Small construction businesses and sole traders across Queensland can now access up to AU$5,000 to modernise their operations as applications officially open for the Queensland government’s AU$8.8 million Construction Business Advancement Grant program.
Designed to slash administrative burdens, the program allows eligible businesses to fund new or upgraded business and accounting software, alongside specialised training to support its rollout.
The program aims to help small business owners spend less time managing paperwork behind a desk and more time on site delivering critical housing and infrastructure projects.
The construction sector represents over 17 per cent of Queensland’s small business landscape, making it the state’s largest small business industry sector.
Funding can be applied toward financial management tools, compliance systems, and construction-specific applications for estimating and workforce scheduling.
To simplify the process, applicants can choose from a pre-assessed catalogue featuring more than 60 software suppliers. Businesses may also request software outside the catalogue for review, while software and training providers can submit expressions of interest to join the approved vendor list.
Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin said the scheme provides practical support to help operators build capability and capture opportunities within Queensland’s expanding infrastructure pipeline.
“Queensland’s small construction businesses and sole traders do a huge amount of work to keep our economy moving, and this grant will help them access the tools and training they need to run their businesses more productively and efficiently,” Minnikin said.
Master Builders Queensland Sunshine Coast Regional Manager Nicola Scott welcomed the initiative, highlighting the benefits of reducing administrative friction as the industry tackles a generational workload.
“Initiatives like this can make a real difference by helping them adopt more modern systems to improve productivity and cut down on administration,” Scott said.
Applications for the grant open on 6 November and run until 7 May 2027, unless funding is exhausted earlier.
Applicants must secure grant approval prior to purchasing or committing to any software or training packages.
