If you run a small builder or trade business in Queensland, there’s up to $5,000 on the table to help you get your admin sorted. The Queensland Government’s Construction Business Advancement Grant Program pays for business management software and the training to use it.
A quick note before we dive in: JRMG doesn’t provide business management or training services, and we’re not involved in the program. We’re sharing it because we know how hard small and local businesses work, and we’d love to see more of them get a hand up. If this sounds like you (or a mate on the tools), read on.
What is the grant?
The Construction Business Advancement Grant gives eligible small and family construction businesses up to $5,000 (excluding GST). The money goes towards business management software and related training.
The idea is simple: less time wrestling paperwork, more time on site. The program aims to help businesses:
- lift their skills, productivity and efficiency
- keep on top of compliance and regulatory requirements
- cut operating costs
- adopt digital tools that make them more competitive
The grant is paid as a rebate, so you buy the approved items and get reimbursed afterwards.
What can you spend it on?
Funding covers items from the program’s catalogue of eligible products, which falls into two areas.
Business management software. This includes general productivity tools like project management, accounting and financial software for payroll and invoicing, compliance tools for regulatory or safety requirements, and construction-specific software. Already using something? You can put the grant towards upgrading to a higher, more productive tier, as long as it meets the eligibility criteria. For subscription (SaaS) products, the grant can cover up to 24 months.
Training. You can also use the funding for training and support to get the most out of your eligible software, including customised training content.
Have a product in mind that isn’t in the catalogue? You can ask for it to be reviewed. You’ll need to provide detailed information, including costs, and the team may add it to the catalogue.
Are you eligible?
Your business needs to tick all of these boxes when you apply, and keep ticking them for the life of the grant-funded project:
- 19 employees or fewer (by headcount)
- turnover of $10 million or less in the 2025–26 financial year
- actively operating, with the main activity being providing goods or services to customers
- an active ABN and at least 1 year of trading history
- registered for GST on your Australian Business Register (ABR) record
- registered under an ATO business industry code related to construction, focused on residential and non-residential building and related trades (the business industry code search can help you check yours)
- a registered Queensland headquarters on your ABR record
You can’t apply if your business is insolvent, if an owner or director is currently bankrupt or undischarged from bankruptcy, or if you’re a subsidiary of a group of companies with 20 or more employees in total.
The full criteria are in the program guidelines, so give those a read before you start.
How to apply
The process runs in five steps:
- Check your eligibility.
- Prepare your application.
- Submit your application.
- Buy your software or training.
- Submit your invoices to claim the rebate.
One big tip: don’t buy anything yet. Because the grant is paid as a rebate, you must wait until you’ve been told your application is successful before purchasing your software or training. Jumping the gun could mean missing out on the funding altogether.
Key dates and where to go
Applications are open now and close at 5pm on 7 May 2027, or earlier if the funding runs out. If you’re keen, it pays to get in early.
You’ll find the guidelines, FAQs and the application link on the Business Queensland Construction Business Advancement Grant Program page. For questions, phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or email business@cdsb.qld.gov.au. Interpreter and translator services are available if you need them. The program is managed by the Department of Customer Service, Open Data and Small and Family Business.
Spread the word
Small and local businesses are the backbone of our communities, and every bit of support helps. If you know a builder, sparky, plumber or chippy who could use better systems, send this their way. Here’s to more time on the tools and less time buried in paperwork.