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🇦🇺 Australia start-up support for job seekers: figures 2026

Starting a business from JobSeeker in Australia: the official figures, 2026

18 official figures for starting a business from JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance in Australia, each quoted word for word from the page that states it, read on 26 September 2026.

Australia start-up support for job seekers: figures 2026
SourceFigureRead
JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Maximum fortnightly rate, single, no children$824.90 a fortnight (single, no children, from 20 September 2026)
JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Maximum fortnightly rate, single with children$883.30 a fortnight (single, with a dependent child)
JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Maximum fortnightly rate, partnered$755.10 a fortnight each (partnered)
JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Income free areaEarn up to $150 a fortnight before your payment drops
JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Income taper, $150 to $256Your payment drops 50 cents for each dollar between $150 and $256
JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Income taper, over $256Then 60 cents for each dollar over $256
JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Income cut-off, single, no childrenPaid nothing above $1,557.17 a fortnight (single, no children)
Youth Allowance while you build your business: Maximum fortnightly rate, 18+ at home$482.40 a fortnight (18 or older, living at home)
Youth Allowance while you build your business: Maximum fortnightly rate, 18+ away from home$677.20 a fortnight (18 or older, living away from home)
Youth Allowance while you build your business: Age rangeAges 16 to 21
Small Business Coaching and Self-Employment Allowance: Coaching length12 months of Small Business Coaching
Small Business Coaching and Self-Employment Allowance: Money while in Small Business CoachingAn allowance for up to 39 weeks, rent help for up to 26 weeks and up to $300 of start-up costs
Self-Employment Assistance: Business Advice SessionsUp to 2 free business advice sessions every 12 months
Self-Employment Assistance: Minimum ageFrom age 15 (18 for Small Business Coaching)
Self-Employment Assistance: Job search pauseNo job search in Small Business Coaching or the first 8 weeks of Small Business Training
Small business income tax offset: Maximum offsetUp to $1,000 off your tax each year
Small business income tax offset: Rate of offset16% of the tax on your business income, turnover under $5 million
Business Growth Program: NT Business Growth Program$2,000 to $10,000, reimbursing 50% of adviser costs
The sentences as published
  • JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Maximum fortnightly rate, single, no children: Your situation Your maximum fortnightly payment from 20 September 2026 Single, no children $824.90 (26 September 2026, sha efa8ac8e82e2f6d9)
  • JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Maximum fortnightly rate, single with children: Single, with a dependent child or children $883.30 (26 September 2026, sha efa8ac8e82e2f6d9)
  • JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Maximum fortnightly rate, partnered: Partnered $755.10 (26 September 2026, sha efa8ac8e82e2f6d9)
  • JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Income free area: We’ll start to reduce your payment once your income is over $150 per fortnight. (26 September 2026, sha b4ebe97d45c3d85b)
  • JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Income taper, $150 to $256: 50 cents for each dollar between $150 and $256 (26 September 2026, sha b4ebe97d45c3d85b)
  • JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Income taper, over $256: 60 cents for each dollar over $256 (26 September 2026, sha b4ebe97d45c3d85b)
  • JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Income cut-off, single, no children: Single, no children. $1,557.17 (26 September 2026, sha b4ebe97d45c3d85b)
  • Youth Allowance while you build your business: Maximum fortnightly rate, 18+ at home: Single, no children, 18 or older and live at parent’s home $482.40 (26 September 2026, sha 279d05b4f71a00b0)
  • Youth Allowance while you build your business: Maximum fortnightly rate, 18+ away from home: Single, no children, 18 or older and need to live away from parent’s home $677.20 (26 September 2026, sha 279d05b4f71a00b0)
  • Youth Allowance while you build your business: Age range: You must be between 16 and 21 and meet both of these: residence rules income test. (26 September 2026, sha 90279e4b28aa5cbc)
  • Small Business Coaching and Self-Employment Allowance: Coaching length: Small Business Coaching gives you 12 months of personalised mentoring and support to help you start and run your small business. (26 September 2026, sha d17131e84b9283ce)
  • Small Business Coaching and Self-Employment Allowance: Money while in Small Business Coaching: If you’re eligible, you may be able to access: up to $300 worth of small business start-up costs, such as business insurance an allowance for up to 39 weeks and rental assistance for up to 26 weeks (26 September 2026, sha d17131e84b9283ce)
  • Self-Employment Assistance: Business Advice Sessions: If you're eligible, you can book up to 2 free sessions every 12 months. (26 September 2026, sha d17131e84b9283ce)
  • Self-Employment Assistance: Minimum age: be at least 15 years of age (a person must be 18 years of age to access Small Business Coaching) (26 September 2026, sha 6d2ae5830d5d4d53)
  • Self-Employment Assistance: Job search pause: Those participating in Small Business Coaching and/or the first 8 weeks of Small Business Training are not required to look for work. (26 September 2026, sha f9bec7c7dd4eb00f)
  • Small business income tax offset: Maximum offset: The small business income tax offset can reduce the tax on your small business income by up to $1,000 each year. (26 September 2026, sha 32bcd943230206a7)
  • Small business income tax offset: Rate of offset: 2021–22 and onwards $5m 16% $1,000 (26 September 2026, sha 32bcd943230206a7)
  • Business Growth Program: NT Business Growth Program: Funding of $2,000 to $10,000 is available to reimburse 50% of the costs of eligible services provided by an approved service provider. (26 September 2026, sha c178655c7e66c9b7)
Methodology

Every row is a sentence quoted word for word from the named official page, read on the date shown and pinned to a hash of the page text we read. 18 of the 18 sources we could read state the figure. Each row is one figure from one scheme, taken only from the primary official page that states it (government, benefit agency, programme operator or legislation), and checked against what our own guides say.

Cite this data

Cite as: "Australia start-up support for job seekers: figures 2026", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/datasets/au-startup-support/ (Read 26 September 2026)

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<figure style="margin:0;padding:16px;border:1px solid #d0d4da;border-radius:12px;background:#ffffff;color:#0b0c0e;font:14px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif"><p style="margin:0 0 6px;font-weight:600;background:#ffffff">Australia start-up support for job seekers: figures 2026</p><p style="margin:0;background:#ffffff">18 official figures for starting a business from JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance in Australia, each quoted word for word from the page that states it, read on 26 September 2026.</p><figcaption style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;background:#ffffff">Source: <a href="https://pontia.xyz/au/datasets/au-startup-support/" style="color:#0b0c0e">Pontia</a></figcaption></figure>
Cite this page

"Australia start-up support for job seekers: figures 2026", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/datasets/au-startup-support/ (updated 25 September 2026)