Thankfully, the government provides us with many grants that allow you to grow, expand, and showcase your small business. Government grants are a great way to inject capital into your company without having to spend years fundraising and saving, all whilst paying your employees and making sure there’s enough left over for you. The benefits of gov grants are tremendous.

The good news is that most people don’t really know about government grants. They don’t research them. Many small business owners wrongly assume that gov grants are purely for the arts or for businesses that help the environment. The truth is that there are grants to help out all manner of businesses, no matter how small or large, whether they are prosperous or struggling. There are solutions.

Government grants aren’t just for expanding businesses. There are various opportunities for main-street businesses to enjoy a capital injection from one of the many grants on offer from both local, state, and federal governments, as well as many government-backed business and commerce bodies.

Yes, being a small to medium sized business can be tough – but it doesn’t have to be. There are gov grants for many things, all of which can help your small business become the best in your industry. Because of all of the government grants around, it’s best to speak with an expert. Like many things, having a consultant to guide you through the maze of gov grants can ensure you get the maximum amount of money available, all with a minimum of hassle.

The Young Bizstar Pitching Competition is one of the grants for new businesses in Australia that has got everybody talking. Only allowing entrepreneurs who are aged between 18 and 35, the Young Bizstar Pitching Competition enables potential business owners to develop their new business ideas, in a creative and financially viable manner. Grants for new businesses in the past have been far and few between, however this particular one gives the winner a prize of more than $18,000 worth of specialist business support. Founded by the Department of State and Regional Development, the program is intended to bring the expectations of new business owners to light – helping them to eventually realise their long-term goals and the prosperity of their future.

In an attempt to promote highly advanced business innovation, through a number of various workshops and events, the Innovation Development Grant (offered through the Department of Trade and Economic Development) gives applicants a chance to showcase their new business. As one of the most difficult grants for new businesses in Australia, the successful applicant will need to have at least a two year history in the South Australian business sector, along with an annual profit of $500,000 – $5 million. They will also need to be a currently registered South Australian business.

As one of the more unique grants for new businesses in Australia, the Inventor of the Year program is designed to initiate development for small-to-medium businesses within Western Australia. In an attempt spur the growth of the West Australian economy, the program gives the eventual winner continuous resources and financial assistance to suit the individual needs of their business. Grants for new businesses in Australia may not be as many as for the established ones, but fortunately, there are new ones surfacing each and every year.

NSW Small Business, a division of the Department of State and Regional Development, offers new business grants and government information to Australian businesses. After sifting through their site at the hoards of valuable detailed information, you will eventually come across various new business grants, including the Young Bizstar Pitching Competition. This competition gives budding entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35, the chance to voice their ideas and attempt to win the funding amount of potentially more than $18,000. You will need to either have a unique business idea, or your own new business, to be eligible to receive the full amount of funding.

The government owned Department of Trade and Economic Development, offers new business grants for South Australian business owners. They attempt to promote regional business in the area by offering the Innovation Development Grant. The money that you receive can be used for funding mentors, marketing strategies and long-term commercialization. You will need to ensure that you are a registered South Australian business, with a yearly taking of between $500,000 and $5 million, and at least a history of two years business operation. While new business grants are few are far between, this particular one is certainly very popular with residents of South Australia, and almost seems to encourage people to move there with such viable small business incentives.

In Western Australia, new business grants are accessible through the SBDC, a government agency that focuses on small business development and training. The SBDC provides new business grants on a multitude of platforms, including the sustainability of Western Australian small businesses, as well as through a program called “Innovation to Market.” This program helps new businesses in their quest to become established and well-known within their marketplace. These new business grants are specifically designed to help foster the knowledge of new business owners, and to give them some financial and supportive assistance for the future.

The Department of State and Regional Development is constantly trying to improve the standards for new businesses within the state of New South Wales. They have a website entitled “NSW Small Business” which is intended to offer not only information, guidance and grants for new businesses, but also to assist in providing support for any legal technicalities that you encounter. NSW Small Business holds the Young Bizstar Pitching Competition, available to young entrepreneurs who are between 18 and 35 years of age. Applicants need to have an innovative business plan, or at least need to be thinking about starting up a new business. Participants compete for $18,000 in financial support, and the competition is always fierce.

Grants for new business are particularly promoted by the Australian government. AusIndustry, a government agency, is typically responsible for providing an abundance of products and services to support their various grants for new business. Apart from giving grants for new business across a wide variety of levels, they also cater to the needs of each major industry within the Australian workplace. This means that they offer a large select of business grants, education grants, training grants – as well as specified funding for various singular training projects, and small workshops for new businesses.

The Western Australian government created an agency, known as SBDC, especially for new businesses. As perhaps one of the most extensive grants for new business available, the SBDC focuses on the development and integration of the small business sector within the West Australian market. In addition to assisting small businesses with procuring innovative ideas, the SBDC also allows participants of their program to commercialise their business for long-term success. Marketing is also a vital aspect of the SBDC program, where you will be given induction to the Innovation to Market Program, ensuring the future and stability of your new business, provided through tools and new knowledge.

The Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) is one of the federal grants that provides financial resources to Australian businesses who are presently (or who are intending to) export goods or services internationally. Each Australian state has its own physical office location for the EMDG, where they have consultants who can meet with and discuss the individual needs of your specific business. These consultants will also advise you of your eligibility for such federal grants, as well as give you an indication of whether or not your application is sufficient for review. Businesses are generally awarded with a 50%  reimbursement of the total money spent for their ventures – as long as they revolve around the area of exportation.

The New South Wales government has federal grants including the Aboriginal Business Development Program, which attempts to provide indigenous businesses with support for growth and international expansion. While the starting funds are only limited to $5,000, businesses seeking federal grants may also be eligible for an additional $3,000, depending upon their individual needs. This particular type of federal grant is useful for those who wish to participate in export markets or any of the various trade shows held nationally.

Each of the previous two federal grants are offered through Austrade. This company specifies that applicants must prove that they own a small, established business, with less than 20 employees. Remember to read up as much information about these types of federal grants as you can, prior to going ahead and applying for them. Also, keep in mind that Austrade will probably receive hundreds of applicants vying for their federal grants – so check and re-read over your information thoroughly – and make yours stand out from the rest.