Small Business Grants and Support in Victoria (Updated Quarterly)
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Most Victorian small business grants are found in two free government finders: Business Victoria's grants and programs page for state support, and business.gov.au's grants and programs finder for federal and state programs together. Many current grants are paid to business associations and councils rather than individual businesses, so free advice, mentoring and council programs are often the more useful support for a sole trader or small team.
Where do you find current grants in Victoria?
| Source | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Business Victoria grants and programs | State grants, vouchers, advice and mentoring | Checking what Victoria offers right now |
| business.gov.au grants and programs finder | Federal, state and some council programs in one guided search | A short list matched to your industry and location |
| GrantConnect | Federal grant opportunities, forecast and current | Larger or national programs |
| Your local council website | Council business programs, events and sometimes small grants | Local, low-competition support |
Business Victoria also runs a helpline on 13 22 15 for questions about current programs.
What have recent Victorian grants looked like? (checked 7 November 2026)
Two recent Victorian programs show how grants often work. Both offer $5,000, and both are for business associations rather than individual businesses:
- The Multicultural Business Skills Fund gave $5,000 grants to business associations for skills projects for multicultural small business owners (Premier of Victoria).
- The Shop Local Business Fund gave $5,000 grants to business associations and councils for local business initiatives (Premier of Victoria).
Business Victoria announced the recipients on 30 October 2026: 17 associations through the first fund and more than 80 associations and councils through the second (Business Victoria).
If you are a small business, the useful step is to join your local trader group or chamber of commerce, because that is who receives this kind of funding and runs the events and training it pays for.
What kinds of support suit a small business?
| Type | What it looks like | Who usually qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Association grants | Funding to chambers and trader groups for training, events and shop local campaigns | Business associations and councils |
| Industry and sustainability grants | Co-funding for equipment, energy upgrades or growth projects | Established businesses meeting set criteria |
| Vouchers and subsidised advice | Part-paid mentoring, planning or specialist advice | Small businesses, often by application |
| Free advice and workshops | Business Victoria and council workshops, mentoring, helplines | Most Victorian businesses |
| Export grants | Federal reimbursement of some export marketing costs | Businesses starting or growing exports |
What can a business in Melbourne's west use?
Brimbank City Council runs business development programs such as CUL-TI-VATE, aimed at small business owners and early-stage founders (Brimbank City Council). Its annual community grants are for not-for-profits and community groups, not businesses (Brimbank City Council).
Wyndham, Melton, Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay councils publish their own business pages. Check the one where your business is based, and join its business newsletter so you hear when programs open.
For more local options, see Brimbank small business support.
How do you improve your chances?
- Read the eligibility rules first: ABN, location, business age, turnover and industry are common filters.
- Have your basics ready: ABN, business plan, recent financials, quotes for what you want to buy, and a current website.
- Write to the program's stated aims, using its own wording where it fits.
- Apply early. Some programs are first come, first served.
- Keep records. Most grants require a report showing how the money was spent.
How do you avoid grant scams?
- Government grant information is free on Business Victoria, business.gov.au and GrantConnect. Be wary of anyone charging to "unlock" a grant.
- No genuine grant asks for an upfront fee to release funds.
- Check that emails and websites end in .gov.au before giving any details.
- If in doubt, call Business Victoria on 13 22 15.
Is a grant the right way to pay for a website?
Sometimes, if a current program lists digital or marketing projects as eligible. Most of the time it isn't: grants are slow, competitive and often for associations. A website that brings in enquiries usually pays for itself faster than waiting on a grant round. See what a small business website costs in Australia.
What should you have ready before a grant opens?
Grant rounds often open with short notice and close quickly. Businesses that already have their paperwork in order can apply in an afternoon. Keep these in one folder:
| Item | Why it's asked for |
|---|---|
| ABN and business name registration | Almost every program checks you're a real, active business |
| A one-page business summary | What you do, where, for whom, and how long you've traded |
| Recent financials or BAS | Shows turnover and that you're viable |
| Written quotes for what you'd buy | Many grants co-fund a specific project and want real costs |
| Insurance and licence details | Some programs require them for certain industries |
| A current website and Google profile | Assessors often look you up; an outdated site looks like an inactive business |
This checklist is our general guidance; each program lists its own requirements.
What about export grants?
If you sell, or plan to sell, overseas, the federal Export Market Development Grants program is worth a look. Austrade says small and medium businesses may use the grants for marketing and promotion, and that tier 1 grants, for businesses ready to export, can also be used for export training (Austrade).
Most local trades won't qualify, because they don't export. It suits product businesses, software, education and tourism providers that market to customers outside Australia. Check the current round and eligibility rules on Austrade's site before you plan around it.
Do you pay tax on a grant?
Often, yes. The ATO says business income can include government payments that are assessable (ATO). Some grants are treated as non-assessable, non-exempt income, which means you don't include them in your tax return, but only those that meet set criteria (ATO).
- Ask the program, or check its guidelines, whether the grant is taxable
- Keep the grant agreement, payment records and receipts for what you spent
- Talk to your accountant before you lodge your return
This is general information, not tax advice.
How do you keep track of grants that suit you?
Grants open and close all year, so a simple routine beats searching once and giving up.
- Run the business.gov.au finder once, with your industry and location, and save the results
- Subscribe to Business Victoria's newsletter and your council's business newsletter
- Join your local trader group or chamber, since many grants go through them
- Put a 15-minute reminder in your calendar each quarter to check the finders again
- Keep a short list: program name, who it's for, typical amount, when it last opened
If you see a program that fits, apply even if it looks competitive. A tidy, specific application stands out.
What if there's no grant for what you need?
That's the usual case, and it's fine. Most small businesses grow on free advice, good local relationships and steady marketing rather than grants.
- Use free Business Victoria and council workshops and mentoring to plan the project properly
- Break a big project into stages you can pay for from cash flow
- Start with free marketing that brings in work: a complete Google Business Profile and steady reviews. See how to rank on Google Maps
- Track enquiries so you know which spending pays for itself. See call tracking for small businesses
| Program | Who it's for | Typical amount | Last opened | Fits us? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Program name] | [Individual businesses, associations or councils] | [Amount] | [Month and year] | [Yes, no or maybe, and why] |
Copy this into a spreadsheet and add a row each time you find a program. After a year you'll know which rounds come back, roughly when, and which ones are worth preparing for in advance. Share it with your bookkeeper so they can flag anything that matches your plans.
Starting out or growing in Melbourne's west? Morphic builds websites and Google Business Profiles for new and local businesses. Get a free quote, or book a 30-minute call.
Related service. websites for new businesses.
Related reading: Starting a Business in Melbourne's West: The Local Checklist, Brimbank Small Business Support and New Business Website Checklist.
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Key Takeaways
Business Victoria and the business.gov.au finder list current grants for free.
Many recent Victorian grants go to business associations and councils, not individual businesses.
Joining your local trader group or chamber can give you access to grant-funded training and events.
Council business programs and free advice are often more useful than chasing grants.
Never pay an upfront fee to access a grant.
Emon Datta
Founder, Morphic Agency
Morphic Agency is a Melbourne-based UX design agency. We've shipped 50+ products across 15+ countries.
