Plenty of grant lists say "for sole traders", but most cash grants aren't open to them. Here's what the rules say across the 90 programs we track, and what's worth your time.
The short answer
- 19 programs need a company or incorporated entity, so sole traders are out. These include the main federal R&D, innovation and export finance programs.
- 12 programs need employees, so a sole trader working alone is out.
- That leaves mainly council grants (if your council has a round open), industry-specific programs, rebates, tax concessions for small businesses, and free services.
Cash grants a sole trader without staff may be eligible for
Most of these are limited to a council area or an industry. Check the quick-check on each page.
- Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant · Australian Government · Funding of up to $100,000. · Closes 23 Oct 2026
- Accessibility Improvement Grant (Universal Tourism Grant) · Latrobe City Council · Up to $25,000 (Major) or $3,000 (Minor) · Closes 30 Oct 2026
- 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
- Victorian Trees on Farms Program · Victorian Government · Funding varies. · Closes 1 Nov 2026
- Love Your West: Night Time Diversification (Quick Response) 2026/27 · Maribyrnong City Council · Up to $10,000 · Closes 12 Nov 2026
- BushBank Private Landowner Opportunity VIC · Victorian Government · Funding varies. · Closes 30 Nov 2026
- West Wimmera Business Assistance Grant (Small Business Development Grant) · West Wimmera Shire Council · Not stated · Closes 17 Dec 2026
- Business to Business (B2B) Grant Program 2026-27 · City of Whittlesea · Up to $10,000 (matched dollar for dollar) · Closes 31 Dec 2026
- Business Events and Conferences Fund 2026-27 · Warrnambool City Council · Up to $5,000 · Closes 31 May 2027
- 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
- West Wimmera Shopfront Improvement Grant 2026/27 · West Wimmera Shire Council · Up to $5,000 (plus GST) · Closes 30 Jun 2027 or earlier if the yearly budget runs out
- Accommodation Provider EV Charger Grant · Murrindindi Shire Council · Up to $2,000 · Open, no fixed closing date
- 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)
- Product Stewardship for Oil Program · Australian Government · Benefit rates vary. · Closing date not stated
- VicScreen Funding and Incentives · VicScreen (Victorian Government) · Various funding and incentives programs are available. · Closing date not stated
- Screen Australia Funding and Support · Australian Government · Various funding programs and resources are available. · Closing date not stated
- Victorian Supply Chain Uplift Program · Victorian Government · Matched funding of between $2,000 and $100,000. · Closing date not stated
- Regional Events Fund VIC · Victorian Government · Funding varies depending on the stream being applied for. · Closing date not stated
- Indigenous Advancement Strategy · Australian Government · Funding amounts vary. · Closing date not stated
- Agrifutures Australia RD&E Investment · Australian Government · Funding varies depending on the RFQ or Open Call. · Closing date not stated
- WaterSmart Business Rebate VIC · Victorian Government · Rebates for 50% of the total expenditure up to a maximum of $1,500 per property. · Closing date not stated
- Trunk Infrastructure Fund · Department of Government Services · $500,000 - $2,000,000 · Open, no fixed closing date
Free programs and tax concessions open to sole traders
- NewAccess for Small Business Owners · Australian Government · Free and confidential mental health coaching. · Closes 30 Jun 2027
- Instant Asset Write-Off · Australian Government · An asset write-off of up to $20,000. · Closing date not stated
- Young Farmer Duty Exemption or Concession VIC · Victorian Government · Duty concessions vary depending on the farmland value. · Closing date not stated
- Certain Inputs to Manufacture (CIM) · Australian Government · Import duty concessions to help reduce the cost of manufacturing products. · Closing date not stated
- StartSpace VIC · Victorian Government · Access to coworking space, learning, networking and funding opportunities. · Closing date not stated
- Duty Drawback Scheme · Australian Government · Drawback amounts vary. · Closing date not stated
- Fuel Tax Credits · Australian Government · Credit for fuel tax. · Closing date not stated
- Electrification Skills Program VIC · Victorian Government · Fully funded training. · Closing date not stated
- Simplified Trading Stock Rules · Australian Government · The option of using simplified trading stock rules at stocktake time. · Closing date not stated
- Self-Employment Assistance · Australian Government · Various self-employment services, including advice, coaching and training. · Closing date not stated
- Farm Household Allowance Program · Australian Government · Various financial support programs and services are available. · Closing date not stated
- Farm Management Deposits Scheme · Australian Government · Tax deductions on farm management deposits. · Closing date not stated
- Accelerated Depreciation for Primary Producers · Australian Government · Tax deductions for certain depreciating assets used in primary production. · Closing date not stated
- Small Business Income Tax Offset · Australian Government · Tax offsets of up to $1000 per year. · Closing date not stated
Should I set up a company to get grants?
Incorporating opens up programs like these:
- Launchpad Program · Australian Government · Funding varies. · Closes 28 Oct 2026
- Thailand-Australia Venture Exchange Program · Australian Government · Structured program support and travel allowance. · Closes 30 Nov 2026
- SME Industrial Decarbonisation Fund · Australian Government · Funding varies. · Closes 31 Dec 2027
- Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program Sustainment Grants · Australian Government · Grants from $50,000 up to $250,000 to fund up to 50% of eligible project expenditure for phase 1 and 2. Phase 3 and 4 funding will be determined by the Department of Defence in accordance with the amount outlined in your supporting business case. · Closes 30 Jun 2028
- Performance Bonds · Australian Government · Performance or warranty bonds. · Closing date not stated
- Export Finance Australia Bonds · Australian Government · Bonds from $100,000. · Closing date not stated
- Space Concession · Australian Government · Duty-free tariffs on eligible imported goods for use in a space project. · Closing date not stated
- Future Made in Australia (FMA) Innovation Fund: Low Carbon Liquid Fuels · Australian Government · Funding of between $1 and $15 million. · Closing date not stated
But a company costs money to set up and run, and changes your tax and legal position. Grants alone are rarely a good reason. Talk to your accountant first.
Can you help a sole trader apply?
Yes, if there's a grant that fits. Tell us about your business and we'll be straight with you: if nothing fits, we'll say so rather than take a fee.
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
Can sole traders get government grants in Victoria?
Some. Many council grants and some industry programs accept any business with an ABN, but most federal cash grants need a company, and hiring incentives need employees.
Why do so many grants need a company?
Many federal programs are set up for incorporated entities, which can enter grant agreements and are easier to assess. The R&D Tax Incentive, for example, is for companies.
Is there a grant to start a business as a sole trader?
Cash start-up grants are rare. Free programs such as coworking and mentoring, and self-employment assistance, are more common. See the free programs listed above.
Should I incorporate to get a grant?
Only if it makes sense for your business anyway. Talk to your accountant: a company has set-up and running costs and changes your tax position.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Grant rules change; always read the official guidelines.