Small business grants and allowances
Use this breakdown of small business grants and allowances across Australia to support your SMB clients with their funding solutions.
At a glance
- Australian small businesses may have access to a range of grants, rebates and professional advice services.
- The majority of grants and rebates require the business to be registered for GST and have an ABN.
- Ensure your clients check the eligibility requirements for any grant they apply for.
- While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy as at the time of publication, this information might change at any time.
Navigating a changing economy isn’t always straightforward, but Australian small businesses are used to embracing new opportunities – and brokers have a unique opportunity to advise on the grants and allowances that are available to them.
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.
Australia
| Grant or allowance | Grant amount | Key eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| JobMaker Hiring Credit | Up to $200 a week | Hiring of employees aged 16 to 35 years old |
| Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program | Up to $4,000 | Hiring or contracting of apprentices |
| Advancing Renewables Program | Matched funding of up to $50 million | Investment in renewable technology |
| NewAccess for Small Business Owners | Free and confidential coaching | Small business owners not currently seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist |
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:
- Up to $200 a week for each eligible employee aged 16 to 29 years old
- Up to $100 a week for each eligible employee aged 30 to 35 years old
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.
New South Wales
| Grant or allowance | Grant amount | Key eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Women in Business | Subsidised online training | Fewer than 200 employees |
| SafeWork small business rebate | Up to $1,000 | Fewer than 50 full-time employees |
| Alfresco Restart rebate | Up to $5,000 | Aggregated annual turnover less than $10 million |
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.
Victoria
| Grant or allowance | Grant amount | Key eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Ready for Growth | Free, tailored advisory services | More than four and fewer than 200 employees, and being in operation in for at least three years |
| Solar for Business rebate | Up to $3,500, and optional interest-free loan of between $1,000 and $5,000 | Fewer than 20 employees |
| Wellbeing and Mental Health Support | Free access to financial counsellors | Small business owners in Victoria |
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.
Queensland
| Grant or allowance | Grant amount | Key eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Special Disaster Grants | Up to $50,000 | Affected by flooding from 10 November to 3 December 2021 in Goondiwindi Regional Council |
| Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants | Up to $50,000 | Affected by flooding from 22 February to 7 March 2022 in a ‘defined disaster area’ |
| Back to Work South East | Up to $20,000 | Employment of young and long-term unemployed job seekers |
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:
- Special Disaster Grants, which offer funding of up to $25,000 for businesses affected by flooding in the region of Goondiwindi Regional Council from 10 November to 3 December 2021. An initial grant offers up to $5,000, while a subsequent grant provides up to $20,000 is also available. Evidence of direct damage is required.
- Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants of up to $50,000, which may be available for businesses impacted by flooding from 22 February to 7 March 2022.
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.
Australian Capital Territory
| Grant or allowance | Grant amount | Key eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Innovation Connect ACT | Matched funding between $10,000 and $30,000 | Annual turnover of less than $2 million |
| Accelerating Commercialisation | Advice and assistance from an expert consultant | Evidence of an ability to fund at least 50 per cent of eligible project expenditure |
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:
- Develop a product prototype or functional software
- Develop a formal marketing strategy
- Obtain professional advice for IP, patenting, legal and other matters
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:
- A guidance stage, which connects a business with their facilitator
- A grant stage, to fund a commercialisation project
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.
South Australia
| Grant or allowance | Grant amount | Key eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Seed-Start program | Funding for the commercialisation of a product or service | Annual turnover of less than $1 million |
| Wage subsidies | Up to $10,000 | Hiring and retaining job seekers, apprentices and trainees |
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.
Western Australia
| Grant or allowance | Grant amount | Key eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Cyclone Seroja Small Business Recovery Grants | Up to $25,000 | Businesses impacted by Cyclone Seroja, and intend to re-establish their business in the same area |
| Collie Futures Small Grants Program | Up to $100,000 | Projects conducted within 50km of the Collie CBD |
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:
- Development of new business streams or expansion of existing businesses
- Development of new technologies
- Research development
Search for more WA grants and opportunities here.
Tasmania
| Grant or allowance | Grant amount | Key eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Tasmanian Employer Bonus Fund | Up to approximately $7,500 per employee | Current workers compensation insurance |
| Tourism, Hospitality and Ancillary Industries Payroll Tax Waiver | Various | Eligible for wages paid between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021 |
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.
Northern Territory
| Grant or allowance | Grant amount | Key eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Business Growth Program | Up to $10,000 | Annual turnover of between $75,000 and $10 million |
| Aboriginal Workforce Grants | Various | Employment of Aboriginal employees |
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:
- Strategy
- Marketing
- Operations
- Finance
- People and culture
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.
Find out more about how easy it is to partner with Prospa, or submit a scenario in minutes. Advisers can be involved in the process as much or as little as they like, and always have access to a personalised dashboard to track applications from start to finish.
