Getting ready for Round 3 of the Queensland Government’s Business Basics Grant

Round 3 of the Queensland Government’s Business Basics Grant has been announced, and applications will open at 9am on May 4, 2022.  These grants are usually snapped up within a few hours, so it’s important to have all the information and documents you need, so you can submit them as soon as the applications open.

So what do you need to know about the Business Basics Grant?

The funding is available to Queensland businesses, divided between regional Queensland and South East Queensland Local Government areas.

There is a range of eligibility criteria for the grant program, including (but not limited to):

• not having been approved for funding under Round 1 or 2 of the Business Basics Grant.
• having fewer than 20 employees (by head count) at the time of applying.
• having an active ABN (Australian Business Number) and being registered for GST
• having headquarters in Queensland and applying for a SEQ or regional grant depending on where your business is based
• having an expected turnover of $300K or less for the current financial year
• not having owners/directors that are insolvent or an undischarged bankrupt.

(To see full details and eligibility criteria download the Business Basics Grants Round 3 Guidelines)

So what can you do to get ready for your grant application?

1. Read all of the guidelines, terms and conditions, criteria and FAQs found on the Business Basics Grant page on the Queensland Government website
2. Check your eligibility using the tool provided on the website
3. Make sure you have a DESBT SmartyGrants application account opened before May 4th (this step could slow you down if you leave it until application day). Make sure the contact details are consistent with the grant recipient (eg same email address) and that no-one else using your businesses email addresses is submitting a different application
4. Make sure your ABN is active, you are registered for GST and your main business location is up-to-date.
5. Get detailed quotes from your chosen suppliers. These must be dated after 13 April, 2022, and work cannot have already started or any part of the quote be paid. Ensure the quotes include:
   1. Supplier Name and Address
   2. Contact details
   3. ABN if an Australian business
   4. Full project and/or service description
6. You can have up to two suppliers, as long as the amount is more than $5K in total.
7. Prepare your documentation, including:
   1. A signed and witnessed statutory declaration from the business’s owner or director stating the business meets all eligibility criteria. (Remember this weekend is a long weekend in Queensland, so access to an approved witness might be tricky – get this organised as soon as possible.) The Queensland Government Department of Justice and the Attorney General website says that statutory declarations need to be taken and signed in the physical presence of a lawyer, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, notary public or conveyancer. During COVID there were temporary regulations put in place to include other special witnesses, however those temporary regulations expire on 30 April, 2022. So don’t get caught without an eligible witness to sign your stat dec.
8. Set your alarm for 9am on 4 May 2022, and submit all of your information as soon as the applications open.

Other tips for creating your grant submission

• Get in touch with your chosen suppliers asap. Speaking from experience, grant applications can be a hectic time for many suppliers as many clients asked for proposals/quotes at the same time (and often at the last minute).
• Set time aside on May 4 to upload your application as quickly as possible.

A competitive assessment is in place for Round 3 of the Business Basics Grant (ie it’s not on a 1st come, 1st served basis) so it’s important to have all of the information you need included.