If you run a business in the Northern Territory and you know exactly what you need to do to grow, but can’t justify the cost of bringing in an expert to help you do it, the Northern Territory Government’s Grow Your Business Program is designed for you. It is a co-funding program that helps established NT businesses pay for professional advice and specialist services, rather than handing out cash for general operating costs.
This guide explains what the program is, how much you could receive, who qualifies, what the money can and cannot be used for, the key dates for the 2026 round, what you will need to prepare, common mistakes to avoid, and some related funding options if this program is not the right fit for your business.
What is the Grow Your Business Program?
The Grow Your Business Program is a Northern Territory Government initiative that helps NT businesses strengthen their capability, build resilience, and pursue sustainable growth. Rather than funding equipment, stock, or day-to-day running costs, the program is squarely aimed at helping a business pay for professional advisory and specialist services: the kind of expert input a growing business often needs but may not have the budget to access on its own.
The program works on a co-contribution basis. In practical terms, this means the government funding is matched by a contribution from the business itself, rather than the government covering 100 percent of the cost. The official program guidelines set out the specific contribution requirements for each tier, and applicants should read the relevant tier guideline closely before applying, since the co-contribution proportion can shape how big a project is realistic to propose.
The program is structured in three funding tiers, which allows a very small, straightforward engagement (say, a short strategic review) and a much larger, more involved transformation project to both be supported through the same scheme, just at different funding levels and with different levels of competition for the money.
How much funding is available?
The Grow Your Business Program offers three tiers of funding:
Tier 1, Business Capability: up to $5,000. This tier is non-competitive, meaning that if your application meets the eligibility and assessment requirements, it is not being ranked against other applications for a limited pool of money in the same way the higher tiers are. This makes Tier 1 a lower-risk entry point for a business that wants to test the program or address a smaller, well-defined need.
Tier 2, Business Growth: $5,001 to $20,000. This tier is a competitive round, so applications are assessed against each other and funding is not guaranteed simply by being eligible.
Tier 3, Business Transformation: $20,001 to $50,000. This is the largest tier, also run as a competitive round, intended for more substantial projects that genuinely transform how a business operates, rather than a smaller, incremental improvement.
The official program material does not state a minimum amount below the Tier 1 ceiling, and it has not published the exact co-contribution percentage required at each tier in the overview material available at the time of writing. Applicants should check the tier-specific guidelines, available when applications open, for the precise co-contribution requirement and any other tier-specific conditions before committing to a project budget.
Who qualifies for this program?
To be eligible for the Grow Your Business Program, a business generally needs to meet all of the following:
It must be a Territory Enterprise, meaning a business that is genuinely operating in and connected to the Northern Territory, and it must hold a valid Australian Business Number (ABN).
It must be a legal entity. The program is open to both for-profit businesses and not-for-profit organisations, so a well-run NT not-for-profit that operates like a business (delivering services or selling products) is not automatically excluded just because it is not-for-profit.
It must be an established business, not a brand-new start-up or an idea that has not yet launched. The program defines this by looking at where most of the business’s income comes from: an eligible business earns the bulk of its income from selling goods or services on the open market, not mainly from grants, donations, or fundraising activity. A business that is still largely dependent on grant funding or donations to survive is unlikely to meet this test.
It must be looking to improve, strengthen, grow, or future-proof an existing operation, rather than fund something unrelated to the core business.
Who does NOT qualify?
Based on the published eligibility criteria, a few types of applicants are unlikely to succeed:
Brand-new start-ups or businesses that are still at the idea or pre-launch stage. The program is explicitly for established businesses, not early-stage ventures still finding their footing.
Organisations whose income is mostly grants, donations, or fundraising, rather than trading income from selling goods or services. This can affect some not-for-profits and community organisations that are not run on a commercial trading model, even if they are otherwise well regarded in their community.
Businesses without a valid ABN, or businesses that cannot demonstrate a genuine, ongoing connection to the Northern Territory as a Territory Enterprise.
Anyone hoping to use the funding for something outside professional advisory or specialist services, such as equipment purchases, stock, wages, rent, or other everyday operating costs. This program is not a general business grant; it is specifically for bringing in outside expertise.
What can the funding be used for?
The Grow Your Business Program funds professional advisory and specialist services that help a business in the following areas:
Strategy, leadership, and planning, such as working with a business strategist or governance advisor to clarify direction and decision-making.
Financial performance and sustainability, such as engaging an accountant or financial advisor to strengthen cash flow management, pricing, or financial reporting.
