| About the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) |
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| NFIB is the nation’s leading small-business association. |
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Originally founded in the United States 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB now operates in several countries to give small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business.
NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through a unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting the free enterprise system.
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| In Australia, we were first established in 1997, but in late 2009 the organisation underwent a major re-vamp to drive renewed growth and improve the range of services it provides to members. |
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| Our goals are to: |
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- provide leadership and guidance for industry organisations and Governments in defining the rules under which small business operates
- provide a neutral (apolitical) forum in which all participants and end-users can work together to foster efficient, competitive services
- enable small business operators to have an effective voice in policy-making, and to voice their concerns when systems fail them
- provide a range of practical services to support the success and growth of busines and deliver genuine operational savings to drive profit growth;
- provide information and resources to help business operators through every stage of growth and through a range of challenges faced by small business operators
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Click here to find out more about the benefits our members enjoy.
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| Organization and Membership |
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NFIB (Gold Coast) is member-funded, formed as a company limited by guarantee and a not-for-profit organization (ABN 27 844 669 200). As such, it is ideally placed to reflect and respond to the dynamics affecting small business in Australia.
It's membership comprises all facets of small business operators. It operates on the central premise that the best outcomes for all stakeholders in Australian small business are achieved by co-operation and networking. It serves business members Australia-wide.
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| What Makes Us Unique? |
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There are many business associations in Australia today. So what makes the NFIB different?
1. Decision-making is by members, not committees or boards.
Direct polling and surveys across the entire membership determine the issues and policies.
2. All members have equal rights.
To prevent any undue influence by any group of members, subscriptions are capped, and while we welcome donations, they do not carry any increased voting power.
While NFIB executives regularly speak to federal, state, territory and local government officials, it is the members themselves who set the policy agenda and establish NFIB's position on all relevant issues. |
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| How we Operate |
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The processes fostered by NFIB allow the interested parties to achieve consensus, alleviating the need for government intervention. Through its specialist advisory groups, public forums and other avenues, NFIB continues to be pro-active, contemporary and relevant to the changing needs of Australian small business.
NFIB aims to be proactive in identifying issues through internal advisory groups and wider public forums. Once an issue is identified, it decides on the appropriate response. For example, arranging an industry workshop, developing a fact sheet, or proposing a new policy framework.
NFIB aims to lead industry behaviours and responses to issues so that “black letter law” is unnecessary. We do all we can to encourage best practice and compliance with industry rules by coordinating briefings and workshops to educate and train participants. Members not only have the opportunity to take part in these activities, but to influence the activities and priorities of NFIB.
By its very nature, NFIB is an organisation that operates on consensus. To achieve consensus we try to involve the widest spectrum of views by harnessing the knowledge and expertise of our members. This means our members have opportunities to influence NFIB outcomes at multiple levels within the process. NFIB also draws on the membership for representatives to serve on advisory groups, reference panels and working committees.
The contributions made by these representatives may involve technical input, understanding of customer needs, explanation of commercial realities or something as basic as a providing a reality check. Everyone has a voice, and all contributions are given equal weight. By their involvement in NFIB, our members can feed in their ideas while the issues are still on the table for discussion.
It’s a lot easier to influence the business environment that way than complaining afterwards if changes occur that are not to your liking.
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| Opportunities to influence your future |
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| Ensuring balanced outcomes |
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In a fiercely competitive marketplace it is often harder for the smaller players to make themselves heard. As a result they can often be swamped by decisions that are driven by the opinions, priorities and preferences of the market leaders.
Within the various forums of NFIB, size does not rule. When NFIB develops new programs or proposes industry initiatives, the vote of a small service provider or a consumer representative is treated exactly the same as a vote by the largest company in the industry. Each organisation only gets one vote. So if you want a chance to balance the views of the big players, you can meet them on equal terms at NFIB.
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| Gaining the ear of government |
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| Government decisions can have a critical impact on all sections of business. That is why so many groups and individuals try to obtain maximum access to government decision makers. Many try and few succeed. As the collective voice of so many participants in the Australian small business, NFIB is a unique conduit to government.
We do not represent a defined commercial or political interest. NFIB has high credibility within all sections of government. Not being an activist or lobbying organisation, NFIB is seen as the voice of reason. When we pass on the views of our members, government bodies listen.
At all levels of government, NFIB is consulted about the issues that affect our industry and NFIB members can have their say in influencing those discussions in a manner that is not possible through other channels
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| Click here to request further information on the NFIB. |
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