COVID-19: $10,000 grant for Queensland small biz doing it tough

SUMMARY: Round 2 of Small Business Adaption Grant opens on 1 July for up to $10,000 for QLD small businesses. (Annual turnover over $75k, fewer than 20 employees, have ABN & GST Registered)

The QLD Government released a program to support small businesses highly impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown restrictions in May 2020 - Although, the first round of funding was snatched up within a couple of days! 

Fortunately, Round 2 will open 1 July with an additional $100 million allocated. Half of this funding has been specifically earmarked for regional small businesses located outside of South East Queensland. 

• Only 1 application per round will be accepted from an individual ABN or a financial beneficiary of a business.
• Successful applicants from round 1 of this program cannot apply for funding under round 2.
• If you have submitted a round 1 application but haven't heard back yet, you are eligible to apply for round 2.
• Check out more FAQ's on the QLD Government website. 

Tips for Applying

You will be asked a series of questions, and you will be required to source and upload files as evidence of your answers. We have outlined below the sections of the application, alongside some tips for completing them:

• Eligibility - You must upload documentation to show that your business has an annual turnover of more than $75, 000. Evidence must be either a BAS, Tax Return or letter from a CA or CPA declaring turnover.
• Impact of COVID-19 - You must be able to demonstrate that your business has experienced a 30% reduction in turnover from 23rd March 2020 for a period of at least one month. Evidence must be either a BAS (clearly showing a reduction - EG BAS submissions over two quarters), financial reports or CA or CPA letter declaring impact as above.
• Applicant Contact Details - Make sure you have your ABN on hand, and have proof on hand that you are registered for GST and have a Queensland address.
• Business Details - You will be asked information about your business such as financial performance, who owns the business, the number of employees, etc. A quick tip is to have your financial reports for 2019/20 on hand to enter this information quickly.
• Understanding more on the impact of COVID-19 on your business - Here you will need to provide more information on how you have been impacted. Start thinking about the impact of COVID-19 in terms of facts and figures. Have you been collating data and statistics? Specific impacts can include staff reductions, lost trading, and financial losses.
• What your business would do with the funding - In this section you must describe how the business will use the funding. You must upload an external quote/proposal/invoice from a reputable supplier (Does your quote have a visible ABN, logo, and website details? Does it clearly outline the cost and deliverables?). Make sure your activity is eligible and complies with the guidelines. Stock, salaries, and/or super payments are NOT allowed. 

How we can help

As part of your application, you will need to upload copies of quotes from your supplier/s for work that falls underneath one or more categories. We are here to help you during these difficult times and we urge you to speak with us if you are having any difficulties. There are also many services that we can offer to greatly assist you through this time, many of which can be covered fully or partially by this grant. 

Cashflow Forecasting & Target Setting is one service we can offer to establish where you are now, where you want to be, and what we need to do to get you there. Pairing this with monthly or quarterly strategic advisory meetings with your business advisor is guarantee success, as you analyse results, discuss actions required to improve business performance & provide accountability.

Other ways we can help, that may fall under this grant are:

• Xero Accounting Software Setup & Conversions
• Business restructuring
• Business forecasting
• Cashflow Assistance
• Tailored advice for your situation
  
  If you would like to talk more about how we can help, or get a quote to add to your grant application, please contact us.
  
  
  

Available funding

The available grant amount is a minimum of $2,000 and up to a maximum of $10,000 per eligible small or micro business.

In recognition of the significant impacts of COVID-19 on small businesses, the funding can be used for the following:

• financial, legal, or other professional advice to support business sustainability and diversification
• continuing to meet business operational costs including utilities, council rates, rent, telecommunication charges, insurance fees, licensing or franchise fees
• strategic planning, financial counseling or business coaching aligned to business development and diversification
• building the business through marketing and communications activities (e.g. content development – web pages, mobile apps, visual and audio media, etc.)
• digital/technological strategy development
• digital training or re-training and up-skilling employees to adapt to new business models
• capital costs associated with meeting COVID-19 safety requirements
• specialised digital equipment or business-specific software to move business operations online (e.g. logistics program for online ordering).

Note: Grant funds can be used towards any of the above activities occurring from 23 March 2020 onwards, keeping in mind the project must be completed within a maximum of 6 months from the date of approval.

What won't be funded

These activities will not be funded under this program:

• applications with a total cost less than $2,000 – all your proposed activities or quotes and invoices must be eligible and be a total of $2,000 or more
• business costs otherwise supported by other Queensland and Commonwealth Government financial assistance measures
• salaries or wage expenses for your employees, including superannuation or WorkCover
• services delivered in-kind (grant funding will only cover services paid for via a financial transaction)
• purchase of business assets, such as stock or fleet vehicles/machinery
• fees for services and/or goods provided by related parties (such as companies with common shareholdings or directorship with the applicant, and employees or immediate family of the applicant)
• direct-selling businesses (where sales of another business' goods or services are made in the customer's home, work or other meeting place through methods such as party plan and network marketing)
• goods or services purchased, or any payments made, prior to 23 March 2020.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, the business must:

• have been subject to closure or otherwise highly impacted by the current shutdown restrictions initiated by the QLD Government
• demonstrate that business revenue has been significantly impacted since 23 March 2020 over a minimum 1-month period due to the onset and management of COVID-19
• employ staff and have fewer than 20 employees at the time of applying for the grant
• have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN) active as at 23 March 2020
• be registered for GST
• have a Queensland headquarters
• have an annual turnover over $75,000 for the last financial year
• have a payroll of less than $1.3 million
• not be insolvent or have owners/directors that are an undischarged bankrupt.
  
  Use their eligibility tool to find out if you are eligible to apply, and what region you will fall under. 

Applying for the grant

To apply, complete the following steps:

1. read the eligibility criteria
2. read the application guidelines, terms and conditions and frequently asked questions (FAQs)
3. apply using the SmartyGrants link:
   
   Click here to apply now.
   
   

Any further questions or if you require assistance in the application process, please contact us. 

Other Assistance Available

The package is part of Queensland’s Economic Recovery Strategy: Unite and Recover for Queensland Jobs.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new grants program had been developed to assist those small businesses forced into hibernation, to restructure or to significantly change their business operations or move online.  

“We know small businesses have been doing it really tough due to the pandemic. With the first stage of our recovery roadmap in place, we want to make sure our thousands of small businesses have the support they need to recover and keep Queenslanders in jobs.'” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk