Business Boost Grants Program

Refer to the grant guidelines for examples of eligible project activities.

We will not fund:

• a total cost of less than $20,000 (excluding GST)
• or
• payments made before the approval date (you must be approved before you pay for grant-funded project activities).

Activities not funded:

• activities bought using crypto-currencies, cash, barter, or services in-kind
• activities purchased via direct selling (e.g. by party plan or network marketing)
• computer hardware/gadgets (e.g. computer servers, PCs, tablets/iPads, mobile phones, point of sales systems, headphones)
• delivery fees, credit card surcharges and international transaction fees
• fleet vehicles
• franchise fees
• general business operating costs (e.g. bookkeeping/accounting, tax returns, marketing/advertising activities)
• goods, services, or fees from related parties*
• GST, registration, and fees
• maintenance of existing digital technologies
• marketing, advertising or campaign delivery costs (e.g. Google AdWords, Facebook advertising or similar expenses)
• memberships, subscriptions and joining fees
• non-specialised software and licences (e.g. Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Apple iWork)
• outsourcing of recruitment services to employ staff
• purchase of stock
• real estate/property, hire, lease, or rental fees
• salaries and wages
• search engine optimisation (SEO)
• travel
• website hosting.

*We will not fund goods, services, or fees from related parties. Related parties include companies with common shareholdings or directors, as well as employees or immediate family members.

Stage 1: Registration of interest (ROI) closed at 5pm, 12 September 2023

After Stage 1 closes, eligible ROIs enter a ballot process with selected applicants invited to submit a full application as part of Stag 2. All eligible ROIs have an equal chance to advance to Stage 2.

Businesses that have not been selected for Stage 2 will be notified. For Stage 1 outcomes, all DYJESBT's decisions are final and not subject to review.

Stage 2: Full application opened at 9am, 20 September 2023

Selected applicants from Stage 1 will be invited to submit a full application via the DYJESBT SmartyGrants portal.

In addition to the information provided in your successful ROI, in the full application you will be asked to:

• update core business and contact information
• provide descriptions of your business' growth journey, your project, the expected outcomes of your project, including expected efficiency/productivity improvements
• confirm the business's financial contribution
• verify the main business location (if applicable) – if your Australian Business Register profile shows that your main business location is not in Queensland you will need to provide evidence of Queensland headquarters. Acceptable evidence includes:
  • a copy of the applicant's Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) company statement listing a Queensland address in the 'principal place of business'
  • or
  • an accountant's letter confirming the business has changed to a Queensland main business location
• verify the link between the trust and the business conducting the business activity (if applicable) – if you nominate an ABN of a trust in your application, you will need to provide evidence of the link between the trust entity and the business conducting the business activity entity. Acceptable evidence includes:
  • a copy of the applicant's ASIC company statement listing both entities
  • or
  • an accountant's letter confirming the 2 entities are operated by the same parties outlining the business relationship
• provide a completed 100-points of identification check form for the nominated Responsible Person:
  • witnessed by a Queensland Justice of the Peace or Commissioner of Declarations.
  • Note: You do not need to provide your identity documents to DYJESBT. Only return the witnessed 100-points check form to us (we will provide the form if you are selected for Stage 2).
• provide independent supplier quote(s) (not invoices or proposals; no more than 2) that provide comprehensive details of the project/activity that you be purchasing as part of the project. Supplier quotes must not be comparative quotes. Quotes must be a formal quote/proposal and include supplier details on the supplier's letterhead, including:
  • supplier name
  • ABN (if Australian)
  • contact details and website address
  • details of the project, description of services and outline of key activities and deliverables.

This grant program is competitively assessed. Not all applications will be funded.

Stage 1

Valid ROIs will be assessed through a ballot process with a select number of applications chosen for Stage 2.

Each valid ROI has an equal opportunity to be selected. The number of registrations selected will be sufficient to enable DYJESBT to undertake a competitive assessment process in Stage 2.

Stage 2

Businesses selected from the ballot process will be invited to complete a full application.

Applications are assessed for compliance against the eligibility criteria within these guidelines and their competitiveness against the assessment criteria.

Applicants must demonstrate the extent to which the grant funded activity will:

• increase turnover, profit, and employment
• increase business confidence and skills
• improve business resilience and survivability
• demonstrate value for money.

Provide a letter from a registered accountant confirming your business' 2022–23 turnover, gross profit and employee headcount. This letter serves as evidence of the financial and operational details of your business.

The accountant must not be a current employee of the business and must be registered with 1 of the following:

• Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA Australia)
• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
• Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).

The letter must be on a company letterhead, dated and contain the:

• accountant's business name and ABN
• accountant's full name
• registration type held (list multiple, if applicable)
• registration number and expiry.

Outcomes

We will notify all applicants of the outcome of their grant application after the ROI and at the final stage of the application process.

Funding agreement

Grant recipients enter into a funding agreement with DYJESBT to receive funding between $10,000 and $20,000 (excluding GST). Funding is paid on acquittal within 12 months of completion of the project.

The funding agreement consists of:

1. The Letter of Agreement
2. Any other terms agreed in writing between the parties
3. The Business Boost Grants Program terms and conditions
4. The Business Boost Grants Program guidelines
5. The application submitted by the applicant relating to the grant funded activity.

Complete your project

You must:

• start your grant-funded activity within 3 months of entering into the funding agreement
• complete your grant-funded activity within 12 months from the date of your approval letter
• not pay for grant-funded activities before entering into the funding agreement with us
• and
• advise us of any proposed variations to your funding agreement. Read Review of decisions and variation for more information.

When you complete your project, you can apply to acquit your grant. DYJESBT will acquit the grant starting at 6 months (acquittal spaces will be issued in batches).

You must keep all application and eligibility evidence, supplier quotes, corresponding invoices, receipts and bank transactions for audit and acquittal purposes.

Acquittal report, grant payment and survey

You must complete a:

• 3-month project report to confirm your project has commenced and include details on the progress made
• final acquittal report on completion of the project and requires the following:
  • details on the deliverables received
  • detail the project implementation and impact on the business, including the results and outcomes achieved through the project
  • and
  • evidence of deliverables and payments including supplier quotes, corresponding invoices, receipts, bank transactions and outputs to show the project activities were delivered.

Upon successful completion of the acquittal process, DYJESBT will pay the grant funds as described in the funding agreement.

In addition to acquitting the grant, you may also be subject to an audit.

DYJESBT may survey recipients within 6 months of completing the grant round.