Home topics small-business-resources general General General Government Grants for Small Business Guest Author September 15, 2006 Need help to start or develop a business ? Mariana von Lucken leads us through the maze of government grants and concessions that can make the difference between business success and failure. The range of government grants and concessions to assist both start-up and existing businesses is continually expanding. There is now something for almost any business , large and small, regardless of the area in which they operate. Unfortunately, many businesses that are aware of these grants can be put off by the application process. However, many are very worthwhile and can underwrite activities that businesses might not otherwise be able to afford, or make the difference between profit and loss on some activities. You can research and apply for most of these grants and concessions online, making it much easier to take advantage of such opportunities. Here are some of the main grants, tax concessions and offsets. Grants Commercial Ready Grant This program, established in September 2005, provides funding to organisations seeking to develop a new product, process or service. Its aim is to improve the competitiveness of Australian businesses in the global marketplace and foster collaboration between industries and research institutions. The Commercial Ready program provides grants of between $50,000 and $5 million to small to medium sized businesses for projects of up to three years in duration. Companies can apply for funding to meet up to half the costs of