The EMDG grant can make export promotion a reality for small businesses. You can be reimbursed up to 50% of your export promotion expenses above $5,000 provided that your total expenses are at least $15,000.
Calibre Business Advisory is not only expert at helping SMEs access the EMDG. Our EMDG consultants also have extensive experience in integrating the financial benefits of the EMDG and other grants such as the small business tax offset. We forge comprehensive strategies.
Am I eligible for the EMDG?
Do you intend to carry out export promotion activity? Are you an Australian individual, partnership, company, association, co-operative, statutory corporation or trust? Then you are eligible to make an EMDG claim. You can seek EMDG grant funding for the year in which you are carrying out your export promotion activity.
| Condition | Am I eligible? |
|---|---|
| Am I an Australian individual, partnership, company, association, co-operative, statutory corporation or trust? | ✔ |
| Is my total business income no more than $50 million for the year in which I am applying? | ✔ |
| Have I incurred at least $15,000 worth of expenses for these above activities? | ✔ |
| Am I the principal in any export sales for these activities, not merely an agent? | ✔ |
| Can I provide Austrade with relevant documents (such as invoices, shipping documents, bank statements, correspondence or reports) to substantiate the amount and exporting purpose of these activities? | ✔ |
Even if you don’t meet all of the criteria, there is some leeway. This means that if you promote goods and services overseas or if you are simply thinking of exporting, the EMDG grant is an obvious boon. A 50% reimbursement can save you thousands of dollars in foreign marketing that could, in turn, earn you thousands more in sales. This all the more valuable when your EMDG claim is considered in tandem with tax rebates and grants such as the small business tax offset.
How do I apply?
You have seven opportunities to apply to Austrade for the EMDG, and your first grant brings the most benefit. It is vital that, especially the first time you apply, you emphasise that you are going to use the funds for export promotion, not typical sales activity. It is also important, once you have chosen your EMDG consultants, that you prepare the proper documentation to substantiate your application.
The EMDG is paid under a split-payment system. The initial payment ceiling amount is determined by July each year and is posted on the Austrade website. The amount of the second-tranche payment will depend on the amount of EMDG grant funds remaining in the budget once all applicants’ initial payments have been made. With the right help when you apply, you could receive a maximum of $150,000 from your EMDG claim.
You need to keep in mind the breath and precision of the criteria considered as appropriate for making an EMDG claim. Documentation and the expert support of EMDG consultants is integral in this regard. This assistance is best planned for the long term during the numerous opportunities to apply. Yet, especially with the right help, you should not be put off – the financial incentives are significant for exporters of all kinds.
How can I put the EMDG to good use?
You should have clear objectives when applying. Which market will you target, and can you add other incentives such as the small business tax offset? An EMDG claim should take these plans into consideration, since you must apply by choosing one of eight categories.
Eight types of export promotion activity covered by the EMDG
- Hiring overseas representatives
- Overseas marketing visits
- IP registration and related insurance
- Promotional literature and advertising
- Hiring foreign marketing consultants
- Free samples for promotion
- Trade fairs, seminars, in-store promos
- Bringing overseas buyers to Australia
Calibre Business Advisory works with small businesses who engage in export, and we have had success in accessing the EMDG. But our greatest asset is helping businesses over the course of a number of EMDG grant years to best use the funds in a successful outbound strategy. Furthermore, we are Asia-Pacific accounting experts; we can assist you in using the EMDG to access Asia.
The EMDG was essential for our businesses plans. We needed the funds and incentive to take our business overseas. But we were unsure of the most effective means of applying for it. Calibre’s EMDG consultants have extensive experience, and their communication skills were second to none. So we were able to trust in them every step of the way, and we very pleased with the successful outcome.
– Local Retail Exporter