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Grants & Assistance for New Businesses

Grants & assistance - starting a businessYou may be eligible for one of the many sources of funding available for businesses in Victoria if you:

  • Need to kick-start your business to get it up and running
  • Require extra funds to grow your business
  • Want to undertake research and development
  • Are currently exporting or planning to export

Financial assistance for your business may come in the form of a grant from government or from private industry.

The three main categories under which you can find government grants and financial assistance include:

  • Starting a new business or business expansion
  • Exporting
  • Research and development

Starting a new business and business expansion

Business Victoria

The Victorian Government, through Business Victoria, offers services and advice to help Victorian businesses to become internationally competitive.

You can search for a program or grant (new window) through the interactive 'Grants and Programs Wizard'.

New Enterprise Initiative Scheme (NEIS)

If you're 18 years or older, receiving payments from Centrelink and have a viable business idea, you may be eligible for the New Enterprise Initiative Scheme (NEIS) (new window).

Through this program you'll:

  • Receive a nationally accredited Certificate IV in Small Business Management 
  • Undertake an intensive training course and develop a business plan
  • Receive ongoing financial assistance for up to 12 months if the NEIS panel approves your business plan

Exporting

Export Victoria

Business Victoria's export connections site lists export Programs, grants and assistance (new window).

Austrade

The Federal Government's Export Market Development Grants Scheme (EMDG) (new window) provides assistance to small and medium Australian businesses to develop export markets by reimbursing part of their export promotional expenses

Research and development (R&D)

The Business Victoria site outlines funding opportunities for:

Where else can I find funding assistance?

Local councils

Check with your local Council (new window) to find out what kind of business grants they offer. For example the City of Melbourne runs a range of small business grants (new window).

Links for grants and assistance

Business Victoria - Grants and Assistance
Programs and financial support for Victorian businesses.

Business Victoria - Regional Victoria Grants Opportunities
A comprehensive list of grant opportunities in regional and rural Victoria.

GrantsLink
Federal Government grant site where you can search for business grants.

AusIndustry
Supports industry, research and innovation, in particular, growing small businesses, commercialising new technologies and applying for tax and duty concessions.

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