Rural Business Support

What Rural Business Support does

Rural Business Support (RBS) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation established in 2006 and headquartered in Magill, South Australia. It delivers free, independent and confidential financial counselling and advisory services to rural and regional communities across South Australia and the Northern Territory, serving primary producers (farmers), fishers, foresters, landowners and small family-owned businesses experiencing or at risk of financial hardship. RBS operates four core programs — the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS), Small Business Financial Counselling (SBFC), Landowner Information Service (LIS) and the RBS Relief Fund — supplemented by industry-specific programs such as GrowStrong (wine grape growers), Growing Profitability (horticulture), Business Continuity Planning and the Weather It Together wellbeing campaign.

The organisation is one of 12 providers nationally in the federally funded RFCS Network and is the only provider covering both SA and the NT. Service delivery is high-touch and human-led: a Freecall intake (1800 836 211) is answered by Programs Support Officers who triage and assign locally based Financial Counsellors, who in turn deliver support on-farm, by phone or by video. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations rely on standard case management and communication tools, with field staff credentialed on regional agriculture, fishing and small business context rather than technical systems.

RBS is primarily government-funded — through the Australian Government, SA Government and NT Government — with supplementary revenue from donations to the RBS Relief Fund (which has disbursed over 320 grants valued at more than $400,000 and delivered over $950,000 in direct assistance to date). All services are free at the point of use. The go-to-market is community- and event-driven, with referral partnerships across government agencies, primary producer industry bodies (Grain Producers SA, Livestock SA, Primary Producers SA, Wine Grape Council of SA, AUSVEG SA) and presence at regional field days, industry conferences and government roadshows. In 2024, demand reached 'unprecedented levels' following a drought-affected season, with 475+ rural family enterprises actively supported.

Name

Rural Business Support

Legal name

Rural Business Support

Website

https://ruralbusinesssupport.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rural Business Support is an Australian not-for-profit that delivers free, independent financial counselling and advisory services to primary producers, fishers, foresters, landowners and small businesses across South Australia and the Northern Territory. It is one of 12 federally funded RFCS providers nationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Financial Counselling Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (115), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agricultural & Rural Microfinance (FSAKAGAG), SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

Keywords

• Rural financial counselling
• Small business counselling
• Landowner information services
• Agricultural support services
• Emergency relief grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Magill

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS): The Rural Financial Counselling Service is funded by the Australian Government, South Australian Government, and Northern Territory Government. RBS is one of 12 service providers nationally and a member of the RFCS Network. Services are delivered free of charge to eligible clients — primary producers, fishers, foresters, and small related agricultural enterprises.
2. Small Business Financial Counselling: Extension of the RFCS model supporting small and family-owned businesses impacted by drought, bushfires, or the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) event, funded through government programs.
3. Landowner Information Service: Free information service for landowners on land access, mining, quarrying, hydrogen and renewable energy developments, funded by government.
4. RBS Relief Fund: Charitable fund supported by donations from individuals, businesses, community organisations, and government partners. Provides practical emergency grants (up to $1,500) to eligible farming and rural families in distress. Has disbursed over 320 grants valued at more than $400,000 to date.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rural Business Support delivers free, independent, and confidential financial counselling and information services to primary producers, fishers, foresters, small businesses, and landowners across South Australia and the Northern Territory. Core programs include the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS), Small Business Financial Counselling (SBFC), Landowner Information Service (LIS), and the RBS Relief Fund, all provided at no cost to eligible clients.

Product overview

Rural Business Support offers a portfolio of free, independent, and confidential support services for rural communities in South Australia and the Northern Territory. The core offerings include the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS), Small Business Financial Counselling (SBFC), Landowner Information Service (LIS), and RBS Relief Fund. These services work together to address financial hardship, land access issues, and emergency relief needs for primary producers, fishers, foresters, and small rural businesses. Additional programs include Business Continuity Planning, the Growing Profitability Program, GrowStrong Program for wine grape growers, and the Weather It Together wellbeing campaign. All services are designed to support the resilience and sustainability of rural communities facing drought, natural disasters, and economic challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS): A free, independent and confidential service for eligible South Australian and Northern Territory primary producers, foresters, fishers and small related agricultural enterprises experiencing financial hardship.
• Small Business Financial Counselling Service (SBFC)
• Landowner Information Service (LIS)
• RBS Relief Fund

