Free · official rates · checked 26 September 2026

Starting a business on JobSeeker in the Australian Capital Territory

JobSeeker and Self-Employment Assistance work the same in the Australian Capital Territory as anywhere in Australia. What the Australian Capital Territory adds is free business advice. See what you’d keep each fortnight.

JobSeeker you’d keep

a fortnight

Payment plus your income

a fortnight, before tax

Business profit counted

a fortnight (annual ÷ 26)

Small Business Coaching allowance

a fortnight for up to 39 weeks, not cut by profit

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Your living and startup budgets, built from these figures
A month-by-month plan for your start-up support
The tools to build it, free options first

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Free business advice in the Australian Capital Territory

Canberra Business Advice and Support Service (CBASS): 4 hours of free advice.

“Both new and established businesses can get up to 4 hours of free tailored business advice on:”

Up to 4 hours of free tailored advice
Covers finances, legal referrals, growth and wellbeing
Call (02) 6163 8301

Canberra Business Advice and Support Service (CBASS)

Make every month of your support count

Budgets built from your numbers, a clear plan, and the tools to build it. Free.

Start my plan

Start-up money from the Australian Capital Territory

No territory start-up grant or loan was found on the official pages we read.

Help that works in every state

JobSeeker Payment (or Youth Allowance at 16 to 21) while you plan and start: report wages every fortnight and business profit on a Profit and Loss Statement.
Self-Employment Assistance: free workshops, business plan development and accredited small business training, which count towards your points.
Small Business Coaching: 12 months of mentoring with no mutual obligations, and the Self-Employment Allowance for up to 39 weeks.
Many Rivers: free business coaching and loans at 7% a year, fixed.
The small business income tax offset: up to $1,000 a year off the tax on your business profit.

Your points target and job searches go through Workforce Australia; Pontia keeps your job-search record so your plan and your search run side by side.

Questions

Can I get JobSeeker while starting a business in the Australian Capital Territory?+

Yes. JobSeeker Payment is federal, so the rules are the same in the Australian Capital Territory as anywhere in Australia: your net business profit is set as an annual amount and spread across each fortnight, the first $150 a fortnight is free, and your Job Plan continues unless the business passes the sufficient work test.

What free business advice does the Australian Capital Territory offer?+

Canberra Business Advice and Support Service (CBASS): 4 hours of free advice. Both new and established businesses can get up to 4 hours of free tailored business advice on.

Is there a start-up grant in the Australian Capital Territory?+

No territory start-up grant or loan was found on the official pages we read. Federal help works here: Self-Employment Assistance, Small Business Coaching with the Self-Employment Allowance for up to 39 weeks, and Many Rivers coaching and loans.

What is Small Business Coaching?+

Part of Self-Employment Assistance: 12 months of mentoring to launch your business, with no mutual obligation requirements. If you were on income support, the Self-Employment Allowance ($824.90 a fortnight from 20 September 2026) replaces it for up to 39 weeks and isn’t reduced by what the business earns.

Sources, checked 26 September 2026

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Cite this page

"Starting a business on JobSeeker in the ACT", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/australian-capital-territory/ (updated 25 September 2026)