{"id":"au","country":"au","kind":"country","name":{"en":"Australia","local":"Australia"},"languages":["en"],"currency":"AUD","symbol":"$","fxPerUsd":1.424,"cities":{"T1":"Sydney","T2":"Newcastle, NSW","T3":"Dubbo, NSW"},"basket":{"teaCup":5,"simpleMeal":18,"haircutMen":35,"milkLitre":1.65,"breadLoaf":3,"unskilledDayWage":211.52,"minWageMonthly":4355,"shopRentSqftMonth":{"T1":6.2,"T2":3.1,"T3":1.9},"electricityCommercialKwh":0.33,"lpgCommercialCylinder":42,"petrolLitre":2.2},"tax":{"salesTax":"GST 10% on most goods and services; basic fresh food (bread, milk, fruit, vegetables, meat) GST-free; restaurant, takeaway and hot food taxable","smallBizThreshold":"GST registration compulsory at $75,000 annual turnover ($150,000 for non-profits); compulsory from day one for taxi and ride-share drivers","localLevies":"Superannuation guarantee 12% of ordinary earnings, paid each pay run from 1 Jul 2026 (Payday Super); state payroll tax only above high thresholds (NSW $1.2M wages); workers' comp insurance by state; council rates passed through in leases"},"licences":[{"name":"Australian Business Number (ABN)","fee":"Free","authority":"Australian Business Register (ATO)","source":"https://www.abr.gov.au/business-super-funds-charities/applying-abn"},{"name":"Business name registration","fee":"$47 for 1 year / $108 for 3 years (from 1 Jul 2026)","authority":"ASIC","source":"https://business.gov.au/news/changes-for-businesses-from-1-july-2026"},{"name":"Pty Ltd company registration","fee":"$636 + $342 annual review (from 1 Jul 2026)","authority":"ASIC","source":"https://business.gov.au/news/changes-for-businesses-from-1-july-2026"},{"name":"Food business notification + Food Safety Supervisor certificate (NSW)","fee":"Notification $55 (NSW Food Authority); FSS course about $150–$200; certificate valid 5 years","authority":"NSW Food Authority / local council","source":"https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/retail/fss-food-safety-supervisors"},{"name":"Mobile food vending (food truck) approval","fee":"Est. $300–$1,500/yr council registration and inspection; Victoria uses statewide Streatrader registration","authority":"Local council (NSW) / Streatrader (VIC)","source":"https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/retail/mobile-food-vending-vehicles"}],"festivals":[{"name":"Melbourne Cup","dates2026_27":"3 Nov 2026","effect":"public holiday in Melbourne; pubs, cafés and party catering busy nationwide"},{"name":"Black Friday / Christmas","dates2026_27":"27 Nov – 24 Dec 2026","effect":"retail peak; Christmas parties lift catering"},{"name":"Christmas, Boxing Day, summer holidays","dates2026_27":"25 Dec 2026 – late Jan 2027","effect":"CBD trade slumps, beach and holiday towns boom; Boxing Day sales; public holiday penalty rates (250%)"},{"name":"Australia Day","dates2026_27":"26 Jan 2027","effect":"public holiday; BBQ, events and beach trade"},{"name":"Lunar New Year","dates2026_27":"6 Feb 2027","effect":"festivals and restaurant demand in Sydney/Melbourne Asian precincts"},{"name":"Easter","dates2026_27":"26–29 Mar 2027","effect":"4-day weekend; Good Friday and Easter Sunday trading restrictions in several states"},{"name":"Anzac Day","dates2026_27":"25 Apr 2027","effect":"morning trading restrictions for retail in most states; pubs busy"},{"name":"King's Birthday","dates2026_27":"14 Jun 2027 (most states)","effect":"long weekend; winter ski season start"}],"seasons":[{"months":"Dec–Feb","what":"Summer: heatwaves, bushfire risk in the south-east, holiday-town peak and city lull"},{"months":"Nov–Apr","what":"Wet season and cyclones in the tropical north (QLD, NT, northern WA); flooding on the east coast"},{"months":"Jun–Aug","what":"Mild winter in Sydney/Newcastle; cooler, wetter in Melbourne; ski season in alpine areas"}],"payments":{"digitalShare":"Cash about 13% of in-person transactions (2022 data) and falling; contactless cards and phone wallets dominate","credit":"Card surcharging on eftpos/Visa/Mastercard banned from 1 Oct 2026; buy-now-pay-later common in retail; tipping not expected"},"notes":"Australia has the highest legal minimum wage of the four English-speaking markets ($26.44/hour from 1 Jul 2026, before the 25% casual loading and weekend/public holiday penalty rates set by modern awards), so labour dominates costs and weekend trading is expensive. Employers also pay 12% superannuation, now with every pay run. Against that, setup is cheap (free ABN, $47 business name), GST only bites at $75,000 turnover, and fresh basic food is GST-free. Food rules are national (Food Standards Code, compulsory food handler training under Standard 3.2.2A) but registration and food-truck approvals sit with states and councils. Since 1 Oct 2026 businesses can no longer pass card fees to customers on the main networks, though interchange caps were cut. Climate risks (bushfire, flood, cyclone, heatwave) are real trading disruptions.","regions":[{"id":"au-nsw","name":"New South Wales","why":"baseline: payroll tax above $1.2M wages, Food Safety Supervisor rule, council-by-council food-truck approvals, highest Sydney rents"},{"id":"au-victoria","name":"Victoria","why":"statewide Streatrader registration for stalls and food trucks, payroll tax and mental health levy, tobacco retail licensing, Melbourne Cup holiday"},{"id":"au-queensland","name":"Queensland","why":"cyclone and flood risk, tourism-driven seasonality, lower payroll tax rate for regional employers, food licence by council"},{"id":"au-western-australia","name":"Western Australia","why":"FuelWatch daily fuel-price rules, isolated supply chains and higher freight, mining-wage competition for staff, Perth trading-hours rules"},{"id":"au-south-australia","name":"South Australia","why":"cheaper Adelaide rents, container deposit scheme, strict shop trading hours regime, early single-use plastics bans"},{"id":"au-tasmania","name":"Tasmania","why":"smaller tourist-seasonal market, lower rents, cold climate, freight costs across Bass Strait"}],"factors":[{"id":"P01","cat":"Wages","name":"National Minimum Wage","value":"$26.44/hour, $1,004.90/38-hour week from 1 Jul 2026 (Annual Wage Review 2026)","role":"HV","source":"https://business.gov.au/news/changes-for-businesses-from-1-july-2026","estimate":false},{"id":"P02","cat":"Wages","name":"Award rates rise","value":"Modern award minimum rates up 4.75% from 1 Jul 2026 (covers about 2.8M workers)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.squirepattonboggs.com/insights/publications/2026-annual-wage-review-decision-fwc-increases-the-national-minimum-wage-and-award-rates/","estimate":false},{"id":"P03","cat":"Wages","name":"Unskilled day wage (basket)","value":"$211.52 ($26.44 × 8 h, permanent; casuals get +25% loading = $264.40)","role":"HV","source":"Derived from P01","estimate":false},{"id":"P04","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum monthly wage, full-time (basket)","value":"$4,355 ($1,004.90 × 52 / 12)","role":"HV","source":"Derived from P01","estimate":false},{"id":"P05","cat":"Wages","name":"Casual loading and penalty rates","value":"Casual loading 25%; retail/hospitality awards pay about 125–150% on Saturdays, 150–175% Sundays and 225–250% on public holidays","role":"HV","source":"https://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay-and-wages/penalty-rates-and-allowances","estimate":false},{"id":"P06","cat":"Wages","name":"Typical café/shop helper pay","value":"About $33–$36/hour casual (award level 1–2 plus casual loading)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: General Retail and Hospitality award level 1–2 rates are slightly above the NMW; × 1.25 casual loading","estimate":true},{"id":"P07","cat":"Payroll","name":"Superannuation guarantee","value":"12% of ordinary time earnings; from 1 Jul 2026 must be paid with each pay run (Payday Super), reaching funds within 7 days","role":"HV","source":"https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-rates-and-codes/key-superannuation-rates-and-thresholds/super-guarantee","estimate":false},{"id":"P08","cat":"Payroll","name":"State payroll tax and workers' comp","value":"Payroll tax only above state thresholds (NSW $1.2M wages at 5.45%), so irrelevant to micro-businesses; workers' comp insurance compulsory, about 1–3% of wages for retail/hospitality","role":"HV","source":"https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/taxes-duties-levies-royalties/payroll-tax","estimate":false},{"id":"P09","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent, T1 (Sydney suburban strip)","value":"$6.2/sq ft/month (about $800/sq m/yr gross)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: suburban Sydney strip-retail listings commonly $600–$1,200/sq m/yr; CBD prime far higher","estimate":true},{"id":"P10","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent, T2 (Newcastle)","value":"$3.1/sq ft/month (about $400/sq m/yr gross)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Newcastle/Hunter shop listings typically $300–$500/sq m/yr","estimate":true},{"id":"P11","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent, T3 (Dubbo)","value":"$1.9/sq