Free · official rates · checked 26 September 2026

Starting a business on JobSeeker in New South Wales

JobSeeker and Self-Employment Assistance work the same in New South Wales as anywhere in Australia. What New South Wales 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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Free business advice in New South Wales

Small Business Advisory (Service NSW Business Bureau): 4 hours of free advice.

“up to 4 hours of business advice in person, online or over the phone, each financial year”

Who can use it: are thinking about starting a small business in NSW.

Up to 4 hours of free advice each financial year, in person, online or by phone
Open if you’re thinking about starting a small business in NSW
Free workshops, webinars and networking events
Service NSW Business Bureau: 13 77 88

Small Business Advisory (Service NSW Business Bureau)

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

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Start-up money from New South Wales

No state 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 New South Wales?+

Yes. JobSeeker Payment is federal, so the rules are the same in New South Wales 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 New South Wales offer?+

Small Business Advisory (Service NSW Business Bureau): 4 hours of free advice. up to 4 hours of business advice in person, online or over the phone, each financial year

Is there a start-up grant in New South Wales?+

No state 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 New South Wales", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/new-south-wales/ (updated 25 September 2026)