Title: Starting a business on JobSeeker in New South Wales

> JobSeeker in New South Wales while you start a business: what you keep each fortnight, free state business advice (4 hours) and the federal help.

Source: https://pontia.xyz/au/new-south-wales/
Checked: 25 September 2026

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.

## 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)](https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/business/small-business-advisory-program)

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=NSW&scheme=au-jobseeker&status=have&from=au-state-mid)

## 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](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 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

-   [New South Wales: Small Business Advisory (Service NSW Business Bureau)](https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/business/small-business-advisory-program)
-   [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=NSW&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 New South Wales", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/new-south-wales/ (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/)

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Cite as: "Starting a business on JobSeeker in New South Wales", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/new-south-wales/ (updated 25 September 2026)

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