Melbourne’s west has one of the fastest growing NDIS markets in the country, and many experienced support workers eventually want to build their own provider business. The care side is usually the easy part for them. The business side, from structure and registration to award wages, payday super and portable long service leave, is where new providers get into trouble. This guide walks through how to start an NDIS business in Victoria, step by step.
Step 1: decide whether you need to register
Not every NDIS provider has to be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Unregistered providers can deliver most supports to self managed and plan managed participants, and must still follow the NDIS Code of Conduct. Registration is required to:
- Deliver supports to agency managed participants
- Provide specialist disability accommodation, behaviour support plans or regulated restrictive practices
- Provide supported independent living (SIL) or operate an NDIS digital platform. Both became mandatory registration services from 1 July 2026, under new registration classes for platforms and assistance with SIL
The Commission has signalled that other higher risk supports may move to mandatory registration later. Even where it is optional, registration widens your market and is often expected by support coordinators.
Step 2: choose a business structure
| Structure | Suits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Sole trader | One worker starting out, low set-up cost | No asset protection; all profit taxed at personal rates |
| Company | Providers employing staff or seeking registration and growth | ASIC fees, separate tax return, director duties, Division 7A on money taken out |
| Company with a family trust | Established providers wanting flexibility in distributing profit | More complex accounts, trustee resolutions by 30 June |
Most registered providers we work with operate through a company. Choosing the structure before registration avoids re-registering later.
Step 3: tax registrations
- ABN for the business, and a TFN for a company or trust
- GST once GST turnover reaches $75,000. Qualifying NDIS supports are GST-free but still count towards turnover. Registering lets you claim GST credits on vehicles, equipment and rent. See our NDIS GST guide
- PAYG withholding before you pay your first employee
- WorkCover with WorkSafe Victoria once you employ staff, and payroll tax with the State Revenue Office if Victorian wages exceed the threshold
Step 4: registration with the NDIS Commission
If you register, you apply through the Commission’s online portal, nominate the registration groups you will deliver, and the Commission assesses the suitability of the business and its key personnel. You then engage an approved quality auditor. Lower risk supports go through a verification audit, a mostly desktop review of policies, qualifications and insurance. Higher risk supports, including SIL, go through a certification audit against the NDIS Practice Standards, which includes site visits and participant interviews. Registered providers also take on incident reporting, complaints management and worker screening obligations.
Step 5: people and payroll
- Most support workers are covered by the SCHADS Award (Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award), which sets minimum rates, minimum shift engagements, broken shift rules and allowances
- Treating workers as contractors when they are really employees exposes the business to back pay, super and penalties. Even genuine contractors paid mainly for their labour are owed super
- Payday super applies from 1 July 2026: super must reach each worker’s fund within 7 business days of payday. See our payday super guide
- Victorian NDIS providers must register for portable long service leave and pay a quarterly levy. See our portable long service leave guide
- Every worker in a risk assessed role needs an NDIS Worker Screening Check before starting with a registered provider
Step 6: pricing, claiming and cash flow
The NDIA publishes the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, usually updated each 1 July, which cap what can be charged for each support item. Registered providers claim agency managed supports through the NDIS provider portal; plan and self managed participants are invoiced directly. Claims are paid in arrears while wages and super go out every pay run, so build a cash buffer of at least one or two months of payroll before you take on staff.
Step 7: bookkeeping that matches the NDIS
Set up your accounting software so income is tracked by participant and funding type, wages are coded to the right award and support item, and GST-free and taxable sales are separated. This makes your BAS, your audit and your pricing decisions far easier.
Frequently asked questions
How long does NDIS registration take?
Usually several months from application to approval, depending on the registration groups and how quickly the audit can be scheduled.
Can I start unregistered and register later?
Yes, for supports that do not require registration. You cannot provide SIL or run a platform without registration.
Do I need an accountant who knows NDIS?
It helps. GST-free conditions, SCHADS award costs, portable long service leave and payday super all interact, and errors compound quickly once you have staff.
Setting up an NDIS business in Melbourne’s west
Kennedy Tax & Business Services helps new NDIS providers choose a structure, register for tax, set up bookkeeping and payroll, and stay on top of BAS. See our NDIS financial services and business structure set-up, or contact us.
This article is general information only and does not take into account your circumstances. NDIS registration requirements are set by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and can change; check the Commission’s website before applying. Speak to a registered tax agent before acting.
