Grants and Supports
We monitor available resources, including information, grants and support services, that may assist you with operating a small business in Queensland.
Starting a business
Starting a business | Business Queensland
Find additional information and support services to help you to start a business in Queensland.
Grants and Programs | Advance Queensland
Find funding, mentorship, accelerator and other opportunities to grow your idea, project or business.
Business Launchpad | Business Queensland
Check what licences, permits and other regulatory requirements apply to you.
Franchising: Is it for you?
Resources about the risks and challenges of franchises.
Support for women in business
Tailored support including programs, grants, events, mentoring and education.
Self-Employment Assistance
12 months of personalised mentoring and support to help you start and run your small business.
Running a business
Running a business | Business Queensland
Find additional information and support services to help you run your business in Queensland.
End of financial year checklist
A list of essential tasks to prepare for the end of the financial year and plan ahead.
Essentials to strengthen your small business
Free online courses and tutorials covering general business processes with broad coverage of major industries and business basics.
Small Business Short Courses
Short micro-credential courses to support and retain their employees.
ecoBiz | Business Chamber Queensland
Free assessment with an ecoBiz coach for advice on how to cut costs and increase efficiencies across energy, water and waste.
Grow your business and yourself
Mentoring for Growth (M4G) program
Free mentoring providing insights, options and suggestions relating to challenges and opportunities you are experiencing in your business.
Industry Growth Program
Free advisory service with opportunity of matched funding for SME’s to commercialise and grow their business.
Digital Solutions Program
Low-cost access to one-to-one advice, world-class workshops, and online webinars. Regional Business HQ is the supplier contracted by the Australian Government to deliver this program in Queensland.
Backing Female Founders Program
Supporting Queensland’s female founders to grow and scale their Queensland innovation businesses.
Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Scholarship Program and Mentoring Scheme
Business training and mentoring opportunities for Brisbane CALD residents.
Recognition of existing skills and experience
Help with credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.
Skills Checkpoint for Older Workers
Includes career assessment, one-on-one career guidance and advice and support in relation to a current role, a new role, or help to transition to a new career. Now accessible for people 40+.
Workforce Planning Connect | Free toolkit
Support for employers to access the skills and workforce needed.
Grow and change your business | Business Queensland
Find additional information and support services to help you to grow your business and effectively change how you operate and innovate. Support is available to help guide and fund your development.
General support services
Digital Security
Cybercrime
Report | Cyber.gov.au
If you encounter a cybercrime, you can report it through the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s website.
Cyber Wardens program
Simplified cyber security for small businesses via free online training.
Small Business Cyber Resilience Service
Free, tailored, person-to-person support to help small businesses build their cyber resilience and recover from cyber incidents. Small businesses with 19 or less employees, including sole traders can access the service.
Small Business Disaster Hub | Business Queensland
The Small Business Disaster Hub (the Hub) has suggestions on how to respond to an IT threat or cybercrime including suggested ways to communicate to customers and suppliers.
Disasters and business resilience
Natural disaster support for your business
Get financial help, support and advice about managing your business before, during and after a disaster.
Guide to protecting your business
Follow these steps to keep your business strong, resilient and ready to handle any surprises.
Energy business check-ups
EcoBiz Energy Coaches
Free program for small to medium businesses to increase energy efficiency.
Energy Advisory Services and Information for Businesses
Advice to manage your business energy costs, energy efficiency technologies and opportunities.
Employment
Industry Workforce Advisors
Help finding solutions to employment challenges and connecting with incentives and funding opportunities.
Workforce Connect Fund – small business HR support and advice
$5,000 to provide immediate human resources (HR) support and advice to help address workforce challenges and diversify workforces.
Hiring staff from overseas | Business Queensland
If you can’t find Australian staff, you could consider hiring staff from overseas.
Injury Prevention and Management program | WorkSafe.qld.gov.au
Free small business advice about work health and safety issues for businesses with less than 20 people.
Hiring employees checklist | business.gov.au
Checklist for small business owners when hiring an employee.
General disputes
Wellbeing services
Wellness coaches
Access free, one-on-one support for your unique and personal business challenges, needs and opportunities.
Health help lines, counselling and support groups
Links to access help lines, counselling, and support groups.
NewAccess for small business owners
Free and confidential mental health coaching program for small business owners. Ph: 1300 945 301
Financial support services
Financial assistance
Financial Assistance Hub | Australian Banking Association
Help understanding available options if you’re struggling financially.
Small Business Debt Helpline
Free, independent, and confidential service for small business owners and sole traders in financial difficulty. Ph: 1800 413 828.
Financial counselling
Small business financial counsellors and rural financial counsellors | Business Queensland
Free, confidential financial counselling for small business owners and primary producers who are experiencing or are at risk of financial hardship.
Mob Strong Debt Help
Free legal advice about money matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Grant and support finder tools
Grants | Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business | Queensland Government
Find current Queensland Government grants and programs to help Queensland small businesses continue to grow and thrive.
Queensland Government Grants Finder
Register to receive updates on Queensland Government grant opportunities.
Grants and programs finder | AusIndustry
Supporting business growth to innovate, invest and commercialise.
Loans
Business Loans for Refugees in Australia | Thrive (not for profit)
Business financing up to $50k for refugee and asylum-seeker (in the past 10 years).
Small Business Export Loan
Loan for businesses that generate at least 20% of its revenues from export sales for a wider range of financing needs.
Business health checks
Starting a business health check
Use the interactive diagnostic tool to:
• assess the strengths and weaknesses of your new business start-up approach
• identify opportunities to improve your business start-up plans and processes.
Marketing health check
Use the interactive diagnostic tool to:
• assess the strengths and weaknesses of your current marketing approach.
• identify opportunities to improve your marketing capability and effectiveness.
Finance health check
Use the interactive diagnostic tool to:
• assess your current financial situation
• find out where there may be opportunities for growth in your business.
Digital health check
Use the interactive diagnostic tool to:
• assess your current digital strengths
• identify opportunities to add digital capabilities to your business.
Change readiness health check
Use the business health check to identify changes you can make to get your business ready to deal with disruptions and emergencies and help your business survive and thrive.
Tourism business health check
Take this health check to understand and improve the resilience of your business so you are ready for anything – from loss of key staff to a pandemic or natural disaster.
Legal and Tax support services
Legal and tax services
Arts Law Centre of Australia
Free or low cost specialised legal advice, education and resources to Australian artists and arts organisations.
Griffith Tax Clinic
Providing free tax assistance to help you navigate Australia’s complex tax system.
James Cook University (JCU) Australia Tax Clinic
Tax assistance for established small businesses and not-for-profit organisations.
Community Legal Centres Queensland
Connect individuals with local community legal centres.
IP and Trade marks
IP and Trade marks
Protect the value of your intellectual property (IP). The IP Australia website has information about patents, trade marks and getting your IP strategy right.
Trade mark checker
This online tool from IP Australia makes it easier for small businesses to check if a trade mark is available.
Upskill on trade marks
Before you apply for a trade mark, it’s important to understand what it protects and how it works. This free online course can help you master the basics.