Where to get small business grants in 2025
Looking for funding to scale your business? Here’s where to look for a small business grant, plus tips on how to win it.
For Australian eyewear brand Billy Boston, winning a grant through Austrade’s Export Market Development Grants program was a game-changer. The grant pays half of the business’s expenditure on overseas marketing for three years, up to a maximum of $76,000 per year.
“It is fantastic because otherwise we would have a very limited budget for marketing, and especially for overseas marketing, which is a bit of an unknown,” says Billy Boston co-founder Angela Sweeney.
In Australia, there’s a range of grants available to small businesses. Often, they’re specific to particular industries, age groups and locations.
How to access government grants for small business
The federal government offers close to $1 billion dollars a year in business grants, making it a key avenue for small businesses searching for funding and grants.
Since 2018, all grants from Commonwealth entities are required to be published on the government’s GrantConnect website. This centralised information hub provides a free service for all potential applicants to find and access federal grant opportunities in the one spot.
Each state also has its own information service for available grants, such as Business Queensland, the Victorian Business Growth Fund and the MVP Ventures program in NSW.
Unlike loans, grants don’t need to be repaid, and whether you’re in retail, marketing, trade, manufacturing or e-commerce, there are grants available to help strengthen and scale your business.
Here are 10 current grants to get you started.
1. Small Business Technology Investment Boost (national)
Funding: Up to $20,000 bonus tax deduction
Best for: Retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and trades looking to invest in digital tools.
What it covers: A 20 per cent bonus tax deduction on digital expenses, including e-commerce, marketing automation, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
Application deadline: Apply at any time
2. Wage Subsidies for Hiring Employees (national)
Funding: Up to $10,000
Best for: Small businesses in retail, trade, manufacturing and services looking to hire new employees.
What it covers: Helps cover wages for new employees, including apprentices, trainees, and long-term unemployed workers.
Application deadline: Ongoing
3. Industry Growth Program (national)
Funding: $50,000 to $5 million
Best for: Manufacturing, trade, and tech-based small businesses commercialising new products.
What it covers: Funding for scaling, commercialisation, workforce training and process improvements.
Application deadline: Ongoing
4. CSIRO Kick-Start Program (national)
Funding: $10,000 to $50,000 (matched dollar-for-dollar)
Best for: Small businesses needing R&D support for new product development.
What it covers: Helps fund prototyping, testing and commercialisation for manufacturing, clean energy and food production.
Application deadline: Ongoing
5. Better Local Business Grant Program (Qld)
Funding: Up to $2,500
Best for: Small business associations/groups, industry association, Chambers of Commerce and local councils.
What it covers: Grants support events or initiatives that bring local business owners together to address key regional business concerns, issues, or opportunities.
Application deadline: 21 March 2025
6. Multicultural Small Business Grant Program (Tas)
Funding: $700 to $5,000
Best for: Multicultural small business owners in Tasmania seeking business advice, coaching or training.
What it covers: Supports business planning, marketing, financial planning, risk management, IT system upgrades and diversification strategies.
Application deadline: 31 March 2025
7. AgTech Grants Program VIC (Vic)
Funding: Up to $50,000
Best for: Victorian-based businesses developing agricultural technology solutions.
What it covers: Funds tech-based agricultural innovations to improve productivity and sustainability.
Application deadline: 30 June 2025
8. SafeWork Small Business Rebate (NSW)
Funding: Up to $1,000
Best for: Retailers, manufacturers and trades businesses improving workplace safety.
What it covers: Covers the cost of safety equipment, WHS training and workplace upgrades.
Application deadline: Ongoing
9. Business Innovation Program (NT)
Funding: Up to $30,000
Best for: Businesses with innovative ideas ready for development and commercialisation.
What it covers: Supports the development of an Innovation Project Plan (IPP), creation of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and commercialisation efforts. Includes advisory support and milestone-based funding.
Application deadline: 30 June 2025
10. Accelerating Trade Grant Program (Tas)
Funding: Up to $10,000
Best for: Tasmanian businesses expanding into markets outside Tasmania.
What it covers: Supports promotional campaigns, trade exhibitions, business matching, market research, inbound buyer visits and travel allowances for trade development.
Application deadline: 30 June 2025
Have you heard of the Small Business Income Tax Offset?
If you are a small business, you can apply for a discount of 16 per cent on your income tax bill via the Small Business Income Tax Offset, The discount is calculated on your business income and capped at $1,000 per individual per year. To apply, you need to be running a small business as a sole trader (or have a share of net small business income from a partnership or trust), with a turnover of less than five million dollars a year.
Find out more about that here.
5 secrets to securing a grant
Applying for funding can be a lengthy process and involves gathering and presenting information to the best of your ability. Here’s what you need to know before putting in the hard yards.
1 Find grants that align with your goals
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is applying for every grant they come across, rather than focusing on those that match their needs.
“Each grant has specific funding priorities,” explains Janine Owen of grant-discovery platform Grant’d. “Funders want to invest in businesses that align with their goals, so choosing the right grants is just as important as writing a strong application.”
2 Define how you’ll use the funds in specific terms
Funders want to see exactly how their money will be used and the impact it will create. Clearly outlining where the money is going will make your application more compelling.
Owen advises: “Instead of saying, ‘This grant will help grow our business,’ use specifics such as, ‘The grant will fund staff training to improve operational efficiency, reducing delivery times by 20 per cent.’”
"You can strengthen your application in a variety of ways."
3 Keep good records
Almost every grant application will require financial documentation such as revenue figures, profit-and-loss statements, tax returns and projected budgets.
“If your financials are disorganised or unclear, it could delay your application — or result in an automatic rejection,” says Owen. “Keeping up-to-date records will ensure you’re prepared when a great grant opportunity opens up.”
4 Make your application stand out
Grants are highly competitive. Funders may receive thousands of applications, so they are looking for businesses that stand out.
“You can strengthen your application in a variety of ways,” advises Owen.
“Tell a story – show the real-world impact your business is making, or a challenge you are solving. Back your claims with facts, figures and case studies. And be concise – funders don’t want to have to wade through long-winded responses.”
5 Apply early
Many grants close as soon as the allocated funds run out so waiting until the last minute means you might miss out.
Owen believes the early bird really does win in this case. “Most grants require a lot of documentation which will take time to organise, so starting early gives you the best chance of submitting a well-prepared application…
“It’s also a good idea to create a grant tracking system to stay on top of deadlines, document requirements, and submission statuses,” she says. “Using a tool like Grant’d can help streamline this process.”
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