Moreton Bay launches free digital tools for 1,000 businesses
The City of Moreton Bay, in collaboration with Constant Contact and Xero, has launched a new program aimed at supporting up to 1,000 local small businesses with complimentary access to digital tools and training.
Support for small businesses
The Business Boost Tech Essentials Programme offers eligible businesses six months of free access to any Xero business plan and a Constant Contact Lite plan. In addition, businesses will receive onboarding assistance and local customer support at no cost. The scheme is available to the first 1,000 businesses in the City of Moreton Bay area that register and are new customers to both Constant Contact and Xero.
The initiative is part of the City of Moreton Bay's ongoing commitment as a Queensland Small Business Friendly Council. It is designed to ease operational pressures, build capability and help businesses effectively grow their customer base, increase profits, and manage their finances.
Potential financial benefits
City of Moreton Bay Mayor, Peter Flannery, emphasised the critical role of efficiency in running a small business and outlined the potential community-wide advantages of the program.
"This program is about helping local businesses grow, streamline processes and improve cash flow," he said.
"Just one extra weekly sale from existing customers could save $5.1 million in lead generation costs across our business community. Altogether, this initiative has the potential to deliver up to $14 million in benefits for local businesses."
The council noted that these benefits could arise from increased sales, reduced lead generation costs, and improvements in invoice payment times as a result of the digital and training tools provided through the program.
Comments from state and industry leaders
Queensland Small Business Commissioner, Dominique Lamb, praised the city's approach and highlighted the importance of financial understanding in business viability.
"If a business understands its financial position, it is 80 per cent less likely to become insolvent. That's why programs like this are so important. City of Moreton Bay continues to show it understands its small business community and delivers practical initiatives to help them thrive, not just survive," she said.
Renee Chaplin, Vice President Asia Pacific at Constant Contact, acknowledged the realities faced by smaller firms in the region, particularly around time management and capacity for marketing and finance activities.
"Leveraging technology to drive growth and customer loyalty not only works, it's good business. Through this partnership, small and medium businesses now have six months of free access to marketing and finance tools that support scalable, sustainable growth."
Anne Nalder, Founder and Chief Executive of the Small Business Association of Australia, reflected on the timeliness of the offering, connecting it to the broader economic environment impacting the small business sector.
"To survive in a constantly shifting economy, small businesses must focus on sales, cost savings and profitability. This initiative provides valuable, free access to the finance and marketing tools needed to do just that."
Access and eligibility
The Business Boost Tech Essentials Programme is restricted to businesses operating within the City of Moreton Bay that hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and are new to both Constant Contact and Xero. The program is offered to the first 1,000 qualifying businesses who submit an application.
The digital suite provided includes a Constant Contact Lite marketing plan and access to any Xero business plan of choice, each for a six-month period. Free onboarding and local customer support from the providers form part of the package, aiming to assist businesses with setup and ongoing utilisation of the tools.
The initiative intends to create meaningful economic benefits for the local business community, providing no-cost digital solutions intended to improve business processes and financial management among eligible firms.
