Administrative and support services industry

The administrative and support services industry includes: 

• employment agencies
• administrative services
• domestic and commercial cleaning
• pest control
• gardening services
• packaging services
• debt collection
• call centres
• other support activities for the day-to-day operations of other businesses or organisations

Industry research is an important part of planning for your business, it may help you identify: 

• economic and industry trends
• establish or improve your business
• help you keep pace with your industry

See statistics for Australian Industry on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website.

The Australian Taxation Office provides industry benchmarks to help you compare your business's performance against similar businesses in your industry. Read about the benchmarks for support services.

Check out the profile for the administrative and support services industry, on the Labour Market Insights website. This will give you an idea of what's happening in the Australian job market.

It’s important that you’re aware of the laws that apply to the administrative and support services industry. Key legislation includes:

• Competition and Consumer Act 2010
• Australian Consumer Law (ACL)
• Privacy Act 1988
• Australian Privacy Principles

Select the relevant topic below for specific industry and business legislation.

State, territory and local governments manage the licences and permits for the administrative and support services industry. Select the relevant service type below for some of the licences and permits you may need.

All Australian businesses have goods and services tax (GST) obligations. Know your GST obligations and register with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to ensure you can claim your GST credits.

If you employ staff, you need to comply with Australia’s national workplace laws specific to the administrative and support services industry.

There are general work health and safety regulations for all businesses, however there are state and territory WHS requirements that apply to businesses in the administrative and support services industry:

• ACT - WorkSafe

• NSW - SafeWork

• NT - WorkSafe

• QLD - WorkSafe

• SA - SafeWork

• TAS - WorkSafe

• VIC - WorkSafe

• WA - WorkSafe

It is important to protect your intellectual property when starting and growing your business. ‘Intellectual property’ (IP) is the creation of original ideas, inventions or brands.

If you have an administrative or support services business, you may need to consider different types of IP. For example, this may be a patent to protect a new invention, a trademark to protect your brand or plant breeder's rights for a new plant variety. 

The main environmental concerns that businesses in the administrative and support services industry should be aware of include:

• protection of parks, flora and fauna
• protection of heritage sites
• water conservation
• sustainability
• strategies to reduce pesticide spray drift
• proper disposal of pesticides and other harmful chemicals
• proper disposal of trade waste
• biodegradable packaging options
• waste management and reduction.

If you need advice or support, consider getting help from your industry association, a business adviser, accountant or legal professional.