Small Business Grants in Australia (2026): How to Find Ones That Are Actually Open

Searching "small business grants Australia" turns up long lists of programs — and many of them closed years ago. This guide is for Australian sole traders, start-ups and established small businesses who want to know where government money actually comes from in 2026, which federal and state programs were open when we checked on 9 October 2026, how matched funding works, and how to avoid the grant scams that target small businesses. We don't invent amounts: every figure below comes from the program's official page on the date shown.

Quick answer

Australia has no general 'free money' grant for small businesses. Most grants fund a specific project and need matching cash, so the right starting point is the free grants and programs finder on business.gov.au, which searches federal, state and local programs and filters by status. On 9 October 2026, open federal options included CSIRO Kick-Start (A$20,000 to A$60,000, matched) and the Small Business Export Loan (A$20,000 to A$350,000), while the Industry Growth Program was paused and EMDG had no open round.

• Filter the finder by your state, industry and 'Open' status, then read the program's own guidelines

• Most grants need an ABN, often GST registration, and sometimes a company structure

• Matched grants pay a share of eligible costs — you fund the rest in cash

• Subsidised advice, wage subsidies and tax concessions are far more common than cash grants

• Grant information is free — never pay for 'exclusive' grant lists or guaranteed approval

How small business grants work in Australia

A government grant is money given for a defined purpose under a funding agreement. In Australia, most grants for businesses are competitive: applications are scored against published criteria, and a committee or delegate picks the projects that best meet the program's goals. Some programs are demand-driven, meaning every eligible applicant who applies in time is funded until the money runs out, and some are ongoing, open all year.

Almost all business grants are tied to an outcome the government wants: more exports, new products commercialised, technology adopted, apprentices trained, emissions cut or a region rebuilt after a disaster. That is why "a grant to start my business" is so rarely available. The WA Small Business Development Corporation puts it plainly: most government assistance for small business is free or low-cost advice and information rather than grants.

Grants are also usually matched. A program that offers "up to 50% of eligible project costs" expects you to pay the other half in cash, upfront, and claim the grant in instalments or at milestones. A business that can't fund its share can't use the grant.

Finally, there's a distinction worth keeping in mind as you search:

• Grants — money you don't repay if you meet the agreement;
• Loans and finance — such as the Small Business Export Loan, which you repay;
• Subsidised services — advice, mentoring or training at a reduced price;
• Rebates and incentives — discounts on equipment, or wage subsidies;
• Tax concessions — such as the R&D Tax Incentive and the instant asset write-off, claimed through your tax return.

Using the business.gov.au grants and programs finder

The quickest way to see what's open is the grants and programs finder on business.gov.au, run by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. It's free and pulls federal, state, territory and some local programs into one search. You answer a few questions, or set filters, and get a list you can save to a shortlist and email to yourself.

The filters that matter most are:

• Location — your state or territory, plus a toggle for regional or rural areas;
• Industry — 19 categories, with the option to exclude programs open to all industries;
• Business structure — company, sole trader, partnership, trust or not-for-profit;
• Support type — funding, loan, advice and mentoring, subsidies and rebates, tax benefits, sponsorship;
• Objectives — exporting, employing, AI, research and development, training and more;
• Business stage — less than 2 years, 2 to 5 years, more than 5 years;
• Grant status — open, coming soon or closed.

Two tips. First, set status to Open and Coming soon — the database keeps closed programs so you can see what ran before, which is how outdated lists spread. Second, after the finder, always open the program's own page and guidelines. The finder summary is a starting point; eligibility details, co-contribution rules and closing times are in the guidelines.

For federal programs specifically, GrantConnect (grants.gov.au) publishes current and forecast Commonwealth grant opportunities. Most states also run their own finders, covered below.

Finding a grant that fits

1. 1

   Get your basics in place

   An active ABN, a business bank account and, for many programs, GST registration. Some grants need a company (ACN).

   Register an ABN
2. 2

   Search the business.gov.au finder

   Filter by state, industry, structure and 'Open' or 'Coming soon'. Save candidates to the shortlist.

   Open the grants finder
3. 3

   Check your state portal

   State programs often appear first on the NSW, Queensland, Victorian or other state sites.

4. 4

   Read the guidelines

   Confirm eligibility, eligible costs, your cash contribution and the exact closing time.

   Tip: Closing times are usually 5 pm in the program's time zone — submit a day early.

5. 5

   Plan the project budget

   Quotes, timeline and how you'll fund your share. Matched grants pay in arrears.