Operations, systems, and efficiency, such as bringing in a specialist to streamline processes, improve supply chain management, or implement better systems.
Workforce capability, such as specialist HR, training design, or leadership development support to build a stronger team.
Access to new markets and growth opportunities, such as market research, export readiness advice, or strategic business development support.
Digital capability and future readiness, such as advice on adopting new technology, improving digital systems, or preparing the business for digital transformation.
In short, if the money is paying an outside professional or specialist to provide advice or a service in one of these areas, it is likely to be an eligible use. If the money is going toward something the business would ordinarily buy or pay for as part of day-to-day operations, such as stock, equipment, or general wages, it is unlikely to be eligible.
How the application process works, step by step
The Northern Territory Government has set out a general process for applying to the Grow Your Business Program, which broadly follows these steps:
Step 1: Work out which tier fits your project. Before anything else, read the guideline document for the tier you are considering (Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3), along with the program’s General Terms and Conditions. Each tier has its own specific assessment criteria, and choosing the right tier for the size and type of project you have in mind matters more than simply aiming for the largest possible amount.
Step 2: Identify your growth opportunity. The program points applicants toward completing a basic business health check or self-assessment first. This is a useful exercise even outside the context of the grant application, since it forces a business owner to step back and honestly identify where the biggest gap or opportunity actually sits, whether that is in strategy, finances, operations, people, markets, or digital systems.
Step 3: Get a quote from a supplier. Once you know what kind of professional advice or specialist service you want to engage, approach that advisor or service provider directly and ask for a written quote. This quote becomes a central part of your application, since the program is funding a specific, costed piece of work rather than an open-ended amount of money.
Step 4: Prepare your supporting documents. This includes the evidence of your business’s eligibility (ABN, trading history, financial position) along with anything else the relevant tier guideline asks for.
Step 5: Submit through the GrantsNT portal. Applications are lodged online through the Northern Territory Government’s GrantsNT system, with submissions able to be lodged from 9 October 2026.
Because Tier 2 and Tier 3 applications are assessed competitively, it is worth allowing enough time between getting your supplier quote and the 13 November 2026 closing date to put together a genuinely considered application, rather than treating the quote as the final step before submitting.
Why a program like this exists
Many small and medium businesses know, in general terms, what would help them grow: better financial systems, a clearer strategy, a stronger digital presence, or a more capable team. What often stops them from acting on that knowledge is cost. Bringing in an experienced strategist, accountant, HR specialist, or digital advisor can be exactly the kind of investment that pays for itself many times over, but it is also the kind of cost that is easy to defer indefinitely when cash flow is tight.
Co-funding programs like the Grow Your Business Program exist to close that gap. By sharing the cost of professional advice between government and the business itself, the program is designed to make it financially realistic for an established NT business to access expertise it might otherwise go without, while still requiring the business to have some skin in the game, which tends to encourage a more considered, genuinely useful scope of work rather than advice sought for its own sake.
This also explains why the program is tiered rather than offering one flat amount. A business that mainly needs a short, focused piece of advice (say, a review of its pricing strategy) does not need to compete for a large pool of money against businesses proposing much bigger transformation projects, while a business planning a genuinely significant operational overhaul has a funding tier sized to match that ambition.
Key dates for the 2026/27 round
Applications for the Grow Your Business Program open on Friday 9 October 2026 and close on Friday 13 November 2026. That gives applicants roughly five weeks to prepare and submit an application. Given that Tier 2 and Tier 3 are competitive, businesses considering a larger project should not leave their application preparation until the final days of the window, since a rushed, thin application is less likely to perform well in a competitive assessment.
Documents and information you may need to prepare
While the detailed application form requirements are set out in the tier-specific guidelines, applicants to a program like this should generally expect to prepare:
Proof of a valid ABN and evidence that the business is genuinely trading and established, such as recent financial statements or business activity statements showing trading income.
A clear statement of the business problem or opportunity the proposed advisory or specialist service would address, written in plain terms: what is the current gap, and what would change if the project goes ahead.
A written quote from the professional advisor or specialist service provider you intend to engage, since the program is designed to fund a specific, costed piece of outside expertise rather than an open-ended amount.
A basic business health check or self-assessment, since the official guidance points applicants toward identifying their own growth opportunities as a starting point before selecting a tier and a scope of work.
Evidence of the business’s own financial capacity to meet its co-contribution, since this is a matched-funding program rather than a fully government-funded grant.
How competitive is this program?
Tier 1 is explicitly non-competitive, so it functions more like a straightforward eligibility and assessment gate than a contest: if an eligible applicant submits a sound, well-documented proposal, there is no fixed pool being split between rival applicants in the same way as the higher tiers.
