Title: What is Small Business Coaching and Self-Employment Allowance? > Part of Self-Employment Assistance: 12 months of mentoring to launch your business, with no mutual obligation requirements. If you were on income support, Source: https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/sbc/ Checked: 25 September 2026 Keep an incomeJob search until approved # What is Small Business Coaching and Self-Employment Allowance? 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 replaces it for up to 39 weeks and isn’t reduced by what the business earns. ## The key facts - Self-Employment Allowance at the single JobSeeker rate ($824.90 a fortnight from 20 September 2026) for up to 39 weeks - Self-Employment Rental Assistance for up to 26 weeks if you were getting Rent Assistance - $300 towards eligible business costs, such as business insurance - Age 18+, an approved business plan, and a business on track to earn at least the JobSeeker basic rate and run about 35 hours a week within 12 months ## Before you’re approved Job search required ### Job search Until Small Business Coaching starts, you stay on your payment and your Job Plan. Business Plan Development earns 25 points; Small Business Training replaces job search for up to 8 weeks. ### What you must do to keep getting it - Get your business plan approved by your provider; they must assess it within 5 business days of your request. It needs market research, a SWOT, management, risk and operational plans, a 2-year cash flow forecast and the hours you’ll work. - Set up a business structure you control, and business insurance. - Be on income support the day before you transfer, and sign the allowance application (bank details) and a TFN declaration no more than 4 weeks before. - Sign the Small Business Coaching Agreement. You can’t have had Small Business Coaching in the past 12 months. **If you take or turn down a job:** Until you start, you must accept any offer of suitable paid work. ## While you’re on it No job search required ### Job search You have no mutual obligation requirements while in Small Business Coaching. You work on the business. ### What you must do to keep getting it - Send a quarterly report within 10 business days after each financial quarter ends, or you can be suspended. - Keep business insurance current; your provider checks it every quarter. - Have at least one mentoring contact every 2 months, and return your provider’s calls and emails. - Stay on track to operate commercially within 12 months: net income of at least the JobSeeker basic rate, about 35 hours a week (fewer with part-time requirements). ### If you earn money The Self-Employment Allowance isn’t reduced by what your business earns. Other income (such as a job) is tested every quarter: gross outside income above twice your allowance for the quarter suspends it for the rest of that quarter. If you stay on a higher payment (for example a parent on JobSeeker), Centrelink cuts it dollar for dollar by the allowance and income-tests your business. **If you take or turn down a job:** A job is outside income: above twice your allowance in a quarter, the allowance is suspended for the rest of that quarter. Tell your provider about changes. ## The other route You can’t be on both at once. Compare them before you choose. - [What is JobSeeker Payment while you build your business?Stay on JobSeeker Payment while you plan and start a small business. Your net business profit is set as an ann…](https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/jobseeker/)[Compare side by side →](https://pontia.xyz/au/compare/sbc-vs-jobseeker/) - [What is Youth Allowance while you build your business?If you’re 16 to 21, Youth Allowance as a job seeker can support you while you plan and start a business. Busin…](https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/ya/)[Compare side by side →](https://pontia.xyz/au/compare/sbc-vs-ya/) ## Add this to my plan We’ll track your must-dos and deadlines for you, and keep your job-search record. [Add this to my plan](https://pontia.xyz/au/start/?from=guide&scheme=au-sbc&status=applying) Free forever · No card · No hidden charges Sources, checked 25 September 2026 - [workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/training/activities/self-employment-assistance/services](https://www.workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/training/activities/self-employment-assistance/services) - [dewr.gov.au/download/13954/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-self-employment-assistance/39524/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-self-employment-assistance/pdf](https://www.dewr.gov.au/download/13954/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-self-employment-assistance/39524/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-self-employment-assistance/pdf) This guide explains the official rules in plain words. It isn’t advice about your own claim: your adviser decides. Not a government service. Not financial, tax or legal advice. Cite this page "What is Small Business Coaching and Self-Employment Allowance?", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/sbc/ (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. 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