Please note

This program is closed. If you were unsuccessful in your application and did not receive funding, requests for reassessment closed at 11:59pm on Wednesday 31 January 2024.

Overview

The Victorian Government’s Business Costs Assistance Program provides grants to small and medium business impacted by public health restrictions. Top-up payments announced since 28 July 2021 are jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments.

The first round of the Business Costs Assistance Program provided targeted support of $2000 to businesses that were most likely to have incurred direct costs as a result of the Circuit Breaker action during February and March 2021, and is no longer available.

The Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two was launched in June 2021 with an expanded list of eligible sectors compared to the initial program, offering payments of $2500. In July 2021, the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension was launched to give businesses that that had not previously applied for the program, or had since become eligible, the opportunity to apply for an initial payment of $4800.

Both the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension are closed.

This page lists all possible payments for recipients of grants under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the July Extension. Note, there will be no more top-up payments under the Business Costs Assistance Program.

Top-up payment of $2500 announced on 2 June 2021:

  • For businesses in metropolitan Melbourne affected by the extension of the circuit-breaker restrictions from 4 June 2021 to 9 June 2021, including restaurants and cafes, event suppliers, accommodation providers and non-essential retailers.
  • For businesses in regional Victoria unable to open due to ongoing restrictions, such as nightclubs and amusement parks.
  • Metropolitan and regional businesses who had restrictions eased from Friday 4 June 2021 are not eligible.
  • Available to recipients of Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two only.

Tourism Supplement of $4500 announced on 6 June 2021:

  • Payment of up to $4500 for eligible Victorian tourism businesses, including accommodation facilities, attraction and tourism operators.
  • View the list of eligible ANZSIC classes.

Top-up payment of $2000 announced on 9 June 2021:

  • For businesses in metropolitan Melbourne that were not permitted to open due to extended restrictions announced on 9 June 2021, including gyms, dance schools and yoga studios.
  • Available to recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two only.
  • View the list of eligible ANZSIC classes.

Top-up payment of $2000 announced on 16 July 2021:

  • For businesses in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria impacted by restrictions from 16 July to 20 July 2021.
  • Available to recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two only.

See 16 July 2021 Top-Up Payment for details.

Top-up payment of $2800 announced on 21 July 2021:

  • For businesses in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria impacted by restrictions from 21 July to 28 July 2021.
  • Available to recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two only.

See 21 July 2021 Top-Up Payment for details.

Business Continuity Fund announced on 28 July 2021:

  • A payment of $5000 for businesses in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria in 24 sectors that were affected by additional capacity limits when reopening in late July 2021.
  • An additional payment of $2000 for businesses in Melbourne’s CBD (with these businesses receiving $7000 in total).
  • Available to recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension that were registered in one of the 24 eligible sectors.

See Business Continuity Fund for details.

Top-up payment of $2800 announced on 6 August 2021 (Business Costs Assistance Program Round Three):

  • For businesses in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria impacted by restrictions from 5 August to 12 August 2021.
  • Available to recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension.

See Business Costs Assistance Program Round Three for details.

Top-up payment of $2800 announced on 12 August 2021 (Business Costs Assistance Program Round Three 12 August Top-Up for metropolitan Melbourne):

For businesses in metropolitan Melbourne impacted by restrictions from 13 August to 19 August 2021.

Available to recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension.

See Business Costs Assistance Program Round Three 12 August 2021 Top-Up for details.

Top-up payment of $5600 announced on 19 August 2021 (Business Costs Assistance Program Round Three 19 August Top-Up for metropolitan Melbourne):

  • For businesses in metropolitan Melbourne impacted by restrictions from 20 August to 2 September 2021.
  • Available to recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension.

See Business Costs Assistance Program Round Three 19 and 22 August 2021 Top-Up for details.

Top-up payment of $5600 announced on 22 August 2021 (Business Costs Assistance Program Round Three Top-Up for regional Victoria):

  • For businesses in regional Victoria impacted by restrictions from 21 August to 2 September 2021.
  • Available to recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension.

See Business Costs Assistance Program Round Three 19 and 22 August 2021 Top-Up for details.

Top-up payments of $2800, $5600 or $8400 per week announced on 4 September 2021 (Business Costs Assistance Program Round Four):

  • For businesses in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria impacted by restrictions from 4 September to 30 September 2021.
  • Available to recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension.
  • Payments will be tiered based upon annual payroll size:
    • $2800 per week for businesses with no payroll or an annual payroll below $650,000.
    • $5600 per week for businesses with an annual payroll between $650,000 and less than $3 million.
    • $8400 per week for businesses with an annual payroll between $3 and $10 million.
  • Eligible recipients will be paid on a fortnightly basis.

Businesses will remain eligible while they are unable to operate due to public health restrictions.

See Business Costs Assistance Program Round Four for details.

Businesses in metropolitan Melbourne, the City of Ballarat, City of Greater Geelong, Mitchell Shire and Surf Coast Shire that are unable to open due to public health orders will receive full payment for the two weeks from 17-30 September, as announced by the Victorian Government on 16 September 2021.

Businesses in regional Victoria that reopened on Friday 10 September will receive full payment for the two weeks from 2-16 September, as announced by the Victorian Government on 8 September 2021.

Businesses in regional Victoria that are included in the List of eligible ANZSIC classes will receive full payment for the two weeks from 17-30 September.

Top-up payments of $1000, $2800, $5600 or $8400 per week announced on 30 September 2021 (Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five):

  • Businesses in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria that were subject to lockdown restrictions received fortnightly payments. Businesses in eligible ANZSIC classes located in areas not subject to stay at home restrictions also received fortnightly payments.
  • Available to recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension.
  • Payments were tiered based on:
    • $1000 per week for non-employing businesses.
    • $2800 per week for employing businesses with annual payroll below $650,000.
    • $5600 per week for employing businesses with an annual payroll between $650,000 and less than $3 million.
    • $8400 per week for employing businesses with an annual payroll between $3 million and $10 million.

Eligible recipients were paid on a fortnightly basis. These payments were in line with Victoria’s Roadmap and thresholds for vaccination.

See Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five for details.