ft/month (about $250/sq m/yr gross)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: regional NSW town listings typically $180–$300/sq m/yr","estimate":true},{"id":"P12","cat":"Energy","name":"Electricity, small business (NSW Ausgrid area)","value":"About $0.33/kWh usage + $1.66/day supply (Ausgrid flat-rate DMO cap 2026-27); NSW small-business DMO fell 9–11% from 1 Jul 2026","role":"HV","source":"https://www.canstar.com.au/news/default-market-offer-power-prices-set-to-fall-in-most-of-australia/ ; https://www.aer.gov.au/system/files/2026-05/Information%20Kit%20-%20Default%20Market%20Offer%20-%202026-27_0.pdf","estimate":true},{"id":"P13","cat":"Energy","name":"Petrol (ULP)","value":"About $2.20/L in NSW, Oct 2026 (Perth averaged 235–245¢ in Oct 2026; Sydney about 209.5¢ in Mar 2026)","role":"HV","source":"Est. from https://consumerprotection.wa.gov.au/announcements/alert-perth-motorists-fill-now-beat-the-petrol-price-rise-114 and https://www.mynrma.com.au/about/media/press-releases/2026/nrma-calls-out-petrol-profiteering","estimate":true},{"id":"P14","cat":"Energy","name":"LPG cylinder (basket)","value":"About $42 for a 9 kg BBQ-gas swap (45 kg commercial bottle about $180–$200)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: 9 kg swap prices were $33–$38 in 2025; LPG tracks the 2026 oil price rise","estimate":true},{"id":"P15","cat":"Prices","name":"Takeaway coffee (basket teaCup)","value":"$5.00 regular flat white/cappuccino in Newcastle (Sydney $5.50–$6)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: cafés moved to $5–$6 a regular coffee in 2025–26 as bean costs rose","estimate":true},{"id":"P16","cat":"Prices","name":"Cheap meal (basket simpleMeal)","value":"$18 burger, kebab or café lunch","role":"HV","source":"Est.: fast-food meal $14–$17 and café lunch $18–$25 in 2025–26","estimate":true},{"id":"P17","cat":"Prices","name":"Men's haircut (basket)","value":"$35 at a barber in a regional city","role":"HV","source":"Est.: barber price lists $30–$45 in 2025–26","estimate":true},{"id":"P18","cat":"Prices","name":"Milk and bread (basket)","value":"Milk about $1.65/L (2 L supermarket brand about $3.30); white loaf about $3.00","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Coles/Woolworths own-brand prices 2025 ($3.10 per 2 L milk; $2.70–$3.80 bread) plus 2026 inflation","estimate":true},{"id":"P19","cat":"Registration","name":"Sole trader vs company","value":"Sole trader: free ABN, $47 business name, profit taxed at personal rates (tax-free threshold $18,200). Pty Ltd: $636 registration + $342/yr review, 25% base-rate entity tax","role":"PD","source":"https://business.gov.au/news/changes-for-businesses-from-1-july-2026","estimate":false},{"id":"P20","cat":"Tax","name":"GST registration threshold","value":"$75,000 annual turnover; 10% GST; quarterly BAS","role":"PD","source":"https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst/registering-for-gst","estimate":false},{"id":"P21","cat":"Tax","name":"GST-free basic food","value":"Fresh bread, milk, meat, fruit and veg GST-free; hot food, restaurant meals, snacks and soft drinks taxable","role":"HV","source":"https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst/in-detail/your-industry/food/gst-and-food","estimate":false},{"id":"P22","cat":"Tax","name":"Instant asset write-off","value":"$20,000 per asset instant write-off made permanent from 1 Jul 2026 for turnover under $10M","role":"PD","source":"https://business.gov.au/news/changes-for-businesses-from-1-july-2026","estimate":false},{"id":"P23","cat":"Licences","name":"Food handler training (Standard 3.2.2A)","value":"Category 1 and 2 food businesses must have a certified Food Safety Supervisor and trained food handlers (since Dec 2023)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety/food-safety-standard-322a","estimate":false},{"id":"P24","cat":"Licences","name":"Food truck approvals","value":"NSW: council approval and inspection where based, plus permission for each trading site; VIC: Streatrader statewide registration; fees about $300–$1,500/yr plus event pitch fees","role":"PD","source":"https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/retail/mobile-food-vending-vehicles","estimate":true},{"id":"P25","cat":"Licences","name":"Liquor and tobacco","value":"State liquor licences (NSW small bar/on-premises from about $500 + annual fees); tobacco retailer licensing now required in NSW, VIC and other states","role":"PD","source":"https://www.liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au/working-in-the-industry/fees-and-charges","estimate":true},{"id":"P26","cat":"Payments","name":"Card surcharge ban","value":"Surcharges on eftpos, Visa and Mastercard debit, prepaid and credit banned from 1 Oct 2026; debit interchange capped at 8¢, consumer credit at 0.3%","role":"HV","source":"https://rba.gov.au/media-releases/2026/mr-26-10.