The right grant is out there. Here's where Australians actually find them.

The short answer: to find grants for your small business in Australia, start with the free Grants and programs finder on business.gov.au, then check GrantConnect for Australian Government opportunities and your state or territory's business grants page. Add your local council and industry associations, and set up email alerts so new rounds come to you. Official grant information is free, so you never need to pay for access to it.

Looking for a grant can feel like searching for something you're not sure exists. You hear that other businesses got funding, but every search turns up closed programs, vague lists or sites asking for a fee. The good news is that the official sources are free, and a short routine is enough to keep track of what's open.

1. Start with the business.gov.au finder

The Grants and programs finder on business.gov.au is the best first stop. It's a free guided search covering grants, funding and support programs from across government, not only federal ones. You answer some questions about your business, such as where you operate, your industry and your business structure, and it shows programs you may be eligible for. The site says it takes less than five minutes.

Two tips. First, check the status of each result: closed programs often stay listed, and they're still useful because many programs run in rounds. Second, use the shortlist feature to save the ones worth a closer look. You can email the shortlist to yourself to review later.

2. Check GrantConnect for Commonwealth grants

GrantConnect (grants.gov.au) is the Australian Government's grants information system. It publishes current Australian Government grant opportunities, forecast opportunities and grants that have been awarded.

• Current opportunities are open now, with documents you can download once you're registered.
• Forecast opportunities advertise potential grant rounds with limited information and an estimated release period. They're the closest thing to an early warning, so you can start preparing before a round opens. Treat dates as estimates.
• Grants awarded show who has received funding before. This can help you judge whether businesses like yours are a realistic fit.

GrantConnect covers Australian Government grants. State and territory programs are listed on their own sites, which is the next step.

3. Your state or territory's grants page

Every state and territory government has its own grants listing. These are the official pages for business grants. Programs change often, so check what's open when you visit.

Some states also run whole-of-government grant search pages that include community and individual grants. If you're a business, the business-focused pages above are usually the quickest route.

4. Councils, industry bodies and networks

Business Queensland's guide to finding grants and business support notes that federal, state and local governments all offer grants and support. Local and industry sources are easy to miss because they don't always appear in the big finders.

• Your local council. Many councils run small grants for local businesses, events, shopfront improvements or community projects. Check the grants or business section of your council's website, and ask the economic development team if there is one.
• Industry associations and peak bodies. These often share program news relevant to their members, and some run or administer funding.
• Regional development and business advisory services. Local advisers often know about programs before they're widely promoted.
• Foundations and corporate programs. Some businesses, particularly social enterprises, may find funding outside government. Check each funder's own website and rules.

5. Set up alerts so grants come to you

Many grant rounds are only open for a few weeks. A few alerts mean you hear about them early, while there's still time to prepare.

• Register on GrantConnect. Registered users can receive email notifications of new Australian Government opportunities, get notice of updates to opportunities they've downloaded, and keep a watch list of forecast opportunities.
• Subscribe to your state's business newsletter. Business Queensland, for example, suggests its newsletter for updates on upcoming grants, and WA's Small Business Development Corporation offers a newsletter sign-up.
• Save your business.gov.au shortlist and check back on programs that run in rounds.
• Join your council's business email list if it has one.
• Put a recurring reminder in your calendar, such as the first Monday of each month, to check your saved sources.

6. How to judge fit in 10 minutes

Finding grants is only half the job. The other half is deciding which ones deserve your time. Before you start writing, open the guidelines and check these four things.

Eligibility. Business Queensland lists common criteria such as your ABN and trading history, turnover and staff numbers, business structure and GST registration, location and industry. If you clearly fail a hard requirement, move on. If something is unclear, note it and ask the program contact.

Timing. Check the closing date and when your project is allowed to start. Many programs won't fund costs you've already paid or work you've already begun. See what to do if your project has already started.

Co-contribution. Many grants pay only part of the project. Business Queensland gives the example of a grant paying 75 per cent, where you must show how you'll fund the other 25 per cent. In our fictional worked example, a 50 per cent grant on $24,000 of eligible costs means a $12,000 request, while the business funds $18,000 of the $30,000 project, because excluded costs are on you. Read what eligible costs are before you count on the money.

Effort versus amount. Compare the work involved, such as written answers, quotes, financial statements and reporting after funding, against what you could receive. A small grant with a short form can be well worth it. A large grant with a heavy application may not be, if you're unlikely to meet the criteria.

GrantAlly starts once you've found a grant. Upload the guidelines and it checks each published rule against your project and recommends whether to apply, with any unknowns kept visible for you to confirm. See how the eligibility check works.

7. Be wary of paid grant offers

Once you start searching, you may come across websites and services that charge for grant lists, or promise you'll be approved. Business.gov.au's warning don't pay for government grant information is clear:

• all state, territory and federal government grant information is available free through official government sources
• government grants are awarded on merit, so you can't pay for special access or consideration
• check that you're on an official site by looking for ".gov.au" in the web address, because some sites copy government logos and images.

Be cautious of anyone who guarantees a grant, asks for a fee to "release" funds, or contacts you out of the blue about money you didn't apply for. GrantConnect also warns of phishing emails impersonating it, so check any unexpected email before you click a link.

Paying for genuine help is a different matter. Business.gov.au says you can pay a third-party provider to help write your application, as long as you choose a reputable one. No legitimate service can promise a funding decision, because that's made by the funder.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best website to find small business grants in Australia?

The Grants and programs finder on business.gov.au is a good place to start because it covers programs from across government. Check GrantConnect for Australian Government opportunities and your state or territory's business grants page as well.

Are there grants to start a new business?

Some programs support new businesses, but some require a trading history, a minimum turnover or a specific project. Use the business.gov.au finder to filter by your situation, and read each program's eligibility criteria closely.

Should I pay a website for a list of grants?

No. Business.gov.au says government grant information is free through official government sources and you never need to pay for access to it. Be wary of any site that charges for lists or promises approval.

How do I hear about grants before they close?

Register on GrantConnect to receive notifications of new Australian Government opportunities and watch forecast opportunities. Subscribe to your state's business newsletter, and check your saved sources on a regular schedule.