Headline maximumA$5 millionIndustry Growth Program, commercialisation and growth grant
Open to a solo founder5Free services, Tax relief, Cash grant
Application windowOpen for applicationsThe 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.
Why the headline figure is out of reach: The applicant must be a company incorporated in Australia (or an incorporated trustee), so a sole trader cannot apply. The grant is matched funding, you can only apply after receiving the program's Advisory Service report, and the official page says not every business that sees an adviser will be eligible for a grant.
What a solo founder can apply for in these programsAmounts and conditions are quoted from the official pages
Free services
Self-Employment Assistance
Free 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
Tax relief
Instant asset write-off
Immediate 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
Cash grant
CSIRO Kick-Start
A$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
Tax relief
R&D Tax Incentive
Refundable 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
Cash grant
Export Market Development Grants
No 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
How to applyAs stated on the official pages
Self-Employment Assistance: contact your local Self-Employment Assistance provider to discuss your eligibility and options.
Industry Growth Program: apply for the Advisory Service through the online portal at any time. You can only apply for a grant after you receive the Advisory Service report.
CSIRO Kick-Start: CSIRO assesses your eligibility first, then helps you define a project with a research team.
R&D Tax Incentive: apply within 10 months of the end of the income year, then claim the offset in the company tax return using your registration number.
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.
Applications and source
Status
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.
Agency
The agency that runs each program (see the source link on each one).
