If you're looking for a grant writer in Melbourne or anywhere in Victoria, it helps to know what they cost, what a good one does, and when you don't need one at all.
What grant writers charge in Australia
- Hourly rates of about $50 to $300+, and around $500 to $5,000 for a small application (Grant Helper).
- When 10 writers were asked to quote on one $100,000 grant application, quotes ranged from $700 to $2,000 flat, or $70 to $100 an hour, for 10 to 20 hours of work (Win With Words).
- Some writers add a success fee, often on top of an upfront fee. Check the grant's rules: many don't allow consultant fees as a project cost.
What a good grant writer does
- Tells you honestly whether you're eligible and competitive before taking your money.
- Reads the funder's guidelines and answers each assessment criterion directly.
- Builds a budget from real quotes and spells out your co-contribution.
- Checks the details that sink applications: ABN name, entity type, attachments that open.
- Never promises a grant. Scamwatch warns about people who charge to "guarantee" government grants.
When you don't need one
Small council grants with short forms, or rebates paid through an installer, are usually quick to do yourself with our step-by-step guide.
Melbourne council grants open now
- Hume City Shopfront Improvement Grant Program 2026/27 · Hume City Council · Up to $7,500 (plus GST) · Closes 30 Oct 2026
- Hume City Small Business Grants 2026/27 · Hume City Council · Up to $20,000 (plus GST) · Closes 30 Oct 2026
- Love Your West: Night Time Diversification (Quick Response) 2026/27 · Maribyrnong City Council · Up to $10,000 · Closes 12 Nov 2026
- Business to Business (B2B) Grant Program 2026-27 · City of Whittlesea · Up to $10,000 (matched dollar for dollar) · Closes 31 Dec 2026
- Retrofit Melbourne Financial Incentive Scheme 2026-27 · City of Melbourne · Up to $2,500 (benchmarking) or $7,500 (action plan) · Closes 30 Jun 2027
- Shopfront Business Grants Program 2026-27 · City of Melbourne · Up to $20,000 (excluding GST) · Open until 30 June 2027 or until funding runs out
- Bayside Business Accessibility Grants 2026-27 · Bayside City Council · Up to $1,000 (ramps) or $10,000 (upgrades) · Guidelines say open until June 2027 or until funds run out (the application portal shows 6 Jun 2028)
A no-win, no-fee alternative
We work like a grant writer, but we also find the grants you qualify for, and you pay nothing unless you win. We prepare the whole application; you read it, sign the declarations and submit it. If you win, the fee is 12% of the grant money you receive, capped at A$3,000 + GST.
Want a grant applied for, without the paperwork?
We find the grants your business qualifies for and write the whole application. You read it, sign it and submit it. Nothing to pay unless you win.
Check my grantsQuestions
How much does a grant writer cost in Melbourne?
Published Australian rates run from about $50 to $300 or more an hour, or a fixed fee per application. One survey of 10 writers quoting on a $100,000 application found quotes of $700 to $2,000.
Do grant writers work on a success fee?
Some do, often on top of an upfront fee. Many grant rules don't allow consultant fees to be paid from the grant, so check before you agree.
Can a grant writer guarantee I'll win?
No. Funders decide, and most grants are competitive. Treat any guarantee as a warning sign.
Do you only work with Melbourne businesses?
No. We work with businesses anywhere in Victoria, covering federal, Victorian Government and council grants.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Grant rules change; always read the official guidelines.