Victorian Small Business Commission
The Victorian Small Business Commission is a Victorian Government statutory authority that provides free preliminary dispute resolution and fee-based mediation services to small businesses, retail tenants, gig workers, and farmers across eight industry verticals in Victoria, Australia.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Victorian Small Business Commission does
The Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) is a Victorian Government statutory authority established in 2017 under the Victorian Small Business Commission Act 2017, headquartered at 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne. It is the statutory gatekeeper for retail leasing disputes in Victoria under the Retail Leases Act 2003, with retail lease matters typically required to be referred to VSBC before they can proceed to VCAT. The organization delivers Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services through a five-step process: online application, preliminary dispute resolution assistance by trained Dispute Resolution Officers, mediation, agreement signing, and certificate issuance where unresolved. It also issues five-year waiver certificates and publishes retail leasing guidance.
VSBC serves a broad portfolio of Victorian small business segments, including retail tenants and landlords, general small business owners, farmers and creditors, gig workers, owner drivers and forestry contractors, taxi and hire car drivers, smash repairers, and miners and landholders. Service delivery channels include an online application portal, telephone support (1800 878 964), and video mediation, with content available in 14+ languages and interpreting support via a partnership with TIS National.
The business model is primarily government-funded appropriations from the Victorian Government, with preliminary dispute resolution assistance provided free of charge. Mediation services are fee-based, charging $300 AUD (incl GST) for a half-day session and $600 AUD (incl GST) for a full-day session per party (as of May 2026). FY2024-25 reported outcomes include a 33% preliminary resolution rate, 69% mediation success rate, and 80% satisfaction rating. The organization operates within the portfolio of the Victorian Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) but functions as an independent commission with a dedicated Commissioner.
Victorian Small Business Commission firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Victorian Small Business Commission
- Legal name
- Victorian Small Business Commission
- Website
- https://vsbc.vic.gov.au
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Victorian Small Business Commission is a Victorian Government statutory authority that provides free preliminary dispute resolution and fee-based mediation services to small businesses, retail tenants, gig workers, and farmers across eight industry verticals in Victoria, Australia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Victorian Small Business Commission industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Dispute Resolution Services
- NAICS
- Legal Services (5411)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAAAB)
Keywords
Where Victorian Small Business Commission is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Melbourne
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Victorian Small Business Commission business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Funded by the Victorian Government. Initial dispute resolution assistance is provided free of charge to small businesses.
- Mediation Services: Fee-based mediation sessions where both parties pay participation fees. Half-day sessions cost $300 AUD (incl GST) and full-day sessions cost $600 AUD (incl GST) as of May 2026.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Free initial assistance |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Half-day Mediation Session |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Full-day Mediation Session |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Victorian Small Business Commission product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VSBC is a Victorian Government statutory authority that provides dispute resolution and mediation services for small businesses in Victoria. It delivers a five-step Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process including free preliminary assistance, fee-based mediation sessions, and statutory functions such as issuing five-year waiver certificates under the Retail Leases Act 2003. It also provides retail lease guidance, fact sheets, and advocacy for small business rights.
Product overview
The Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) is a government agency providing dispute resolution and mediation services for small businesses in Victoria, Australia. It does not offer a technology product in the traditional sense but rather delivers low-cost dispute resolution services, retail lease guidance, and advocacy for small business rights. The organization operates through a help portal for applications and provides information resources including fact sheets, brochures, and multilingual content. Key services include preliminary dispute resolution assistance, mediation facilitation, and five-year waiver certificate issuance for retail leases.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Preliminary Dispute Resolution Assistance Free initial case assessment and dispute resolution assistance provided by trained Dispute Resolution Officers for Victorian small businesses facing commercial disputes. Applications are submitted via the VSBC online portal.
- Mediation Services Fee-based Alternative Dispute Resolution mediation sessions facilitated by certified mediators for unresolved commercial disputes between small businesses and other parties. Half-day sessions are $300 AUD per party and full-day sessions are $600 AUD per party (as of May 2026), conducted via video conferencing.
- Five-Year Waiver Certificates Statutory certificates issued by VSBC waiving the five-year minimum lease requirement for retail premises under the Retail Leases Act 2003. Available to landlords and tenants in qualifying retail lease scenarios.
