As of July 1, 2022, the Self-Employment Assistance program replaces the NEIS program providing support to both start-ups and existing businesses. 

The program is funded through Workforce Australia.

The program’s flexibility allows you, if eligible, to choose the support that best fits your needs to start or run a successful small business.

See also Self-Employment Assistance Program

To engage in the program as an individual, you must:

• Be at least 15 years of age (to attend the Exploring Self-Employment Workshop)
• Be at least 18 years of age (to take advantage of the Small Business Coaching service)
• Not already be working and/or studying for more than 25 hours per week
• Be an Australian citizen, or the holder of a permanent visa, or a nominated Visa Holder (including a New Zealand Special Category Visa, Temporary Protection Visa Holder and a Safe Haven Visa)
• Not be prohibited by law from working in Australia
• Not be an overseas visitor on a working holiday visa or an overseas student studying in Australia
• Not be an undischarged bankrupt

To engage in the program as an existing business, you must meet all the following criteria:

• Be a Business Owner of an existing micro-business with less than 4 employees (excluding the owner)
• Not currently be Operating Commercially or is in danger of not Operating Commercially within the next 12 months
• Be assessed as Viable by the Provider
• Be either a new business, or a business which is operated by an Eligible Business Owner   
• Have an independent business structure
• Be lawful and capable of withstanding public scrutiny

See also Self-Employment Assistance Program

The program encourages and promotes self-employment and helps you to start and / or run viable small businesses.

It helps you to: 

• Consider whether self-employment is for you 
• Decide on a business idea and check if it will work 
• Develop a business plan 
• Get a business up and running, or 
• Adjust an existing business to keep it viable

The program offers 6 services. If you are eligible, you can leverage all of them or only the ones that align to your situation

1. Exploring Self-Employment Workshops (1 week)
2. Small Business Training – Business skills (short courses) and Certifications 
3. Business Plan Development
4. Business Advice Sessions
5. Business Health Checks
6. Small Business Coaching (12 months)

See also Self-Employment Assistance Program 

Yes.

As long as you are not working or studying more than 25 hours per week you will be eligible to apply. 

Yes.

If you are not currently operating commercially or are at risk of not operating commercially within the next 12 months you will be eligible. 

Evidence that your business is at risk of not operating commercially may include, but is not limited to:

• documentation confirming a recent event (such as a natural disaster) or change in the business’ circumstances that has impacted the operations of the business
• confirmation of changes in the business’ operations, such as the withdrawal of a supplier or the entry of a new competitor
• financial information identifying a trend in the business’ performance.

Many people have hobbies or activities that they engage in ‘on the side’ that are not their main source of income. These activities or hobbies often provide ‘supplementary income’ over and above their main, full-time job.

These activities are not considered commercially operating and therefore on a case by case basis will be examined by us to determine your eligibility. It is important not to be shy, and ask the question. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Secondly, if, in the course of conducting market research for a new business idea, you gain some initial work, this also may not disqualify you as it may be deemed bonifide market demand research. We will assess that for you.

Yes. 

There is financial support in the form of the 9 month’s allowance, assuming eligibility, paid to you once you have done the training and your Business Plan has been accepted by the Department.

There is also access to $300 to support startup costs.

In some cases, Transcend as your provider may be able to assist with the identification of grants at a local, state or federal level.

Yes. 

The Self-Employment Assistance program allows you to have business partners who are not eligible for the program. For example, they may be employed or have a separate business to the joint venture you are looking at going into. If this is the case, you will be required to have a signed Partnership Agreement and, as the Self-Employment Assistance participant for the duration of the 12-month Program, you must retain a controlling interest of at least 50% of the business.

No. 

The Government makes available funding to support a limited number of places each year, therefore Transcend’s role as a provider is to carefully assess the viability of each Business Plan that is submitted.

Your acceptance onto the 12 month Small Business Coaching will be determined by your Business Plan being able to answer the question, ‘All things being equal, would this business, based on the facts presented, be able to be self-supporting at the end of the period of support’.

