Small Business Grants for Women
Being a woman in business just got a little bit easier, thanks to a number of grants offered in Australia. Whether you are building your own start-up, or have a fully-fledged and profitable business model, there are grants available that can help women.
Check out these incentives for Australian women in business and not-for-profit organisations, and see how you could earn yourself some extra funding or support.
One of the Australian state government-sponsored programs, aim to support women who have been exporting for over three years and want to strengthen their skills and take their business to the next level. It focuses strongly on professional development by providing participants with tools to help them deal effectively with the challenges of conducting business internationally.
Eligibility criteria:
- Be headquartered in the state, or have significant operations in the state or can demonstrate a significant contribution to the state’s exports and job creation opportunities.
- Be currently exporting with a minimum of three years of exporting experience.
- Have product or service that is intended to be exported from the state
- Currently operating a business.
- Have the potential to grow its revenue.
- Be a female leader within the company.
Another state funded program provides Australian women up to $26,000 to maintain their research momentum following approved maternity or adoption leave, and encourages the retention of female researchers in their chosen profession.
The applicant organisation co-funding requirements are:
- 2019: 25% from the employer and 75% from the State Government
- 2020: 50% from the employer and 50% from the State Government
- 2021: 75% from the employer and 25% from the State Government
Another program funded by the state government provides up to $25,000 for Australian women business owners. This grant is aimed at reducing the cost of employment and training of registered apprentices in the building and construction industry.
Eligibility criteria:
- Employers of apprentices/trainees in the building and construction industry.
- Group training organisations (GTOs).
- Host employers of apprentices and trainees who are actively and directly involved in on-site construction.
Australian Government also provides businesswomen with an asset write-off up to $30,000 for the properties bought and used in the year of application. To be eligible for this grant, an applicant must be the owner of a small business as defined by the ATO.
One more grant provided by the Federal Government allows businesswomen to claim up to $2,100 for improving their cybersecurity measures. To be eligible for this grant, a business must
- Be certified as a small business
- Have an ABN
- Be registered for GST
- Have less than 19 employees
- Be a business incorporated in Australia/sole trader in Australia /business partner in Australia
Above mentioned grants are only some of the many incentives that the Australian Government provides for women in small business. To know more about such grants please speak to one of our advisors.
