50 Percent Surge in Small Business Complaints Driven by Payment Issues: Watchdog

An Australian watchdog says complaints from small business owners surged 50 percent since last year, with the majority concerned about being paid on time. The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) said 42 percent of complaints involved requests for assistance to deal with payment disputes, up from 36 percent last year. Ombudsman Bruce Billson said nearly two-thirds of cases were easily resolved. The construction industry recorded the highest number of payment disputes, while the hospitality sector saw a threefold increase over the past 12 months. In total, ASBFEO received 6,254 requests for assistance, a 10 percent increase from the previous year. Billson reiterated that the biggest concern, by quite a margin, is about getting paid....