Start a business · Guide

Government grants and free support for small business

Grants get the attention, but for most small businesses the free support - advice, mentoring, financial counselling and mental health coaching - is easier to get and often more useful. Here's how to find both, and how to avoid grant scams.

AUSBUSINESS
Last reviewed · 4 min read
A business owner meeting with an adviser
Photo by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash

In short

  • Use the free grants and programs finder on business.gov.au. It asks about your business and lists what you may be eligible for.
  • Most grants fund specific projects, not everyday running costs, and many need you to contribute money too.
  • Free support is widely available - business advisers, the Small Business Debt Helpline, and NewAccess mental health coaching for owners.
  • Never pay anyone up front to "secure" a grant. Official applications are free.

Grants: what to expect

Grants are offered by federal, state and territory governments, local councils and some private foundations. A few things are true of most of them:

  • They fund a specific purpose, such as exporting, adopting new technology, hiring, regional growth, research and development, or recovering from a disaster. General start-up or running costs are rarely covered.
  • They’re competitive. Many good applications miss out.
  • Many need a co-contribution, meaning you spend some of your own money alongside the grant.
  • They often pay after you spend, or in stages, so you still need cash flow.
  • Programs open and close. What’s available changes through the year and with each budget.

Because of all that, treat a grant as a bonus for a project you’d do anyway, not as the foundation of your plan.

Finding grants

The grants and programs finder

The grants and programs finder on business.gov.au is the best starting point. You answer a few questions about your location, industry, structure, how long you’ve been operating and what you want to do, and it lists grants and programs you may be eligible for. It’s free, takes about five minutes, and lets you shortlist and email yourself the results.

Check back regularly, or subscribe to business.gov.au’s news updates, because new rounds open through the year.

Other places to look

  • Your state or territory government’s small business website, which lists state programs, workshops and local advisory services.
  • Your local council, which may offer small grants, events and business networks.
  • Industry associations, which often know about programs specific to your industry.
  • Business assistance for disasters and emergencies, listed on business.gov.au when an event is declared.
  • Support for Indigenous businesses, also listed on business.gov.au.

Writing a stronger application

  1. Read the guidelines twice. Check eligibility first; many applications fail on a technicality.
  2. Answer the criteria directly. Use the assessors’ words as your headings and address every point.
  3. Show the outcome. What will the money achieve, how will you measure it, and why does it matter beyond your own business (jobs, region, industry)?
  4. Be realistic about the budget. Quotes for major costs, and a clear explanation of your own contribution.
  5. Prove you can deliver. Your experience, your plan, your cash flow. A current business plan does a lot of this work.
  6. Start early. Gathering quotes and documents takes longer than writing.
  7. Ask for feedback if you’re unsuccessful, and use it next round.

Avoiding grant scams

  • Official grant applications are free. Be wary of anyone who charges a fee to “secure” or “guarantee” a grant.
  • Government agencies won’t cold-call you offering a grant you didn’t apply for.
  • Check the program exists on business.gov.au or the agency’s own website before sharing any details.
  • Paid grant writers are legitimate, but no one can guarantee success. Agree on the fee and what you get in writing.

Free support that’s easier to get

Business advice

  • business.gov.au has a contact centre (13 28 46) and an adviser finder for free and low-cost business advice near you.
  • State and territory small business agencies run workshops, advisory sessions and mentoring programs, often free or subsidised.
  • The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) can help with disputes with other businesses and government agencies.
  • See also Finding a mentor, coach or adviser.

Money worries: Small Business Debt Helpline

The Small Business Debt Helpline (1800 413 828) offers free, confidential and independent financial counselling for small business owners and sole traders, run by Financial Counselling Australia. Counsellors can help with payment arrangements, deciding what to pay first, and options if things are serious. They don’t sell anything or work on commission.

Your own wellbeing: NewAccess for Small Business Owners

NewAccess for Small Business Owners, run by Beyond Blue, offers free, confidential mental health coaching for small business owners by phone or video, with coaches who have small business experience. You don’t need a referral. The federal government has funded it, and the Small Business Debt Helpline, through to the end of June 2027. business.gov.au lists other mental health and wellbeing support for business owners.