/ Clubs, Educational establishments)
  • Temporary (Once off events in open spaces – Parks/ Ovals)
• Skin Penetration [Link app form/s]
  • Beauty business
  • Hairdresser/ barber
  • Tattoo parlour & acupuncture
  • Waxing and nails
• Food Business [Link app form/s]
  • Shops (incl. Liquor Licensing s.39)
  • Mobile – food vans
  • Home business (low risk only – cake decorating)
  • Outdoor Eating facilities (Alfresco)
  • Portable signage (A-Frames and glags)
  • Primary producers (Eggs, leafy greens)
  • Bed and breakfast

Step 3 Building Approval

If your business requires a building permit (necessary before any works can be carried out). A building permit application will be required if your business plan/ proposal includes the construction, renovation, alteration or improvement of building. This can be issued once the health approval has been signed off. A health approval must be completed before the building permit can be issued, however both applications can be worked simultaneously. [Example of Health & Building Approvals being worked simultaneously due to change in building class etc].

Step 4 Occupancy permits & health inspections

Occupancy permits are always required prior to a new commercial occupancy commencing.

External Agencies (Licenses Managed by State or Local Government)

Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (Liquor & Gaming licensing)

Ongoing Support

Signage

Events

Public Space Activations