While not generally publicised, the Federal Government have re-launched the closed Enterprise Connect grant under the new heading of "Entrepreneurs Infrastructure Program".
The grant funds up to $20K, on a dollar for dollar basis, for eligible businesses to conduct business improvement projects.

Our clients have benefitted from the grant and it has helped them fund many projects and improve their return on investment. In many cases it has fast tracked some of those strategic decisions you externally helped facilitate.

In our recent meetings with many companies we are finding that awareness of the grant is low. In our discussions many business owners have found that the grant can help them work on the business rather than in it. The value of the evaluation alone elevates thinking to a strategic level and being totally free of charge, there is very little in terms of down side with this grant. To make it even easier – it only takes about 2 – 3 hours of your time!

Am I eligible?

If you are –

  • A company or trust with corporate trustee;
  • Have been in operation for 3 years or more;
  • Solvent;
  • Turnover between $1.5 and $100 million dollars; and
  • Are in an eligible industry

Then you may well be.

Eligible industries include –

  • Manufacturing
  • Warehousing
  • Freight and logistics
  • Printing
  • Packaging

Along with some service such as design, engineering and IT services.

What does it pay for?

Funding is available for approved projects as suggested under a FREE business evaluation which is conducted by a Federal Government appointed business advisor. Some of the projects our clients have benefitted from include:

  • Undertaking a strategic review of the business to identify items including organizational structure and tax re-organisation
  • Advising on opportunities for R&D tax claims including quantifying the claim and documentation required
  • Modeling the impact of an expansion, acquisition and/or divestment on entity value, financial outcomes and cash flow
  • Using an external advisor to conduct business performance tracking over a period of time and supplement the in house finance team
  • Developing tax cash flow including planning for dividends and succession planning
  • Conducting a self-due diligence on the business to determine entity value to provide a "point in the sand" for possible trade sale
  • Attending to corporatisation of management meetings and required family agreements
  • Review of information technology spend and conducting a scoping of new systems
  • Preparation of 3 way cash flow and budgets for management to use moving forward and for banking purposes
  • Benchmarking the organisation to external industry competitors
  • Conducting a review of expenditure and structures for R&D activities including restructuring these
  • Planning for close down of a business unit including HR and tax advice on redundancy packages offered and impact on cash flow
  • Documentation of policies and procedures in specified sections of the business.

How do I access this $20K?

Just call us. We can take you through the workings of the program to ensure you maximise the benefit available and when it will be best utilised,

This publication is issued by Moore Stephens Australia Pty Limited ACN 062 181 846 (Moore Stephens Australia) exclusively for the general information of clients and staff of Moore Stephens Australia and the clients and staff of all affiliated independent accounting firms (and their related service entities) licensed to operate under the name Moore Stephens within Australia (Australian Member). The material contained in this publication is in the nature of general comment and information only and is not advice. The material should not be relied upon. Moore Stephens Australia, any Australian Member, any related entity of those persons, or any of their officers employees or representatives, will not be liable for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the material contained in this publication. Copyright © 2014 Moore Stephens Australia Pty Limited. All rights reserved.