Would you like to have free money or support to help establish, develop or grow your business or business idea?
Your business may be eligible for a wide range of support available through the Queensland Government with both grants and free services represented in the current offerings.
We do our best to stay on top of what support is available for small businesses, and provide a free consultation service to any businesses that would like to discuss how they can utilise the available support to their advantage.
Here is a list of some of what is available:
Also see: 56 Ideas for your grant project
Our Top Picks
Leveraging Digital to supercharge innovation
- Innovate Queensland GRID webinar
- Presented by Megan from Kapow Interactive
- 22 November 2017, 12pm-1pm
OK, yes, this is a shameless plug. BUT it is relevant information on how to drive innovation in your business through digital technologies. Innovation is a huge area of available funding, so you’re crazy not to attend! 😉
Small Business Entrepreneur Grants
Provides new small businesses access to professional advice and support in the critical early stages of establishing a business.
Funding must be for advice in the following areas:
- professional business, tax, computing, legal or financial (accounting) advice
- mentoring/coaching
- business and strategic planning
- market research and marketing strategies, including branding strategies and social media/digital strategies.
Assistance offered: Matched (1:1) funding, Total project value $2k-$10k
Eligibility: Business name registered within the last 4 years, <20 employees, have ABN, QLD based
Dates: Closes 5pm, 21 November 2017
View full details Request a chat
Mentoring for Recovery
Helps small business owners and operators impacted by Tropical Cyclone Debbie get back on their feet faster by supporting the development of new business plans, access to advice and support services and the exploration of new opportunities to improve business resilience.
Small business mentors will be back in our region for a third and final time during 27-29 November. To book, simply advise what business challenge you would like to discuss with the mentors, and one of the Mentoring for Recovery team will contact you to arrange a suitable time.
Assistance offered: FREE mentoring session 1 on 1 or walk in to their evening session.
Eligibility: Cyclone affected area, <20 employees
Dates: Airlie Beach 27 November, Bowen 28 November, Proserpine 29 November
View full details Request a chat
Back to Work Regional Employment Package + Youth Boost
Provides financial assistance to employers to hire a long term unemployed or young unemployed jobseeker.
Assistance offered: Funding of up to $20k
Eligibility: Mackay/Whitsunday region (among others), employing permanent part-time or full-time staff member
Dates: Open for application until 30 June 2018
View full details Request a chat
Innovate Queensland + Small business webinars
Free workshops, webinars and collaboration activities, for Queensland innovators, startups and small to medium businesses to build commercialisation skills and connections.Some upcoming events include:
- Money Magnet Masterclass Airlie Beach on 15 November
- Leveraging the digital world to supercharge Innovation webinar on 22 November (Presented by Megan from Kapow!)
- A wide range of webinars are available.
View event calendar Previous webinar recordings Request a chat
Cyclone Recovery Support – Counselling
Free confidential counselling service to small business owners and immediate families. Dedicated counsellors are ready to work with you, and help you manage personal impacts on you, or your immediate family members as a result of the recent natural disasters. To seek assistance or to talk to a counsellor, phone 1300 763 168. Counsellors will listen to your concerns and provide sound, practical advice to help you care for yourself and your family.
Assistance offered: FREE phone support.
Eligibility: Cyclone affected area, small business owner or family
Dates: Airlie Beach 27 November, Bowen 28 November, Proserpine 29 November
View full details Request a chat
Mentoring for Growth program
Offers eligible businesses access to a panel of up to 6 volunteer business experts who during a meeting of around 90 minutes, offer insights, options and suggestions on business challenges relating to growth and innovation.
Assistance offered: FREE business mentoring.
Eligibility: Have ABN, Registered for GST, experiencing strong growth, significant QLD operations, be innovative.
Dates: Ongoing.
View full details Request a chat
Business Evaluation
Experienced Business Advisers review business operations, including business direction and strategy. The outcome of the review is an Evaluation Report with suggestions for business improvement. Business Evaluations are free for eligible businesses.
Assistance offered: FREE business review.
Eligibility: For profit, non tax exempt, Registered for GST. Various other criteria.
Dates: Ongoing.
View full details Request a chat
Reopening in 2018:
Small Business Digital Grants
Provides access to digital technologies and services to enable them to work smarter, engage with the global economy and make the most of online business opportunities arising from digital disruption.
Round 3 of applications for this grant closed in late October. We can expect to see this grant reopen for 2-3 rounds per year during 2018 and 2019. Kapow Interactive has already helped a wide range of businesses with previous rounds of funding, and assisted 18 Whitsunday businesses with information for this round. Applicants can expect to hear back on the status of their application in approx. 4 weeks.
Assistance offered: Matched (1:1) funding, Total project value $2k-$20k
Eligibility: <20 employees, have ABN, GST registered, QLD based, turnover <$2m last financial year
Dates: Likely to reopen around March 2018
View full details Request a chat
Accelerate Small Business Grants
Provides targeted assistance to small businesses that demonstrate high-growth and employment aspirations, to enable them to engage business mentors, coaches, specialist consultants or an advisory board, for between 6 to 12 months.
Applying businesses must have a clearly defined opportunity and plan for growth, and demonstrate how engaging external advice will allow the business to achieve these goals. have the potential for high-growth (+20% turnover or employment) within the next 2 years. The participant applying must have a business plan in place, as well as the capacity to access finance to fund the growth of their business.
Assistance offered: Matched (1:1) funding, Total project value up to $20k
Eligibility: Trading 3+ years, min turnover $500m, <20 employees, have ABN, registered for GST, significant QLD operations
Dates: Additional rounds of funding will open in 2018.
View full details Request a chat
Advancing Regional Innovation Program (ARIP)
$500,000 funding shared between Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday councils, administered by Greater Whitsunday Alliance. (GW3, our local peak economic body) This funding has been successfully secured, and will be rolled out over 3 years.
The draft plan for implementation is awaiting ministerial approval and will commence implementation in 2018. Funds will be used to help turn our regions into hubs for innovation and enterprise.
View full details Request a chat
Other relevant initiatives:
Cyclone Recovery Support – NDRRA financial support category C
Seed funding – Business Development Fund
Video Blogging – Create Queensland
Commercialise market ready innovation – Ignite Ideas Fund
Have a big project or idea? Jobs and Regional Growth Fund
Tax Incentive – Research and Development (R&D)
Incubation, commercialisation, business mgmt. – Entrepreneur’s program
Want to discuss a project for your business?
If you would like information about any of these grants or programs, please ring Megan for a free 15 minute consultation. We can help you scope a project that meets your business needs and also fits the grant requirements, and/or refer you to many locally based industry experts.