Tier 2 and Tier 3, by contrast, are competitive rounds. This means the Northern Territory Government is very likely assessing applications against each other and against a limited pool of funding, not simply ticking boxes. A strong Tier 2 or Tier 3 application will need to make a clear, specific case for why the proposed advisory or specialist engagement will meaningfully improve the business, backed by a concrete quote and a believable account of the expected outcome, rather than a vague request for “business advice” in general terms.
Common mistakes to avoid
Treating this as a general business grant. Applicants sometimes assume any business cost is eligible, then are surprised when equipment, stock, or wage costs are ruled out. This program is specifically for professional advisory and specialist services.
Applying as a start-up. If your business is still pre-revenue or in the idea stage, this program is unlikely to be a fit, no matter how promising the idea is, because the eligibility criteria are built around established, trading businesses.
Submitting a vague scope of work. “General business advice” is a weaker application than a specific, costed proposal, such as engaging a named type of specialist to deliver a defined piece of work with a clear outcome.
Leaving the quote to the last minute. Since a supplier quote is a practical part of preparing a strong application, businesses that wait until the closing weeks to approach an advisor or specialist may find themselves rushing this step.
Underestimating the co-contribution. Because this is a matched-funding program, businesses should confirm they can genuinely meet their share of the cost before building a project around the maximum tier amount.
Applying at the wrong tier. A business with a large, ambitious transformation project that applies at Tier 1 may find the funding cap too small to achieve much, while a business with a small, simple need that applies at Tier 3 may find the competitive bar harder to clear than necessary.
What to prepare before you apply
Start by honestly identifying the specific gap in your business, whether that is in strategy, finances, operations, workforce, market access, or digital capability. The clearer this is, the easier it becomes to choose the right tier and the right type of specialist.
Approach a professional advisor or specialist service provider early and ask for a written quote for the specific piece of work you have in mind. This quote underpins your proposed budget and tier selection.
Review your own financial position to confirm you can meet the co-contribution requirement for the tier you are considering.
Read the specific tier guideline relevant to your project (Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3) and the General Terms and Conditions in full, since these set out the detailed assessment criteria your application will be measured against.
Prepare your supporting documents well ahead of the 13 November 2026 closing date, particularly if you are applying for the more competitive Tier 2 or Tier 3 funding.
Related funding options for NT businesses
If the Grow Your Business Program does not suit your business, whether because you are a start-up, your need falls outside professional advisory services, or you simply want to compare your options, it is worth exploring the broader range of grants and support available to businesses across Australia, including other Northern Territory and Commonwealth programs that support different stages of business growth, exporting, innovation, and regional development. Regional business grants are particularly worth a look for businesses located outside Australia’s major cities, since many programs specifically target the extra costs and challenges of operating regionally. For a wider view of what is currently available to small and medium businesses across the country, see this overview of SME grants in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Grow Your Business Program? It is a Northern Territory Government co-funding program that helps established NT businesses pay for professional advisory and specialist services across areas such as strategy, finance, operations, workforce capability, market access, and digital capability.
How much funding can my business receive? Funding is offered across three tiers: up to $5,000 under Tier 1 (Business Capability, non-competitive), $5,001 to $20,000 under Tier 2 (Business Growth, competitive), and $20,001 to $50,000 under Tier 3 (Business Transformation, competitive).
When do applications open and close for the 2026/27 round? Applications open on 9 October 2026 and close on 13 November 2026.
Can a start-up apply for the Grow Your Business Program? No. The program is for established businesses that earn most of their income from selling goods or services, rather than new or pre-revenue start-ups still at the idea stage.
Can a not-for-profit organisation apply? Yes, provided the not-for-profit is a legal entity operating on a trading basis, earning most of its income from selling goods or services rather than mainly from grants, donations, or fundraising.
Does the program fund equipment, stock, or wages? No. The funding is specifically for professional advisory and specialist services, such as engaging a strategist, accountant, HR specialist, or digital advisor, not for general operating costs.
Is a co-contribution required? Yes. The program is a co-funding scheme, meaning the business is expected to contribute toward the total project cost alongside the government funding. The Northern Territory Government has not published the exact co-contribution proportions in the general program overview, so applicants should check the specific tier guideline that applies to their project.
Want to keep exploring your options? Grants Assist’s online portal gives you access to detailed, regularly updated information on grants and assistance programs across Australia. Explore the Grants Assist portal to browse more programs like this one, or call us on 1300-005-999 to speak with one of our advisors.
