Plain-English guides for Australian small business

A plain-English guide to the Export Market Development Grant (EMDG): what it funds, who qualifies, the tier structure, what is claimable and how the round works.

A plain-English guide to the major Australian grants, incentives and funding an SME owner could access in 2026, grouped by what you are trying to do.

How the R&D Tax Incentive works in 2026. The 43.5% refundable offset for companies under $20M, the intensity-tiered offset for larger firms, eligible activities, the $20,000 minimum and registration deadlines.

A plain-English guide to the federal Industry Growth Program (IGP): free advisory support plus matched grants for innovative SMEs in National Reconstruction Fund priority areas. What it funds, who qualifies and how to engage an adviser.

The real reasons Australian SME grant applications get knocked back, and a practitioner's guide to writing one that wins. From Foothold Advisory.

Tasmania's Budget 2026-27 offers small business continuity rather than new money, with the Business Growth Loan Scheme the main live support channel.

The federal Industry Growth Program stopped taking new grant applications on 12 May 2026; here is what the pause means for your grant plans this year.

Budget 2026-27 promises small business a permanent $20,000 instant asset write-off and a loss carry-back, but the measures are announcements, not yet law.

Victoria's 2026-27 Budget includes a $19 million small business package while Western Australia offers far less, days after the cash rate rose to 4.35%.

A plain-English end-of-financial-year checklist for Australian small business owners. The moves worth checking before 30 June 2026.

A plain-English guide to the 2026-27 Federal Budget for Australian small and medium businesses, covering the instant asset write-off, the legislated tax cuts, payday super and Division 296.

From 1 July 2026, super must be paid every payday, not quarterly, and reach the fund within 7 business days. Here's what employers should be doing now.

A plain-English guide to the four small business CGT concessions, the basic conditions gate and why business owners miss them when they sell. General information only.

The instant asset write-off is law for FY2025-26 only. Here's what eligible small businesses can deduct before 30 June, and why the window matters.

From 1 July 2025, ATO interest charges (GIC and SIC) are no longer tax-deductible. Here's what changed and why carrying an ATO debt now costs more.

The ATO has released its small business tax-time toolkit for 2026, covering the EOFY moves to make before 30 June, from the write-off to super timing.

Quarter 3 BAS and super guarantee contributions are both due 28 April 2026 and this is the second-last quarterly super cycle before payday super begins.

The FBT year ends 31 March 2026. Plug-in hybrid changes, odometer readings, logbooks and lodgment dates: what employers should check for 2025-26.

The ATO has released four draft rulings ahead of payday super starting 1 July 2026. What small employers should review and test before quarterly super ends.

Final payday super regulations lock in the 1 July 2026 start, with practical steps for employers across the 17 weeks left to get payroll ready.

The ATO has warned small businesses on record-keeping, cash income, GST and PAYG provisioning and payday super, with a $27.2 billion tax gap in focus.

A general guide to how Australian business owners use structure to separate personal assets from business risk, and the limits of what protection can do.

A practical guide for Australian SME owners on discretionary family trusts. How they work, the genuine benefits and the real traps including section 100A, Part IVA and the 30 June deadline.

A plain-English guide to the three most common Australian business structures, what each does well, and the trade-offs that matter beyond tax.

The signals that tell an Australian sole trader it's time to incorporate, the benefits and costs, and what the switch actually involves.

Division 296 received royal assent on 13 March 2026 and starts 1 July, with steps SMSF members holding larger balances should consider before 30 June.

The Division 296 bill proposing extra tax on super balances above $3 million is back before Parliament, with a proposed start date of 1 July 2026.

A general guide to add-backs for self-employed borrowers in Australia. How lenders can adjust the income on your tax return, and why it matters.

A practical guide to building a simple 13-week rolling cashflow forecast for your Australian small business, so you can spot a squeeze around BAS, super and tax deadlines well before it hits.

A plain-English framework for Australian SMEs weighing grants, debt and equity to fund growth. Understand the trade-offs and when each option fits.

A general guide to home loans for the self-employed in Australia. Why they're harder, what documents lenders want, and how to prepare.

March quarter inflation hit 4.6%, the ATO has named its tax time 2026 focus areas and CreditorWatch warns of record business failures and payment defaults.

The RBA lifted the cash rate to 4.10% on 17 March 2026, its second consecutive rise; what the split decision means for small business borrowers.

Fuel prices have risen sharply after the Strait of Hormuz disruption, with practical steps for Australian small businesses to manage the cost shock.

CreditorWatch data shows food services businesses closing at 10.4% a year, with practical steps to protect your debtor book from hospitality risk.

What the RBA's February 2026 cash rate rise to 3.85% means for business borrowing costs, cash flow planning and the new ATO fuel tax credit rates.

A practical due-diligence guide for Australian SME buyers, covering financial, legal, commercial and operational checks, deal structure, GST and stamp duty.

Why SME owners should plan their exit three to five years out, the main exit options, what makes a business sellable and how the small business CGT concessions can apply on sale.

The true cost of a first hire for an Australian SME: 12% super, PAYG withholding, workers compensation, payroll tax, leave, Fair Work, STP and payday super.

AUSTRAC enrolment is open for accountants, lawyers, conveyancers and real estate professionals. Enrol by 29 July 2026; obligations start 1 July 2026.

Submissions to the Annual Wage Review 2026 are in, with claims from about 3.5% to 5%. How small employers can budget now for a mid-year decision.