- Retail Lease Guidance and Information Services Guidance and educational resources for retail tenants and landlords covering rights, responsibilities, repairs and maintenance, outgoings, disclosure statements, options and renewals. Includes the Retail Leases Information Brochure for Tenants that becomes mandatory for new lease negotiations from 1 July 2026.
- Farm Debt Mediation Mediation service for farmers and their creditors under the Farm Debt Mediation Act 2011, facilitating resolution of farm debt disputes.
Quantifiable outcome
- 33% of disputes resolved at preliminary assistance stage (FY2024-25)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Victorian Small Business Commission
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Victorian Small Business Commission technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Victorian Small Business Commission partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)coreTIS National provides free telephone interpreting services for non-English speakers contacting VSBC. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week for the cost of a local call. Enables CALD communities to access VSBC services.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Victorian Small Business Commission competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Western Australian Small Business Commissioner: Western Australia's statutory small-business commissioner providing mediation and dispute resolution services. Directly comparable as a state-level statutory agency serving SMBs with similar ADR-led methodology.
- South Australian Small Business Commissioner: South Australia's small-business commissioner office. Comparable state-level dispute resolution and small-business advisory body, addressing retail leasing and broader commercial disputes with similar ADR methodology.
- Resolution Institute: Australia's peak professional body for alternative dispute resolution practitioners, accrediting mediators and arbitrators. Comparable as the industry body that defines ADR practitioner standards, including those who deliver services through VSBC.
- NSW Small Business Commission: The New South Wales state-level counterpart to VSBC, providing small-business dispute resolution, mediation, and retail leasing advice. Most directly comparable on mandate, statutory structure, and service mix.
- Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT): Victoria's primary quasi-judicial tribunal that hears retail lease and commercial disputes after VSBC preliminary assistance. Directly comparable as the formal downstream forum VSBC is designed to keep cases out of, making it the most operationally adjacent peer.
- Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA): Australia's external dispute resolution scheme for financial services, providing mediation and binding determinations funded by industry. Comparable as an alternative dispute resolution body with statutory backing, government recognition, and a mandate to keep disputes out of court.
- Tasmanian Small Business Commissioner: Tasmania's small-business commissioner office offering dispute resolution and advisory services to SMBs. Comparable as a state-level statutory body providing mediation and assistance on retail leasing and commercial disputes.
- Queensland Small Business Commissioner: Queensland's statutory small-business advocacy and dispute resolution body. Directly comparable as a state-level agency offering mediation and dispute assistance to SMBs, with similar government funding and statutory remit.
Emerging players
- Immediation: Australian online alternative dispute resolution platform offering digital mediation and arbitration. Comparable as a private-sector provider of the same core mediation/ADR service VSBC offers, and a likely competitor for VSBC's fee-paying mediation segment.
Broad incumbents
- Fair Work Commission: Australia's national workplace relations tribunal handling employment and industrial disputes. Comparable in that it provides statutory dispute resolution services for a defined constituency, but covers employment rather than commercial SMB disputes.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Victorian Small Business Commission social profiles
Digital presenceVictorian Small Business Commission financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Victorian Small Business Commission leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Victorian Small Business Commission funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Victorian Small Business Commission M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Victorian Small Business Commission
What does Victorian Small Business Commission do?
VSBC is a Victorian Government statutory authority that provides dispute resolution and mediation services for small businesses in Victoria. It delivers a five-step Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process including free preliminary assistance, fee-based mediation sessions, and statutory functions such as issuing five-year waiver certificates under the Retail Leases Act 2003. It also provides retail lease guidance, fact sheets, and advocacy for small business rights.
Is Victorian Small Business Commission a public or private company?
Victorian Small Business Commission is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Victorian Small Business Commission founded?
Victorian Small Business Commission was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Victorian Small Business Commission based?
Victorian Small Business Commission is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Victorian Small Business Commission make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are mediation Services.
Who are Victorian Small Business Commission's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Western Australian Small Business Commissioner, South Australian Small Business Commissioner, Resolution Institute, NSW Small Business Commission, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), Tasmanian Small Business Commissioner and Queensland Small Business Commissioner. Immediation is listed as an emerging player. Fair Work Commission is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Victorian Small Business Commission have an API?
No public API is recorded for Victorian Small Business Commission.
What industry is Victorian Small Business Commission in?
Victorian Small Business Commission's product category is Government Dispute Resolution Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAB, Litigation & Dispute Resolution. Its NAICS code is 5411 and its SIC code is 8111.