Don't Leave It on the Table: Why Frame and Truss Businesses Should Be Tapping Into State Government Small Business Support
27th September 2026
By FTMA News
Running a frame and truss business is demanding enough without trying to keep track of every grant, tool and piece of advice that might help along the way. Yet that is exactly the trap many small manufacturers fall into - heads down on production schedules and client deadlines, while a steady stream of free support quietly goes unused.
Every state and territory government in Australia runs a small business support service, and most offer far more than the average operator realises. Beyond one-off grants, these agencies provide ongoing newsletters packed with practical tips on cash flow, workplace relations, digital tools, cyber security and staying compliant - the unglamorous but essential groundwork of keeping a business healthy.
For frame and truss manufacturers, this matters more than most. It's an industry defined by tight margins, physical infrastructure, a skilled workforce that's not always easy to find, and a supply chain that can shift with little warning. A well-timed grant for new equipment, a subsidised training program for staff, or early notice of a regulatory change can be the difference between a business that merely survives a rough patch and one that uses it to get ahead.
Signing up is the easy part
Every state has its own portal - Business Victoria, Service NSW for Business, Business Queensland, and equivalents in every other jurisdiction - and each allows free sign-up to a regular newsletter. These typically cover:
• Start-up support: guidance on structuring a new operation, licensing, and initial funding options
• Grants and rebates: from energy efficiency upgrades to export development and innovation funding
• Workforce and training subsidies: often directly relevant to apprenticeships and trade skills
• Events and webinars: free or low-cost sessions on everything from tax changes to digital marketing
• Industry-specific news: updates on regulation, building codes and standards that affect manufacturers directly.
None of this requires an accountant or a grant-writing consultant to access. It requires five minutes and an email address.
From surviving to transforming
The real value isn't just in the day-to-day tips - it's in spotting the opportunities that let a business step up rather than simply keep the lights on. A grant for automation or new machinery can lift capacity. A digital adoption program can modernise quoting and scheduling. A sustainability incentive can cut costs while meeting client expectations that are only getting stricter. These are the kinds of supports that move a business from surviving to transforming, and they're often only ever announced through the very newsletters so many operators overlook.
A simple habit worth building
FTMA regularly encourages members to build a habit of checking in with their state government's small business channels - not because it's another task to add to the list, but because the return on five minutes a month can be significant. In an industry where thin margins and skilled labour shortages are constant pressures, ignoring free, tailored support isn't just a missed opportunity. It's money and time left on the table.
Take the five minutes. Sign up. Your future self - and your business - will thank you.
Of course, FTMA, will continue to focus on bringing out important industry updates and relevant legislation changes.
Members can watch the recent member webinar with FTMA’s Research and Technical Manager Rhianna Robinson, on How to Look Up Grants, (log in to watch via the members portal, or watch via the members app) and also click the relevant state government links below…
Business Supports Federal (business.gov.au) (also see the members webinar mentioned above for assistance with searching for grants)
NSW Small Business Commissioner
Office for Small and Family Business (SA Gov)
