Title: Starting a business on JobSeeker in the ACT > JobSeeker in the ACT while you start a business: what you keep each fortnight, free territory business advice (4 hours) and the federal help. Source: https://pontia.xyz/au/australian-capital-territory/ Checked: 25 September 2026 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. ## 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)](https://www.act.gov.au/business/get-help-and-advice/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](https://pontia.xyz/au/start?state=ACT&scheme=au-jobseeker&status=have&from=au-state-mid) ## 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](https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/jobseeker/) (or [Youth Allowance](https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/ya/) 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](https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/sea/): free workshops, business plan development and accredited small business training, which count towards your points. - [Small Business Coaching](https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/sbc/): 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](https://pontia.xyz/au/mutual-obligation-points/); 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 - [Australian Capital Territory: Canberra Business Advice and Support Service (CBASS)](https://www.act.gov.au/business/get-help-and-advice/canberra-business-advice-and-support-service-cbass) - [Services Australia: how much JobSeeker Payment you can get](https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/how-much-jobseeker-payment-you-can-get) - [DEWR: Self-Employment Assistance](https://www.dewr.gov.au/self-employment-assistance) Estimate and guidance only. Estimate and guidance only. Confirm with your benefit office, the official website or an adviser. Rules change, and your situation changes the outcome. Not a government service. Not financial, tax or legal advice. ## Your start-up support is a head start. Use it well. Plan your money, pick what you’ll build, and get the tools to build it. Free, and nobody sees your plan but you. [Sign up free](https://pontia.xyz/au/start?state=ACT&scheme=au-jobseeker&status=have&from=au-state-end) Free forever · No card · No hidden charges Cite this page "Starting a business on JobSeeker in the ACT", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/australian-capital-territory/ (updated 25 September 2026) ## Related guides and tools - [Start your business and keep your payment](https://pontia.xyz/au/) - [Mutual obligation points, without the admin](https://pontia.xyz/au/mutual-obligation-points/) - [JobSeeker self-employed calculator](https://pontia.xyz/au/jobseeker-self-employed-calculator/) - [Young and not working yet? Your idea could be your first job.](https://pontia.xyz/au/young-people/) - [Australian State Small Business Support Index 2026](https://pontia.xyz/au/datasets/au-state-support-index/) - [Months of benefit while starting up: Australia vs 8 countries](https://pontia.xyz/au/datasets/au-support-months/) - [Australia start-up support for job seekers: figures 2026](https://pontia.xyz/au/datasets/au-startup-support/) - [JobSeeker Payment while you build your business vs Youth Allowance while you build your business](https://pontia.xyz/au/compare/jobseeker-vs-ya/) - [JobSeeker Payment while you build your business vs Small Business Coaching and Self-Employment Allowance](https://pontia.xyz/au/compare/jobseeker-vs-sbc/) --- Pontia is free and independent. It is not a government service and not financial, tax, legal or benefits advice; always check the official source linked on the page. Some tool links are affiliate links: we may earn a fee at no cost to you, and free options come first. Contact: hello@pontia.xyz Cite as: "Starting a business on JobSeeker in the ACT", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/australian-capital-territory/ (updated 25 September 2026) Whole site in one file: https://pontia.xyz/llms-full.txt