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P27","cat":"Payments","name":"Card processing fees","value":"Square 1.6% per in-person tap/insert; bundled terminals 1.1–1.9%; least-cost (eftpos) routing can cut debit fees","role":"PD","source":"https://squareup.com/au/en/pricing","estimate":false},{"id":"P28","cat":"Payments","name":"Cash use","value":"Cash about 13% of in-person transactions (2022, down from 70% in 2007); many cafés card-only","role":"HV","source":"https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2023/jun/cash-use-and-attitudes-in-australia.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P29","cat":"Payments","name":"Tipping","value":"Not expected; small tip jars only; prices include GST","role":"HV","source":"Est.: award wages are high and tipping is optional by custom","estimate":true},{"id":"P30","cat":"Calendar","name":"Public holidays and trading restrictions","value":"About 10–13 public holidays by state; restricted trading days (Christmas, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day morning) for larger shops","role":"HV","source":"https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/public-holidays","estimate":false},{"id":"P31","cat":"Rules","name":"Single-use plastics bans","value":"All states ban lightweight plastic bags; most ban plastic cutlery, plates, straws and polystyrene food containers (NSW from Nov 2022, extended 2025)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/recycling-and-reuse/single-use-plastics-ban","estimate":false},{"id":"P32","cat":"Finance","name":"Small business support","value":"No national startup loan scheme; state grants vary; Small Business Debt Helpline and business.gov.au advisers free","role":"PD","source":"https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs","estimate":false},{"id":"P33","cat":"Demographics","name":"Income per head","value":"GDP per capita about $105,000 AUD; average full-time weekly earnings about $2,050","role":"HV","source":"Est.: ABS national accounts and Average Weekly Earnings (Nov 2025 release about $2,010), https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia","estimate":true},{"id":"P34","cat":"Demographics","name":"Urbanisation and language","value":"About 86% urban, two-thirds in capital cities; English, with large Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi speaking communities","role":"HV","source":"https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/cultural-diversity-census/2021","estimate":false},{"id":"P35","cat":"Risk","name":"Bushfire and smoke","value":"Dec–Feb in south-east: road closures, evacuations, smoke days and tourism cancellations in affected regions","role":"RE","source":"https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-services/fire-weather-centre/","estimate":false},{"id":"P36","cat":"Risk","name":"Flood","value":"East-coast floods (e.g. Northern Rivers 2022, Hunter/mid-north coast 2025) close shops for days to weeks and raise insurance premiums","role":"RE","source":"https://www.bom.gov.au/australia/flood/","estimate":false},{"id":"P37","cat":"Risk","name":"Tropical cyclone","value":"Nov–Apr in QLD, NT and northern WA: shutdowns, power loss, supply-chain delays","role":"RE","source":"https://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/","estimate":false},{"id":"P38","cat":"Risk","name":"Heatwave","value":"Extreme heat days (40°C+) cut foot traffic, spoil stock and spike power demand; outdoor stalls lose trade","role":"RE","source":"https://www.bom.gov.au/australia/heatwave/","estimate":false},{"id":"P39","cat":"Risk","name":"Fuel price spike","value":"Oct 2026 Perth ULP jumped 10¢ in a week to 245.4¢; 2026 oil shock pushed east-coast prices above 200¢","role":"RE","source":"https://consumerprotection.wa.gov.au/announcements/alert-perth-motorists-fill-now-beat-the-petrol-price-rise-114","estimate":false},{"id":"P40","cat":"Businesses","name":"Most-searched small-business types","value":"Café/coffee van, food truck, cleaning business, mobile dog grooming, bakery, hair/beauty salon, lawn mowing, car detailing, vending machines, NDIS support services","role":"HV","source":"Est.: recurring Australian 'how to start a ... business' searches and business.gov.au guides","estimate":true}]}