Small Business Specialist Advice Pathways Program (VIC)
Overview
The Small Business Specialist Advice Pathways Program provides $2,000 grants to employing small businesses to access professional advice and services to help them make informed business decisions and plan for the future.
The program supports businesses that have faced disruptive change, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, by improving their capability and preparedness to plan for their future or adapt their business model.
Please read the program guidelines and frequently asked questions (FAQs) before submitting an application.
Applications for this program will close at 4:00pm on Friday 30 September 2022 or when funds are exhausted, whichever is sooner.
Eligibility Criteria
This program is for employing small businesses that are established and have been operating since at least 1 July 2020.
To be eligible for a grant under the Small Business Specialist Advice Pathways Program, a business must meet the following requirements:
- Be a legally structured business registered in Victoria with an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN on and from 1 July 2020
- Be registered with WorkSafe Victoria
- Employ 1-19 full-time equivalent staff.
Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria and agree to the conditions outlined in the program guidelines to be successful under the program.
Businesses will be ineligible for a grant if any information in their application is found to be deliberately false or misleading.
Check if your ABN is eligible
To check if your Australian Business Number (ABN) has been registered since 1 July 2020, please enter your ABN in the Checker on the Business Victoria website here. If your ABN is valid for this program, you will be given access to a link to begin your application.
How does the program and application process work?
- Read the program guidelines and frequently asked questions (FAQs), then use the ABN Checker to check whether your ABN has been registered since 1 July 2020.
- Grant funding of $2,000 per ABN is available for eligible expenses on relevant professional advice and services under the program, where the minimum expenditure cost is $2,000 (ex GST)
- The applicant will receive an upfront payment of $1,000 to engage with their preferred qualified service provider.
- The applicant will receive the final grant instalment of $1,000 on the satisfactory conclusion of the service activity. Approved businesses will be asked to complete a claim form to confirm that the project has concluded and;
- Provide a statutory declaration stating that the activity has been completed and the Qualified Service Provider has been paid. A statutory declaration form is available here.
- Complete the online claim form by 5pm on 31 January 2023.
- Businesses will be required to respond to a short survey six months after they submit their application. We greatly appreciate feedback from businesses to improve our programs and processes.
Scope of Service
The business can select the type of service that addresses their critical need and provide timely information to inform their strategic decision and next business steps.
The project is eligible for funding if expenditure supports at least one or more of the following scope of services listed below:
- Advice and analysis regarding the management of cash flow, preparation or cash flow budgets and projections,
- Profitability analysis and formulation of financial management and/or operational business strategies,
- Strategic analysis to revise business planning and/or governance arrangements,
- Advice regarding the management of debts and liabilities, or
- Advice and/or representation regarding commercial agreement contract terms (i.e. commercial leases or commercial supply contracts).
Key program dates
The program will be open for applications from 2pm on Monday 29 August until 4:00pm on Friday 30 September 2022 or when funds are exhausted, whichever is earlier.
Statutory declaration
Successful businesses will be asked to complete a claim form and provide a statutory declaration to receive their final grant instalment of $1,000, when the service activity has been completed.
You can download the statutory declaration form here.
More information
Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria outlined in the program guidelines to be considered for a grant.
You will need to provide one of the following forms of identification in your application:
- Driver licence or learner permit issued by Vic Roads
- Australian Passport
- Medicare Card
- Foreign passport for those issued with an Australian Visa.
You can check the status of your application by logging into the Business Victoria Grants Portal.
If you have questions about this program, please refer to the Small Business Specialist Advice Pathways Program frequently asked questions (FAQs).
The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions reserves the right to amend the program guidelines and application terms at any time.
If you have further queries, please call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15 before the closing date. The hotline operates seven days a week.
If you require a translator, please let the operator know and they will call the Translating and Interpreting Service for you.
Chad Rigoni
Manager, Business Services
* Source: business.vic.gov.au