Federal programs and their status in October 2026

These are the Commonwealth programs small businesses ask about most. Status is as shown on the official page on 9 October 2026.

CSIRO Kick-Start

Kick-Start helps start-ups and small businesses work with CSIRO researchers. It offers A$20,000 to A$60,000 in matched funding, so you must be able to provide the cash contribution. You qualify if your annual turnover and operating expenditure are both under A$10 million, or you've been trading for less than three years. You also need an ACN (or an Indigenous corporation number) and GST registration, so sole traders operating without a company aren't eligible. Applications are accepted at any time.

Small Business Export Loan

This isn't a grant — it's a loan from Export Finance Australia for exporters that banks won't fully fund. It ranges from A$20,000 to A$350,000 and can pay for fulfilling export contracts and purchase orders, developing new markets and growing overseas sales. You need an ACN, annual turnover above A$250,000, at least two years of trading, and you must export directly. It's open all year.

Australian Small Business Advisory Services (ASBAS) Digital Solutions

ASBAS funds advisory providers, who then help small businesses go digital — websites, cyber security, online selling, software. The provider round is closed, but the services started on 1 July 2026 and run to 2029–30. If your business is trading, has an active ABN and 19 or fewer employees, you can attend free workshops and webinars and get up to five hours of one-to-one advice for A$110 (incl. GST), with a hardship waiver available.

Industry Growth Program

The Industry Growth Program replaced the Entrepreneurs' Programme for innovative SMEs commercialising products in National Reconstruction Fund priority areas, such as value-adding in resources and agriculture, medical science, renewables, defence and enabling technologies. It requires combined turnover under A$20 million, an Australian company and a completed Advisory Service report before applying for a grant. On 9 October 2026 the program was paused to new applications. Set a "coming soon" alert in the finder if it fits your business.

Export Market Development Grants (EMDG)

EMDG, run by Austrade, reimburses part of the cost of export marketing and, for Tier 1, export training. It has three tiers: businesses ready to export, those expanding in existing markets, and those entering new key markets. On 9 October 2026, Austrade's page said Round 4 had closed and no round was open, and that it would update the page once the next round's timing was confirmed. Don't pay anyone who claims they can get you in early.

R&D Tax Incentive

The R&DTI is a tax offset rather than a grant, claimed after you register your R&D activities and lodge your tax return. business.gov.au notes that the 2026–27 Budget announced changes that start from 1 July 2028; until then, the current rules continue. For a small company doing genuine experimental work, it's often worth more than any grant.

Small business grants in NSW

NSW programs are listed on the NSW Government grants and funding page, which has its own finder. Filter Grants for: Business and Current status: Open; you can also choose Ongoing or Opening soon, and filter by category and postcode. On 9 October 2026 it showed hundreds of results across business, community and arts, so filtering is essential.

Two business programs stood out:

• Innovative Manufacturing Adoption Fund (IMAF) Stage 1 (now closed) — grants of A$10,000 to A$50,000 for NSW manufacturers to investigate adopting advanced manufacturing technology, through feasibility studies, business cases, pilots, prototyping or certification delivered by an external consultant. You must contribute at least 50% of project costs in cash, be an Australian corporation headquartered in NSW with a manufacturing facility in the state, have turnover of at least A$1 million in each of the last two years and employ 10 to 100 full-time equivalents. Applications opened on 20 August and closed at 13 October 2026 (5 pm); equipment purchases weren't funded at this stage. Watch the finder for a later round or Stage 2.
• Batteries for Businesses incentive — discounts for NSW businesses that install a battery of between 20 kWh and 30 MWh through an installer offering the discount, with a bigger discount when solar is installed at the same time. Residential buildings and data centres are excluded, and smaller batteries must be on the Clean Energy Council's approved list.

NSW also offers payroll tax rebates for apprentices and trainees, and sector programs, such as the NSW Digital Games Rebate, appear in the finder too.

Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia

Queensland

Queensland publishes a small and family business grants schedule that shows where each program is up to. On the version updated 24 September 2026:

• Secure Communities Partnership Program – Round 3 (small business) and the Construction Business Advancement Grant were listed as opening soon, with opening dates "to be confirmed";
• Regional Business Gateways – Round 1 was under assessment, with outcomes due in late 2026;
• Business Growth Fund – Round 7 projects were underway, and Business Boost – Round 4 had finished.

The Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program was open: it subsidises 50% of a typical wage for first- and second-year apprentices, and 25% for third- and fourth-year, for the weeks they spend in training — averaging 8 weeks a year, up to 32 weeks. It's for businesses with 19 or fewer employees and turnover up to A$10 million, employing construction, plumbing, engineering or electrical apprentices who started from 1 July 2025. Registrations close once 4,000 apprentices are registered.

