Small Business Roundup – June 2026

This time of year naturally prompts many small business owners to take stock. Some will be celebrating a strong 12 months. Others will be wondering where the cash went despite working harder than ever. And many will be somewhere in between.

The beginning of a new financial year is always a good time to review your cash flow, understand your working capital needs, plan ahead for tax and super obligations, map out payment timeframes, and automate your collections where possible to help strengthen your cash and business position. Seeking advice early—whether from your accountant, financial advisor, trusted business mentor, or by calling the Queensland Small Business Financial Counselling Service—can also help identify options when circumstances change or you find yourself in financial hardship.

It’s great to see the new Regional Business Gateways Program initiative offering funding to support regional businesses to drive local economic growth, access new markets, and invest in practical solutions for small businesses currently open for Expressions of Interest. This program is designed to support fit-for-purpose, locally led solutions to drive regional economic development.

The state budget announced on 23 June also delivered a boost for small businesses across the state with the announcement of a new $10 million program to help Queensland small and family businesses to adopt AI solutions and integrate them into their operations. In conversations with small businesses across a diverse range of industries, it’s clear that AI can empower small businesses to save time, reduce costs, improve customer experiences, and make smarter decisions, enabling them to innovate, grow, and stay competitive in an ever-changing market. But often, they don’t know where to start so it’s pleasing to see investment into a program to help.

As we head into the new financial year, it’s a good time to review your business operations and strategies and explore government programs or support to help Queensland small businesses endure and succeed.