The headline says up to A$5 million.
What can one person actually get?

What a solo founder can apply for in these programs

• Self-Employment AssistanceFree accredited Small Business Training, business plan help, advice sessions and Small Business Coaching

  Aged 15 or over (18 for coaching); an Australian citizen, permanent visa holder or nominated visa holder; not an undischarged bankrupt. For a new business or a micro-business with up to 4 employees, assessed as viable by your provider. The page says you may also be eligible for financial support during coaching and gives no amount. Source

• Instant asset write-offImmediate deduction for an asset that costs less than A$20,000

  For a small business with an aggregated turnover of less than A$10 million that uses the simplified depreciation rules. Only the business portion of the cost is deductible. The ATO page gives A$20,000 as the limit from 1 July 2023. Source

• CSIRO Kick-StartA$20,000 to A$60,000, dollar-matched

  You must hold an ACN or ICN, so a sole trader has to incorporate first. Annual turnover and operating expenditure under A$10 million, or trading for less than three years. You must be able to provide matched funding, and the money supports a project carried out with CSIRO researchers. Source

• R&D Tax IncentiveRefundable tax offset: your company tax rate plus 18.5%

  Incorporated companies only, with an aggregated turnover of less than A$20 million for the refundable offset. You must apply within 10 months of the end of the income year in which the R&D took place. Source

• Export Market Development GrantsNo round is open

  Round 4 has closed. Austrade says there are currently no grant rounds open and that its website will be updated when the timing of the next round is confirmed. Source

Eligibility conditions

• Business structure decides most of it. CSIRO Kick-Start needs an ACN or ICN; the R&D Tax Incentive and the Industry Growth Program are for incorporated companies. The Self-Employment Assistance and instant asset write-off pages list no company requirement.
• Turnover limits: under A$10 million for the instant asset write-off and for Kick-Start (or trading for less than three years); under A$20 million for the refundable R&D offset and for the Industry Growth Program.
• Matched funding: Kick-Start and Industry Growth Program grants require your own money alongside the grant.
• The Industry Growth Program also requires an Australian business number (ABN) and a project within the priority areas of the National Reconstruction Fund.

Application window

The Industry Growth Program Advisory Service accepts applications at any time. Self-Employment Assistance is arranged through a local provider. No Export Market Development Grants round is open. Handled by: the agency that runs each program (see the source link on each one).

Source: Australian Government (official websites). Last checked on 2026-10-04.

What a solo founder can apply for in these programs

• MVP Ventures, Stream 1A$20,000 to A$50,000, up to 50% of eligible project costs

  Closed. You must contribute at least 50% yourself. The business must be a company incorporated in Australia, headquartered in NSW, with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent staff including founders and an aggregated turnover of A$400,000 or less in each of the last three financial years. Source

• MVP Ventures, Stream 2A$20,000 to A$75,000, up to 75% of eligible project costs

  Closed. Same business rules as Stream 1, with a co-contribution of at least 25%. Only for businesses that are majority women-owned and managed, regionally headquartered and operated, or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander majority-owned and managed. Source

Eligibility conditions

• An active Australian Business Number (ABN) and headquarters in NSW.
• A company incorporated in Australia, or an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation. Sole traders are not eligible.
• You must hold the intellectual property or the rights to commercialise it.
• Aggregated turnover of A$400,000 or less in each of the three financial years before applying, and 10 or fewer full-time equivalent staff including founders.
• The project must move a product along Technology Readiness Levels 3 to 9, run for 3 to 12 months, and be carried out mostly in NSW.

Application window

Round 3 opened on 9 March 2026 and closed on 10 April 2026. The program page lists no later round. Handled by: the NSW Premier's Department.

Source: NSW Government (official websites). Last checked on 2026-10-04.

What a solo founder can apply for in these programs

• Business Skills Mentoring programThree one-hour mentoring sessions, to be used within 3 months

  Closed. Expressions of interest ended at 5pm on 31 August 2026. Up to 1,000 small business owners in 7 priority sectors: advanced manufacturing and defence, health technologies and medical research, circular economy, digital technologies, agribusiness, regional tourism, and distilleries. Source

Eligibility conditions

• You must be a small business owner in one of the 7 priority sectors named on the program page.
• Eligibility is assessed against the program guidelines after you submit an expression of interest.
• You complete a pre-mentoring stage before being paired with a mentor.

Application window

Expressions of interest opened on 6 November 2025 and closed on 31 August 2026. Handled by: Business Victoria.

Source: Business Victoria (official websites). Last checked on 2026-10-04.

What a solo founder can apply for in these programs

• Business BasicsA$7,500, paid upfront, with no co-contribution

  No round is open: recipients of the latest round have been announced. It funds professional business advice, strategic marketing services, and website builds or upgrades. Source

• Business BoostA$10,000 to A$20,000, paid in 2 milestone payments

  No round is open: Round 4 is at the acquittal stage. It funds staff planning systems, specialised and automated software, and future planning. Source

• Business Growth FundA$50,000 to A$75,000, paid over 3 milestone payments

  No round is open: Round 7 projects are underway. For high-growth small and family businesses buying specialised equipment. You must co-invest at least 50% of total project costs. Source

• Mentoring for GrowthA free session with experienced volunteer mentors

  Listed on the grants schedule as a way to prepare for future rounds. You register through Business Queensland. Source

Eligibility conditions

• These programs are for Queensland small and family businesses.
• Each round publishes its own guidelines, and eligibility is set there. We have not listed those rules because no round is open.
• The Business Growth Fund requires a co-investment of at least 50% of total project costs.

Application window

No small business grant round is open. Two programs are marked as opening soon, with dates to be confirmed: Secure Communities Partnership Program Round 3 (small business) and the Construction Business Advancement Grant. Handled by: the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business.

Source: Business Queensland (official websites). Last checked on 2026-10-04.