Victoria

Victorian programs are listed on Business Victoria and in the business.gov.au finder. Many recent Victorian business grants are targeted and short-lived. For example, the Hospitality Security Fund, which offered rebates of A$5,000 to A$25,000 to licensed venues for security and fire-prevention upgrades, was closed on 9 October 2026. Check status before you plan around any Victorian program you read about.

South Australia

South Australia's Women in Business Foundations Program, delivered through Adelaide Business Hub, is open until 30 June 2030. For A$220 (incl. GST) it provides a planning session and up to five more hours of specialist mentoring. It's for women who own an SA small business with turnover under A$1 million and fewer than 20 full-time equivalent staff.

Western Australia

WA's Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) offers free advice on 133 140 and a grants guide. It notes that grants are mostly for research and development, innovation, exporting and capability building, that many are matched, and that competitive grants are won by showing clear outcomes such as jobs or revenue growth.

Disaster recovery grants and loans

When floods, bushfires or cyclones hit, recovery grants are often the one form of help that isn't tied to growth. They're usually announced by state governments with the Commonwealth under joint disaster funding arrangements, and they open for a set period after the event. Queensland's Small Business Recovery Assistance Grant Program for the 2025 monsoon trough is an example listed in the finder.

According to business.gov.au, after a disaster your state or territory may offer low-interest loans or interest-rate subsidies, recovery grants for clean-up and repairs, and freight subsidies for primary producers. Services Australia's Disaster Recovery Allowance gives short-term income support for up to 13 weeks to people whose income dropped because of a disaster. The Small Business Debt Helpline can help you find and apply for grants, loans and bill relief.

One administrative detail trips up many applicants: agencies use your main business address on the Australian Business Register to decide eligibility, so it must be a physical address, not a PO box or your accountant's office. Check it now in the ABR.

Worked example: what a matched grant really costs

Say a 25-person NSW metal fabrication company wants a feasibility study on adding robotic welding, and an external consultant quotes A$90,000. Under IMAF Stage 1, the grant covers up to half of eligible costs, capped at A$50,000.

Three things to plan for. First, cash flow: grants are typically paid against milestones, so you may pay the consultant before the grant arrives. Second, tax: business grants are generally assessable income, and the spending they fund is deductible or depreciable in the usual way, so the net benefit is less than the headline. Third, reporting: you'll sign a funding agreement and report on outcomes, and misuse can mean repaying the grant.

Grant scams and how to avoid them

Grant and "government funding" scams target small businesses because the real system is confusing. Warning signs include:

• someone who charges a fee for "exclusive" access to grant lists — the WA SBDC warns that grant information is free and available to all businesses;
• an unsolicited call, text or email saying you've already been approved for a grant you never applied for;
• a request for a processing fee, gift cards or cryptocurrency before money is released;
• a request for your myGov, bank or ATO logins, or a one-time code;
• a website that looks official but isn't on a .gov.au domain, or a consultant promising guaranteed approval.

Legitimate grant writers and advisers exist, and paying for help to prepare a strong application is fine. What you shouldn't pay for is access to information that's free, or a promised result. Check any program by searching it on business.gov.au or the state government's site, and report suspicious contact to Scamwatch.

Before you apply for any grant

0/8

• Program confirmed on business.gov.au or the state government site, with status 'Open'
• Guidelines read: eligibility, eligible costs, co-contribution, closing date and time
• ABN active; ABR address is a physical business address
• GST registration and company structure in place if the program requires them
• Written quotes for every project cost
• Cash for your share of the project, plus a buffer while you wait for milestone payments
• Last two years' financial statements and BAS ready
• No upfront fees paid to anyone promising access or approval

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Common reasons applications fail

Applying for the wrong thing. Grants fund projects, not running costs. Rent, wages for existing staff and general marketing are usually ineligible unless the guidelines say otherwise.

Ineligible structure. Programs such as CSIRO Kick-Start, IMAF and the Industry Growth Program need a company or other incorporated entity. Sole traders need to check this first.

Starting too early. Many guidelines say costs incurred before the funding agreement is signed aren't eligible. Signing the consultant's contract the week before approval can cost you the whole grant.

Weak outcomes. Competitive programs rank applications on benefit — new jobs, export revenue, productivity. Use numbers and a credible plan.

Missing the deadline. Portals slow down near closing time. Submit early and keep the confirmation email.

