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The R&D Tax Incentive in 2026 — Current Rules and the 2028 Reforms Founders Should Know About The R&D Tax Incentive (R&DTI) is one of the most valuable ongoing programs available to Australian companies undertaking experimental work. The 2026–27 Federal Budget announced significant reforms — but they don't take effect until 1 July 2028, which means the current rules still apply for the next two years. Here's what that looks like in practice, and how KP Retail thinks about it. How the R&DTI works today The R&DTI is administered jointly by AusIndustry and the ATO. Companies self-assess eligible R&D activities,...

CSIRO Kick-Start — The Grant Founders Keep Overlooking Most Australian founders have heard of EMDG and the R&D Tax Incentive. Far fewer know about CSIRO Kick-Start, even though it's one of the more accessible programs available to early-stage businesses with a research or technical challenge. Here's what it is, who it suits, and why it's worth a serious look. What CSIRO Kick-Start is CSIRO Kick-Start is a dollar-matched funding program run by Australia's national science agency. It connects eligible Australian start-ups and small SMEs with CSIRO researchers to undertake early-stage R&D — investigating a new idea, developing a novel product...

GRANT SPOTLIGHT: NATIONAL ENERGY BILL RELIEFNational Energy Bill Relief for NSW Small Businesses — $150 Most Are Already ReceivingThe National Energy Bill Relief payment is one of the most broadly available forms of government support for NSW small businesses in 2025–26 — and most eligible businesses are receiving it without doing anything. Here's what it is, who qualifies, and the one situation where you do need to apply.What it isThe National Energy Bill Relief Fund is a federal government program delivered in NSW through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. In 2025–26, eligible NSW small businesses...

Working With a Grants Advisor: What Good Actually Looks Like Some founders work with a grants advisor and rave about it. Others have a bad experience and never engage one again. The difference usually comes down to expectations — what a good advisor does, what they don't, and how to spot the difference before you commit. Here's how we'd suggest thinking about it. What a good grants advisor actually does Helps you assess fit honestly. The first useful thing a grants advisor does isn't apply on your behalf — it's tell you whether a program is a fit for your...

B Corp Certification: What It Actually Is, and Who It's For B Corp gets used as shorthand for 'a business that cares', which doesn't really capture what it is. It's a specific certification with a specific framework, run by a specific non-profit. Here's a plain overview of what it is, what it isn't, and who tends to find it worth the work. What B Corp is B Corp is a certification administered by B Lab, a non-profit founded in the United States and now operating globally. It assesses businesses across five areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. To certify,...

The B Impact Assessment, Demystified The B Impact Assessment is the heart of the B Corp framework. Most founders who look at it for the first time find it intimidating. It doesn't need to be. Here's a structural overview of how it works, what it's measuring, and how to approach it without getting lost. Structure The assessment is organised across five impact areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. Within each area, there are sub-categories and a set of questions tailored to the size, sector, and geography of the business. Each question is weighted, and the answers feed into a...