No.

Not with standing the comprehensive training and business planning that sorts out many non-viable businesses, the small business coaching support requires six mandatory mentoring sessions with the participant provided by experienced business advisors whose role is to guide and advise the participant in their business decisions.

At the end of each financial quarter, your assigned Business Advisor will complete a viability assessment on the progress of the business and wherever possible additional assistance is given to help anyone whose venture is struggling.  However, if after all efforts have been implemented, the business is still unlikely to be self-supporting at the end of the 12-month program, your business advisor will recommend the withdrawal of the participant.

However, should a business require additional support beyond the 12 month coaching support, in the second year you can leverage additional support through the Business Advice and Business Health Check services.

The allowance is the equivalent of the basic rate of jobseeker payment. 

You can confirm the amount by checking the Services Australia (Centrelink) website. 

No.

If you are not currently on financial support from the government, and you have no income to live on you should apply for an Income Support Payment with Services Australia immediately.   

If you are entitled to receive an Income Support Payment, you can then apply to transfer to Self-Employment Allowance to ensure you have a stable income while developing your business under Small Business Coaching (assuming other eligibility is met, etc.).

The small business training is recognised by Services Australia (Centrelink) and your Job Services provider as a complimentary program and is categorised as an ‘Approved Activity’. As such, you are not required to look for work as the training is a full-time activity and will provide 25 points per week towards your points based activation system. 

Services Australia grants you 8 week’s Approved Activity to complete the training and Business Plan, and this is a very generous allocation as most people get through it in six to seven weeks.

You may need to update your job plan with your Workforce Australia provider or online utilising Digital services.

Yes.

But, for individuals getting income support with mutual obligation requirements, Workforce Australia includes a Points Based Activation System (PBAS). 

PBAS: 25 points per week for Self-Employment Assistance Small Business Training and/or 20 points per week for Self-Employment Assistance Exploring Self-Employment Workshops

Yes.

• If you fail to complete the training modules within your approved activity period
• If you fail to return your quarterly income report on time
• If you fail to participate in business coaching
• If you fail to work on your business in line with your business plan
• If your business is deemed ‘not viable’

Yes. 

If you are in receipt of rental allowance at the time of your approval to go onto the Self-Employment Assistance program, you will continue to receive your rental allowance but only for six months. 

The assumption is that within six months of operating your business, you should not need this extra assistance.

Yes. 

You will need to take this into consideration when developing your cash flow projections and budgets.

Yes. 

The Self-Employment Assistance program allows you to have business partners who are not eligible for the program. For example, they may be employed or have a separate business to the joint venture you are looking at going into. If this is the case, you will be required to have a signed Partnership Agreement and, as the Self-Employment Assistance participant for the duration of the 12-month Program, you must retain a controlling interest of at least 50% of the business.

Yes. 

Once you have completed your training and your Business Plan has been accepted and you are in receipt of the allowance you may earn some additional income per quarter outside of your business activity without it affecting your Self-Employment Assistance allowance.

Any part time work, as long as it does not interfere or detract from the continued development and operating of your business. Any activity of this kind must be approved by us.

No. 

Parenting and Disability receivers may choose to stay on their existing benefits, however these benefits will be income tested against how much you earn in your business.

You have the opportunity, once on the Self-Employment Assistance program, to switch to the Self-Employment Assistance allowance where your business income will not affect the allowance. It also works the other way should you have chosen to go onto the Self-Employment Assistance allowance initially but have now decided that it would be better to stay on your original benefit.

It is very important that you discuss this option with a us prior to being accepted onto the program.

No. 

You can register your business name, get an ABN, register for GST, buy your business cards, lease a shop or factory, purchase stock and get insurance for your proposed business as long as you do not ‘commercially operate’. Even if you have a small amount of income you would not generally be considered as commercially operating. 

It is recommended you check with us before entering into long term financial arrangements (eg: commercial lease, office space rental).