Australian grants for female-led businesses and women entrepreneurs

What makes gov grants, and grants in general, an attractive funding option is that you don’t have to pay the money back and it doesn’t require you to give up any equity in your business.

Australia has a strong commitment to supporting small businesses, with many federal and state-level gov grants and private sector startup business grants available to help you start or scale your business.

Whether it’s funding, advice or support you’re after, there is an Australian grant for you!

Australian gov grants

There are national-level business grants as well as those offered by individual states and territories. These grants may be tailored according to industry, business structure, support type and business type. Or, they may be generally available to any business seeking resources to support operations and expansions.

For a one-stop shop, business.gov.au is a whole-of-government website that acts as a single point of information for Australian grants and businesses. 

Each Australian state government has its own department or office dedicated to supporting business. It’s worth bookmarking your State or Territory’s business and grants page so you can stay abreast of new programs and dates. 

For more on Australian gov grants, read our guides:

• How To Find A Startup Business Grant in Australia with links to state government websites 
• Top Small Business Grants For Women-Owned Business in Australia with links to 2 grants per state and territory.

Private-sector grants in Australia

There are also business grants offered by the private sector through business incubators and accelerators, which are typically specific to a particular business stage or industry.

Many business accelerators and incubators also offer non-financial resources and support like mentorship and access to networks. 

In our guide, How To Find A Startup Business Grant in Australia, we curated a list of notable business accelerators and incubators to keep an eye on.

Other ways besides gov grants to fund your business

In addition to Australian grants to start or scale your business, you can also raise money or access support through rewards-based crowdfunding, venture capital funding and small business loans. 

In our guide, How To Get Funding For Your Business, we outline how each of the above 3 options work with pros and cons so you can choose the best method for your business.

As a female-focused crowdfunding platform, Lift Women is passionate about helping female entrepreneurs achieve their business goals. With our exclusive resources and support, you can take the first step towards securing the funding you need to take your business to the next level. 

If you’d like to learn more about using Australian grants to start or scale your business and see how Lift Women can help, we offer free 30-minute strategy calls so book yours today.