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Chapter 5. Business Plans
Department wording for Chapter 5, Business Plans, from Part B: Self-Employment Assistance version 1.12.
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Workforce Australia Guidelines, Part B: Self-Employment Assistance
Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
- Recorded version
- 1.12
- Effective
- 1 November 2025
- Publication location checked
- 28 September 2026
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Source material: © Commonwealth of Australia. Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Workforce Australia Guidelines, Part B: Self-Employment Assistance, version 1.12, published 8 October 2025. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence, subject to the exclusions in the DEWR copyright notice.
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Source: Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Workforce Australia Guidelines, Part B: Self-Employment Assistance, version 1.12, published 8 October 2025. © Commonwealth of Australia. Used under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), subject to the DEWR copyright exclusions. Official publication record: https://www.dewr.gov.au/workforce-australia/resources/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-selfemployment-assistance. Recorded Word file: https://www.dewr.gov.au/download/13954/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-self-employment-assistance/39523/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-self-employment-assistance/DOCX. ServiceCite reformatted the Word document for web navigation and search; this is not an official DEWR publication. These Guidelines are not stand-alone: providers must use their executed Deed, Work Orders and variations. Provider Portal material is excluded. Four KPI formulas printed as images are described in ServiceCite notes quoting the Department’s alternative text; use the linked official PDF.
Supporting Documents for this Chapter:
5.1. Chapter Overview
The development and implementation of Viable Business Plans is one of the key objectives of Self-Employment Assistance.
This Chapter identifies the components of a Business Plan, how Providers should help Participants to develop a Business Plan, and how Providers should assess Business Plans.
Note: Business Plan Development sessions are not considered an activity in the Workforce Australia Online system and can therefore be delivered concurrently with other Self-Employment Assistance Services.
5.2. Developing a Business Plan
5.2.1. Supporting a Participant to Develop a Business Plan
The Provider must proactively assist Participants who meet the Participant Eligibility criteria identified in the Referrals, Eligibility and Onboarding Chapter and request help to develop a Business Plan for a business that meets the Business Eligibility Criteria.
The Provider should allow Participants to choose the way this support is delivered. This may be through a single intensive session, or multiple one-on-one sessions.
- System step — The Provider must create a Business Plan record in the Department’s IT Systems to reflect the delivery of this support, including the status of the Business Plan once assessed. In creating a Business Plan record, the Provider must enter the details of the Participant’s business (or proposed business) into the Department’s IT Systems. The Provider may choose to use the Self-Employment Assistance – Business Information Form (sign-in required) to collect this information from the Participant.
(Deed Reference(s)s: Clause 88.1, 88.2)
5.2.2. Composition of a Business Plan
A Business Plan must include, as a minimum:
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a title page
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an executive summary, including:
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an overview of the business idea
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the Participant’s business and personal goals
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a marketing plan, including:
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market research (competitors, price point, target market)
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a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis
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a management plan, identifying:
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business structure
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legal and compliance requirements
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work, health, and safety requirements
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a risk plan, identifying
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business insurance
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disaster planning
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an operational plan
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a financial plan, including:
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a 2-year cash flow forecast
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sources of funding
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appendices that:
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identify how the Business Eligibility Criteria have been met
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stipulate the hours per week the Participant will work in the business
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identify how the business will be insured
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support the content of the Business Plan, where required.
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If the Participant has previously participated in Small Business Coaching for their proposed business, the Business Plan must demonstrate the lessons learnt while doing so.
5.3. Business Plan assessments
The Provider must assess a Participant’s draft Business Plan against the Business Eligibility Criteria (as outlined in the Business Eligibility Criteria Supporting Document) within 5 Business Days of receiving a request from a Participant for the Provider to assess the draft Business Plan. The Business Plan Fee can only be paid for a Participant once in a 12-month period.
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System step — The Provider must record the outcome and date of a decision to approve a Business Plan in the Department’s IT Systems. The approved Business Plan in the Department’s IT Systems will, where appropriate, trigger payment of the Business Plan Fee.
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Documentary evidence — The Participant’s Business Plan must be uploaded in the Participant’s Business Plan record. The Department’s IT Systems will not allow a Business Plan to be approved without the Participant’s Business Plan uploaded in the Business Plan record.
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Documentary evidence — The Provider must retain copies of all written correspondence to Participants regarding the assessment of their Business Plan.
(Deed Reference(s): Clauses 88.3, 101.1)
5.3.1. Rejecting a Business Plan
Before rejecting a Business Plan, the Provider must first proactively assist the Participant to further develop their Business Plan to satisfy the Business Eligibility Criteria. If the Business Plan cannot be further developed to meet the Business Eligibility Criteria, the Provider must reject the Business Plan.
The Provider must explain in writing to the Participant why their Business Plan has been rejected and inform them of their right to have the decision reviewed.
- System step — The Provider must record the outcome, reason, and date of a decision to reject a Business Plan in the Department’s IT Systems.
(Deed Reference(s): Clause 88.4)