Engagement Isn’t the Goal. Connection Is
Navigating a changing economy isn’t always straightforward, but Australian small businesses are used to embracing new opportunities. Grants and allowances may be available for small business owners to lean on either in times of financial need or ahead of a growth venture. We’ve rounded up the essential details of a whole spread of funding and rebates from each state and territory in Australia – scroll down to your state of interest and see what’s available.
Staff shortages have been impacting small business owners since before the pandemic, with many needing to adapt their business strategy to cope with the changes. The Australian Government’s JobMaker Hiring Credit is incentivising businesses to hire job seekers aged 16 to 35 with an allowance of:
There’s also the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program , giving businesses the opportunity to receive payments for employing or contracting eligible apprentices. Payments range from $750 to $4,000, depending on the incentive.
Meanwhile, the Advancing Renewables Program provides businesses looking to undertake renewable energy projects matched funding of between $100,000 and $50 million. The scheme aims to fund projects from businesses that invest in renewable energy technology.
NewAccess for Small Business Owners is a mental health coaching program developed by Beyond Blue which provides free and confidential assistance to small business owners. Business owners currently seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist, or currently dealing with complex mental health issues, are not eligible.
Search for more grants and opportunities here.
The Seed-Start program allows eligible start-ups to fund the commercialisation of a unique product or service – one with “a sustainable competitive advantage” in the market. Depending on the business’s stage of development, there is grant funding of up to $500,000 and matched funding, for up to three years, available.
Also on offer are wage subsidies of a maximum of $10,000 to hire and retain job seekers, including young people and Indigenous Australians, plus financial assistance for businesses that employ an apprentice or trainee.
Search for more SA grants and opportunities here.
Women across the state of New South Wales who wish to start up or grow their business can look into the fully subsidised Women in Business online program. As part of the training program, participants receive access to small business events and resources, and insights from female entrepreneurs.
Grants of up to $1,000 are open to improve the work health and safety of workers under the SafeWork small business rebate. This rebate is applicable for small business owners who employ fewer than 50 full-time workers. The first 5,000 eligible small businesses in the food and beverage industry to register for the Alfresco Restart rebate can claim a rebate of up to $5,000 to create, expand or improve their outdoor dining areas.
Registered businesses can claim eligible expenses incurred from 14 October 2021 to 30 September 2022, and must have an aggregated annual turnover less than $10 million for the year ended 30 June 2021.
Search for more NSW grants and opportunities here.
Are you ready for growth? The Victorian Government is fostering growth among local businesses by providing tailored advisory services from expert growth facilitators to 1,000 business owners. The scheme aims to assist businesses in breaking into new markets, develop their growth capacity, and improve networks with fellow business leaders.
Businesses in Victoria can also make use of the Solar for Business rebate scheme, which provides recipients with a rebate for up to 50 per cent of the net cost of a rooftop solar system to a maximum value of $3500. Optional interest-free loans of between $1,000 and $5,000 are also available, with repayments over 12 or 24 months.
Owners have been doing it tough and finding innovative ways to move forward in a high-stress environment, which is why the State Government also has a mental health and wellbeing service for business owners. Free access to financial counsellors and business advisers is available as part of this service.
Search for more Victoria grants and opportunities here.
Small business owners in Queensland and New South Wales have shown incredible tenacity in the face of devastating floods. Applications are open for multiple disaster grants from the Queensland Government, including:
The grants cover actions such as purchasing new equipment and materials, making repairs to buildings and equipment, covering additional labour costs to manage recovery, and more.
In addition to the Australian Government’s JobMaker Hiring Credit, the Queensland Government’s Back to Work South East scheme offers businesses in areas of the south-east of the state access to up to $20,000 to employ young and long-term unemployed job seekers.
Search for more QLD grants and opportunities here.
Matched funding of between $10,000 and $30,000 is available to technology-focused start-ups and entrepreneurs in Canberra to develop innovative products and services under the Innovation Connect ACT program. Eligible businesses, which must have an annual turnover of less than $2 million, can use the support to:
The Accelerating Commercialisation service is designed for businesses and start-ups with a ‘novel’ product or service that they’re keen to commercialise. There are two stages:
In the eyes of the program, a novel project is “a genuine innovation with evidence of a compelling value proposition, backed-up by market demand for the novel product, process or service”.
Search for more ACT grants and opportunities here.
Applications for grants of up to $25,000, aimed at assisting the recovery of small businesses from Cyclone Seroja, are open until 2023 – as are applications for the Collie Futures Small Grants Program, which funds small and medium businesses undertaking projects in the Collie region. Businesses may be awarded up to $100,000 for:
Search for more WA grants and opportunities here.
Incentives to hire new talent are possible for Tasmanian employers, including via the Tasmanian Employer Bonus Fund. Bonuses are available for businesses employing casual, part-time and full-time roles, of up to approximately $7,500.
Small businesses in hospitality and tourism can benefit from payroll tax relief measures of varying amounts.
To be eligible, the applicant must demonstrate at least a 30 per cent reduction in turnover for the September quarter 2021 when compared with the turnover for the September quarter in either 2019 or 2020.
Search for more Tasmania grants and opportunities here.
The Northern Territory’s Business Growth Program should be the first stop for Territory small businesses. Small and medium businesses with an annual turnover of more than $75,000 can apply for up to $10,000 based on a 25/75 co-contribution for initiatives that develop the business in any of the following categories:
Workforce grants may also be available for projects that support the employment and professional development of Aboriginal people. Eligible projects must include elements such as structured mentoring, on-site support and, in some cases, transport and/or accommodation.
Search for more NT grants and opportunities here.
Remember to check the eligibility requirements for any grant or service you apply for. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy as at the time of publication, the information on this page might change at any time.
There’s more than one way to nurture your business. We love helping businesses grow with the latest info and ideas to educate and inspire. We can also guide you to a funding solution to help bring those business dreams to life. Contact us today.
The information on this website is provided for general information only and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from financial, legal and taxation advisers. Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information, we disclaim all liability (except for any liability which by law cannot be excluded), for any error, inaccuracy, or omission from the information or any loss or damage suffered by any person directly or indirectly through relying on this information.