Official links

• business.gov.au grants and programs finderFederal, state and local programs, filterable by status
• GrantConnectCurrent and forecast Commonwealth grant opportunities
• NSW Government grants and fundingNSW finder — filter Business + Open
• Queensland small and family business grants scheduleStatus of Queensland programs
• Export Market Development Grants (Austrade)Round status and tiers
• Business assistance for disasters and emergenciesRecovery grants, loans and support

What to do next

Run the business.gov.au finder for your state and industry with the status set to Open and Coming soon, and save anything that fits. While you wait for the right round, use the support that's always available: tax concessions such as the instant asset write-off, subsidised advice, and good records — our bookkeeping guide shows what funders and lenders expect to see. If you're just starting, our how to start a business in Australia guide and the business plan generator will help you build the plan most applications ask for.

Frequently asked questions

Are there grants to start a small business in Australia?

Very few grants pay cash simply to start a business. Most government money is tied to a specific project — exporting, commercialising a new product, adopting technology, hiring apprentices — and usually needs you to contribute matching cash. Start-ups more often get subsidised advice, mentoring and tax concessions. Use the business.gov.au grants finder with the 'less than 2 years' business stage filter to see what fits.

Where can I find all government grants for small business?

The free grants and programs finder on business.gov.au searches federal, state, territory and some local programs in one place, with filters for location, industry, structure and status (open, coming soon, closed). GrantConnect lists federal grant opportunities only. State portals — such as the NSW Government grants page and the Queensland small and family business grants schedule — show local programs in more detail.

What small business grants are available in NSW?

It changes month to month. In October 2026 the NSW grants finder listed the Innovative Manufacturing Adoption Fund Stage 1 (A$10,000 to A$50,000, which closed on 13 October 2026 (5 pm)) and the Batteries for Businesses incentive, alongside many arts, community and sector-specific programs. Filter the NSW finder by 'Business' and 'Open' to see the current list.

Is the Export Market Development Grant open?

Not at 9 October 2026. Austrade's EMDG page said Round 4 had closed and no grant round was open, and that it would update the page once the next round's timing was confirmed. EMDG funds export marketing and training in three tiers. Exporters needing money now can look at Export Finance Australia's Small Business Export Loan, which accepts applications at any time.

Do I have to pay back a government grant?

Usually not, if you deliver the project as agreed. But grants come with a funding agreement: you report on milestones, keep records and spend the money only on eligible costs. If you don't, the agency can recover the funds. Loans, such as the Small Business Export Loan, must be repaid. Grants are generally assessable income for tax purposes unless a specific exemption applies.

How can I spot a fake business grant?

Real government grants are free to find and apply for. Be wary of anyone who charges a fee for 'exclusive' grant lists or guaranteed approval, contacts you out of the blue to say you've won a grant, or asks for bank logins or an upfront 'processing fee'. Check the program on business.gov.au or the state government site before giving any details.

Sources & verification

Figures on this page were checked against the sources below when it was last reviewed on 14 October 2026. Each rate and limit is stored once with its own official source and review date, and official update channels are monitored daily so changes are picked up. How we verify

1. 1.Grants and programs finder — business.gov.au (Department of Industry, Science and Resources) · accessed 9 October 2026
2. 2.Industry Growth Program — business.gov.au · accessed 9 October 2026
3. 3.Export Market Development Grants — Austrade · accessed 9 October 2026
4. 4.CSIRO Kick-Start — business.gov.au · accessed 9 October 2026
5. 5.Small Business Export Loan — business.gov.au · accessed 9 October 2026
6. 6.Australian Small Business Advisory Services – Digital Solutions Round 3 — business.gov.au · accessed 9 October 2026
7. 7.Research and Development Tax Incentive — business.gov.au · accessed 9 October 2026
8. 8.NSW Government grants and funding — NSW Government · accessed 9 October 2026
9. 9.Innovative Manufacturing Adoption Fund Stage 1 — NSW Government (Premier's Department / Investment NSW) · accessed 9 October 2026
10. 10.Batteries for Businesses incentive (NSW) — business.gov.au · accessed 9 October 2026
11. 11.Small and family business grants schedule — Queensland Government · accessed 9 October 2026
12. 12.Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program (Qld) — business.gov.au · accessed 9 October 2026
13. 13.Hospitality Security Fund (Vic) — business.gov.au · accessed 9 October 2026
14. 14.Women in Business Foundations Program (SA) — business.gov.au · accessed 9 October 2026
15. 15.Business grants — Small Business Development Corporation (WA) · accessed 9 October 2026
16. 16.Business assistance for disasters and emergencies — business.gov.au · accessed 9 October 2026