Business Basics grants funding returns for round 4

The next round of the Queensland small business grants program is set to commence shortly. Like Round 3, this round will focus on supporting businesses to increase core skills and adopt best practices. Broadly, the support will include funded activities in five priority areas:

• Training and coaching
• Website build or upgrades
• Professional business advice
• Strategic marketing services
• Business continuity and succession

What steps are required?

Stage 1

• To apply, businesses will need to initially submit a Registration (i.e. Expression) of Interest (ROI).
• This is known as Stage 1 and will be open from 24 November 2022 at 9am until 5 December 2022.
• The ROIs aren't time sensitive and can be applied for at any time while Stage 1 remains open.

Stage 2

• Valid ROIs will be assessed through a ballot system, with several applications identified to move to Stage 2.
• Those businesses that progress, will need to complete the full application, which will be competitively assessed to see which applicants can obtain funding.
• Stage 2 will remain open from 12 December 2022 until 23 January 2023.

What amounts are available?

For this round, two funding streams exist, based on the LGA of the business headquarters. The LGAs are grouped into either South East Queensland or Regional Queensland.

Successful applications will be eligible for a single up-front payment of $5,000 (excluding GST), to assist with the funding of any of the above five areas.

Note: The activity funded needs to amount to at least $5,000 + GST to be eligible, and the payment to the supplier must be made after the business is approved for funding.

What activities do not qualify for the grant?

Some activities below which are specifically not covered by the grant include:

• maintenance of existing digital technologies
• computer hardware (e.g. computer servers, PCs, tablets/iPads, mobile phones)
• other hardware/devices/equipment (e.g. televisions, EFTPOS, card and chip readers)
• activities purchased through direct selling (e.g. by party plan or network marketing)
• delivery, credit card, and transaction fees
• memberships and joining fees
• salaries
• fleet vehicles
• website hosting
• A full list can be found here on the grant page.

Eligibility criteria in detail

To be eligible for this grant, your business must:

• not have been approved for funding under a previous round of the Business Basics grants program
• have less than 20 employees at the time of applying for the grant
• have an active ABN and be registered for GST
• have headquarters in Queensland
• have an expected turnover of $300,000 or less in the last financial year (2021–22)
• not have owners/directors that are insolvent or an undischarged bankrupt.

Next steps

Eligible businesses will first need to submit a ROI when Stage 1 opens on 24 November 2022. Successfully selected businesses via the ROI, will be notified by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (“DESBT”). At this stage (Stage 2), those selected businesses will need to then undertake a full application for the grant. All stages will need to be completed via the DESBT portal.

Independent supplier quotes (no more than 2) dated after 10 November 2022, which detail the description and costs of services, who will undertake the activity, and an outline of key activities.

We include some useful links to assist with the application process;

DESBT SmartyGrants - Register for Account

Registration of Interest Form Sample

Guidelines

At LINK we can help you with:

• Website build or upgrades
• Professional business advice, including business planning, performance reporting, and cashflow forecasts
• Strategic marketing services
• Business continuity and succession

Submit your Registration of Interest between 24 November 2022 and 5 December 2022. If you're successful in Stage 1, then come have a chat with our team and we'll help you out.