Products and services

• Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) A free, independent and confidential service for eligible South Australian and Northern Territory primary producers, foresters, fishers and small related agricultural enterprises experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.
• Small Business Financial Counselling (SBFC) A free, independent and confidential service supporting small and family-owned businesses across South Australia and the Northern Territory facing financial pressure due to drought, algal bloom and broader regional challenges.
• Landowner Information Service (LIS) A free, factual, impartial and independent information service to help South Australian farmers, landowners and community members understand their rights and responsibilities regarding land access laws and dealing with resources exploration, mining, quarrying, hydrogen and renewable energy industries.
• RBS Relief Fund Provides financial relief to primary producers, foresters, fishers and small related agricultural enterprises in distress and at risk of poverty, financial distress, or emotional hardship due to adverse events or natural disasters beyond their control. Has disbursed over 320 grants valued at more than $400,000.
• Growing Profitability Program A program delivered by AUSVEG SA and Rural Business Support, fully funded by the Future Drought Fund, helping vegetable and potato growers review and refine strategies with independent Business Coaches on business strategy, financial planning, cost assessment, and industry benchmarking.
• GrowStrong Program A program supporting wine grape growers with practical tools and expert guidance to strengthen their businesses, delivered by Wine Grape Council of SA in partnership with Rural Business Support across SA wine regions including Langhorne Creek, Riverland, Limestone Coast, Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Clare, and McLaren Vale.
• Business Continuity Planning A free program to help clients develop a tailored Business Continuity Plan to identify risks, protect operations, and respond to unexpected events including natural disasters, economic shocks, and operational disruptions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 475+ rural family enterprises supported by Rural Financial Counsellors at any given time
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• RFCS Network (National)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRBS is one of 12 service providers nationally in the Rural Financial Counselling Service Network. Works collaboratively with other state-based RFCS providers on best practices, shared learning, and sector representation.
• Primary Producers SA (PPSA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry body representing SA primary producers. Partnered with RBS for the Just a Farmer charity screening event and ongoing collaboration on farmer wellbeing initiatives.
• Weather It Together Campaign (ifarmwell, PPSA, Grain Producers SA, Livestock SA, SA Dairyfarmers Association)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide farmer wellbeing campaign funded through the $73 million SA Drought Support Package. Led by ifarmwell with Primary Producers SA, Grain Producers SA, Livestock SA, and SA Dairyfarmers' Association. RBS team available at Weather It Together events.
• SA Small Business CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSA Small Business Commission can intervene in payment disputes while RBS continues to guide financial recovery, working together to keep small businesses on track.
• Wine Grape Council of SA (WGCSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRBS partners with WGCSA on the GrowStrong Program, delivering practical tools and expert guidance to wine grape growers across SA wine regions (Langhorne Creek, Riverland, Limestone Coast, Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Clare, McLaren Vale).
• AUSVEG SAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRBS partners with AUSVEG SA on the Growing Profitability Program (Year 3, funded by Future Drought Fund and supported by PIRSA), helping vegetable and potato growers review and refine business strategies.
• Adelaide United Football ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRural Support Charity Soccer Match is hosted as a curtain-raiser to the Adelaide United v Sydney FC A-League match, providing a high-profile platform for raising awareness and funds for the RBS Relief Fund.
• Adelaide United A-LeagueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe annual Rural Support Charity Soccer Match is hosted as a curtain-raiser to Adelaide United home games, providing a platform for rural support awareness.
• Office for Small and Family Business (SA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRBS participates in the Connect, Learn and Network regional roadshow events hosted by the Office for Small and Family Business, providing information about RBS services to small business owners across regional SA.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• SA Small Business Commission: South Australian government body that works alongside RBS to support small businesses (e.g., payment dispute intervention). Comparable to RBS's Small Business Financial Counselling service but focused on a different small-business function (mediation vs. financial counselling).
• ifarmwell: Australian farmer wellbeing programme that RBS partners with on the Weather It Together Campaign. Comparable to RBS on rural mental health and wellbeing support, but focused on online tools and behavioural change rather than financial counselling.

Broad incumbents

• NSW Small Business Commission: Government body providing small business support and complaints handling at a state level. Comparable to RBS's SBFC service on a broader scale, with both providing free, independent assistance to small business owners under government backing.
• Rural Aid: Major national Australian rural charity providing direct financial assistance, fodder, water, and counselling support to farming families. Overlap with RBS on hardship support and the Relief Fund-style emergency grants, but Rural Aid is a national donor-funded charity rather than a government-mandated counselling service.
• Aussie Helpers: National Australian rural charity offering financial and material assistance to farming families in crisis. Comparable to RBS's Relief Fund work but operates as a donor-funded charity rather than a contracted financial counselling provider.

Regional players

• Frontier Services: NT-based remote and rural community services organisation operating across the Northern Territory — the same territory where RBS delivers financial counselling. Provides complementary welfare, health, and community services to remote populations.

Direct peers

• Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria: Direct RFCS peer serving Victorian farmers and rural small businesses under the same federal government programme. Same funding model, same target customers, and same operational mandate as RBS.
• Rural Business Tasmania: Tasmania's combined rural financial counselling and small business support service, very similar in scope to RBS — providing free, government-funded financial counselling to Tasmanian primary producers and small businesses facing hardship.
• Rural Financial Counselling Service Western Australia: Western Australia's RFCS provider, offering the same federally-funded rural financial counselling service to WA primary producers under the same national programme as RBS.
• Rural Financial Counselling Service (NSW): Another of the 12 federally-funded Rural Financial Counselling Service providers in Australia, delivering free, confidential financial counselling to NSW primary producers, fishers, foresters, and small businesses. It is the closest direct peer to RBS by funding model, service design, and mandated programme.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RuralBiz
• Facebookfacebook.com/RuralBusiness
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rural-business-support-service-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/ruralbusinesssupport

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rural Business Support