How much can you get from a small business grant in Australia?

Grant amounts vary widely by program. State programs typically offer $5,000 to $50,000. Federal programs range from $20,000 to $5 million. The Export Market Development Grant offers $20,000 to $80,000 per year. The Industry Growth Program offers up to $5 million on a matched basis. Most small businesses access grants in the $10,000 to $50,000 range.

Can startups get small business grants?

Yes. The New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) is specifically designed for people starting a new business, providing training, mentoring, and income support. Some state programs also target startups and early-stage businesses. However, many grant programs require an established business with an active ABN and GST registration, so check the specific eligibility requirements.

How long does it take to get a small business grant?

Federal programs typically take 8 to 16 weeks from application submission to decision. State programs can be faster, with some processing in 4 to 6 weeks. The application itself can take 10 to 20 hours to prepare, so factor in preparation time as well. Funds are usually released after you sign a funding agreement.

What is matched funding for grants?

Matched funding means the government will match your own investment dollar for dollar. A $50,000 grant on a matched basis means you need to contribute $50,000 of your own funds (from savings, revenue, or a loan) to a $100,000 total project. Most federal grants operate on this co-contribution model.

Where do I find small business grants in my state?

The grants and programs finder at business.gov.au lists federal, state, and territory programs in one place. You can filter by your state, industry, and business stage. For state-specific programs, check your state government business website directly: service.nsw.gov.au for NSW, business.vic.gov.au for Victoria, or business.qld.gov.au for Queensland.

Can I use a business loan to cover the matched funding portion of a grant?

In most cases, yes. Many grant programs accept borrowed funds as your co-contribution, as long as you can demonstrate the funds are available at the time of the project. Check the specific program guidelines, as some programs require the matched funding to come from existing cash reserves. A small business loan is a common way to fund the co-contribution.

How can Emu Money help if a grant doesn't cover my full costs?

Emu Money's finance specialists search across 50+ lenders to find competitive small business loan options that can cover the gap between your grant funding and total project cost. Compare options in one place without multiple applications. Subject to lender approval, terms and conditions apply.

Small Business Grants in Australia: What's Available in 2026

Written byClaudia Ainsley

Reviewed byMatt Leeburn

Updated 09 Jul 2026Content was accurate at the time of publication

Small business grants in Australia range from $5,000 to $5 million depending on the program, and there are over 597 active grant programs listed on business.gov.au as of 2026. Federal grants alone total over $4.2 billion across innovation, export development, digital transformation, and clean energy. Most grants are competitive and do not need to be repaid, but they rarely cover 100% of a project's cost. Here is what is available, who qualifies, and how to fund the gap.

How small business grants work in Australia

Grants are non-repayable funding provided by federal, state, or local governments to support specific business activities. Unlike a loan, you do not pay a grant back. However, most grants come with conditions: they are tied to a specific purpose (you cannot spend them on anything you want), they typically require matched funding (you put in $1 for every $1 the government contributes), and they involve a competitive application process.

The practical reality is that grants rarely cover an entire project cost. A $50,000 grant on a matched basis means you still need $50,000 of your own funds. For many small businesses, a small business loan covers the portion that the grant does not.

Federal grant programs for small businesses

Program	Grant range	Who it's for	Key requirement
Export Market Development Grant (EMDG)	$20,000 to $80,000 per year	Businesses expanding into export markets	ABN for 2+ years, reimburses up to 50% of eligible export marketing costs
Industry Growth Program	Up to $5 million (matched)	SMEs commercialising innovations	Must demonstrate commercial potential and job creation. Note: paused for new applications as of May 2026, check business.gov.au for updates
New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS)	Training + income support	Individuals starting a new business	Must be registered with an employment services provider

State and territory grant programs

State	Focus areas	Where to check
NSW	Innovation, tech commercialisation, net zero transition	service.nsw.gov.au
VIC	Creative industries, advanced manufacturing, sustainability	business.vic.gov.au
QLD	Small and family business, regional development, agriculture	business.qld.gov.au
SA	Defence industry, sovereign manufacturing, food and wine	sa.gov.au/topics/business
WA	Resources sector, Aboriginal business, regional enterprise	wa.gov.au/organisation/small-business
TAS	Tourism, agriculture, innovation	business.tas.gov.au
ACT	Innovation, clean energy, small business support	business.act.gov.au
NT	Regional development, Indigenous business, primary industries	nt.gov.au/industry

Who qualifies for small business grants

Eligibility varies by program, but most small business grants share common requirements.

ABN and GST registration: Nearly all programs require an active ABN. Most also require GST registration, which means your business needs to be turning over $75,000 or more per year (or expect to).

Business size: Most programs define "small business" as fewer than 20 employees (or fewer than 100 for manufacturing). Some programs use annual turnover thresholds instead, typically under $10 million.

Purpose alignment: Grants are tied to specific activities. An export grant will not fund a shopfit. A digital transformation grant will not cover a vehicle purchase. Your project needs to align with the program's stated purpose.

Matched funding: Many grants operate on a co-contribution model where the government matches your spend dollar for dollar. This means you need to fund your share, either from savings, revenue, or a business loan.

Australian ownership: Some programs require majority Australian ownership. Others are open to any business operating in Australia. Check the specific program guidelines.

How to apply for a small business grant

Step 1: Search business.gov.au. The grants and programs finder at business.gov.au lists all federal, state, and territory programs in one place. Filter by your state, industry, and business stage to narrow down relevant options.

Step 2: Check eligibility before you invest time. Read the program guidelines carefully. Many grant applications take 10 to 20 hours to prepare. Check that you meet the minimum requirements before you start writing.

Step 3: Prepare your application. Most grant applications require a project plan, a budget with quotes, evidence of your matched funding, and a statement of how the project aligns with the program's objectives. Some also require letters of support or evidence of prior market research.

Step 4: Submit before the deadline. Most programs have fixed closing dates. Late applications are not accepted. Allow at least 2 weeks before the deadline to finalise your submission.

Step 5: Wait for assessment. Federal programs typically take 8 to 16 weeks from application to decision. State programs can be faster, with some processing in 4 to 6 weeks. You will receive a formal outcome notification.

Funding what grants do not cover

Grants rarely cover 100% of a project cost. Most operate on a matched basis, meaning you need to fund at least 50% yourself. Even non-matched grants typically cover only a portion of your total costs.

For the gap between what the grant covers and what the project costs, a small business loan is the most common solution. A $50,000 grant for equipment with a 50% co-contribution means you need $50,000 of your own funds. A business loan can cover that co-contribution while the grant reduces your total cost.

If your business is new and you are unsure what finance options are available at your trading stage, see our guide on startup business loans in Australia. For the full breakdown of how business loan applications work, see our guide on how to get a small business loan.

This article is general information only and is not financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

Grants do not need to be repaid, so they are free in that sense. However, they come with conditions: you must spend the funds on the approved purpose, you often need to provide matched funding from your own resources, and you need to report on how the money was spent. They are not unconditional cash.

Need to fund the gap a grant doesn't cover?

Emu Money searches across 50+ lenders to find [small business loan](/business/small-business-loans) options that complement your grant funding. Cover your co-contribution without draining cash reserves. Subject to lender approval, terms and conditions apply.

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This article is general information only and is not financial advice.

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