The 2022 NSW Small Business Support Program

The following information is a summary of the current financial support offered by the NSW Government for Small Businesses in response to the Omicron Variant. 

We will continue to update this page with the latest information, as it is released from government. If you need further assistance and would like to speak with an advisor, book in now to secure a spot. 

2022 NSW Small Business Support Program

What support is available?

For the month of February, eligible employing businesses can apply for payments equivalent to 20% of their weekly payroll. The minimum payments will be $750 per week, and the maximum will be $5000 per week.

• Non-employing businesses and sole traders will be eligible to receive $500 per week.

• Payments are available for the month of February only, and will be paid in one lump sum.

That means a sole trader will be eligible for a one-off $2000 payment, for example. The maximum payment available for a business will be $20,000.

Applications for the grant open on Monday 14th February 2022 and close 31st March 2022.

Who is eligible?

The small business support program is available to businesses with an annual turnover of between $75,000 and $50 million for the year ending June 30, 2021.

Businesses must have seen a 40% decline in revenue in January 2022 due to public health orders or the impact of the Omicron COVID-19 outbreak, compared to January 2020 or 2021.

Businesses must also have also seen a decline in turnover of 40% or more, due to the Omicron outbreak, between February 1 and 14, compared to the same period in 2020 or 2021.

Finally, businesses must have retained their employee headcount as of the announcement of the scheme on January 30 2022.

For more information on the eligibility criteria, please visit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/2022-small-business-support-program/2022-small-business-support-program-guidelines#available-funding

The Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate

What support is available?

If you’re a sole trader, the owner of a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in NSW, you may be eligible for a small business fees and charges rebate of $3,000

This rebate helps businesses recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and encourages growth by reducing the cost of running a business. Eligible businesses or not-for-profits only need to apply for the rebate once, but can submit multiple claims until the full value of $3,000 is reached.

Eligible employing small businesses will be able to use the rebate against the cost of rapid antigen tests (RATs).

Find more information on the fees and charges rebate launch on Service NSW.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for this rebate, small businesses (including non-employing sole traders) and not-for-profit organisations must:

• have total Australian wages below the NSW Government 2020–21 payroll tax threshold of $1.2 million
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) registered in NSW and/or have business premises physically located and operating in NSW.

Apply for the expanded small business fees and charges rebate through Service NSW.

Extension of the Commercial Landlord Hardship Grant

What support is available?

Grants of up to $3000 per month (GST inclusive) are available for eligible landlords who have provided rental waivers to affected tenants.

Rent waived must be at least half of any rental reduction provided.

This grant has been extended until 13 March 2022.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for a commercial landlord hardship grant, you must:

• be the landlord of a property in NSW
• have an agreement to provide rental relief to tenants from 13 July 2021
• have not claimed, or will not claim, land tax relief between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021
• have total land holdings valued at $5 million or less as at 31 December 2020, excluding the value of your principal residence
• have more than 50% of your total income derived from gross rental income for the 2019–20 or 2020–21 financial year
• if you are a business, attest that providing rent relief to your tenants may cause you financial hardship because you:
  • are at imminent risk of closure; or
  • are unable to pay for operating expenses, including rent or employee-related expenses for employing business landlords; or
  • may be forced to reduce employee headcount if you are an employing business landlord; and
  • have not incurred excessive and non-essential business expenses; and
  • have experienced a decline in revenue due to the impact of the NSW public health orders; and
  • cannot rearrange finances or draw upon non-essential assets to continue operation.
• if you are an individual or hold property on trust, attest to financial hardship if you:
  • are unable to maintain your current standard of living for yourself or your immediate family; and
  • have not incurred excessive and non-essential living expenses.

Apply for the Commercial Landlord Hardship grant through Service NSW.

Extension of the Performing Arts Package

What support is available?

Create NSW will extend the Performing Arts Relaunch Package from 14 February 2022 to 30 April 2022.

It will also increase funding to performing artists in NSW.

This package will provide funding to entities and performing artists in NSW that are continuing to be impacted by COVID-19 and are unable to access other financial support.

This includes a one-off grant to Support Act  to provide crisis relief to music workers in NSW who can’t work due to the impact of COVID-19.

Entities and artists can apply through Create NSW

We are here to help you navigate, book your session online or call us on 02 9545 5900.