The NDIS market changed shape in 2026. Mandatory registration now covers Supported Independent Living (SIL) and NDIS digital platforms. The 2026-27 Budget funded mandatory registration for all high-risk supports from 1 July 2027. Price limits moved on 1 July 2026, award wages rose 4.75% on the same day, and several therapy prices were frozen or cut.
A provider business plan written in 2024 does not reflect that market. This guide explains how to write an NDIS provider business plan in Australia for 2026, which sections auditors and lenders look for, and how to model margins under the new pricing.
Does the NDIS Commission Require a Business Plan?
Not as a standalone form. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission asks for an application through its portal, a self-assessment against the NDIS Practice Standards, and an audit by an approved quality auditor.
That said, the audit tests governance, risk management, financial sustainability, workforce planning, and continuity of supports. A well-built business plan is where that evidence lives. It also becomes the document banks, landlords, investors, and SIL property partners ask for.
Think of it as three documents in one:
| Purpose | Audience | What They Look For |
| Compliance evidence | Quality auditor, NDIS Commission | Governance, risk, workforce, quality systems |
| Financial plan | Bank, investor, landlord | Revenue model, margins, cash flow |
| Operating manual | Owners and managers | Services, staffing, growth targets |
2026 NDIS Changes Your Plan Must Reflect
| Date | Change | Business Plan Impact |
| 1 July 2026 | New SIL providers and digital platforms must be registered | SIL plans must include registration timeline and audit costs |
| 1 July 2026 | Providers must notify the Commission of a business sale | Exit strategy and investor sections must address this |
| 1 July 2026 | Pricing Schedule 2026-27 applies | Revenue model must use new price limits |
| 1 July 2026 | Award wages rise 4.75% | Wage costs and SCHADS modelling must be updated |
| 1 October 2026 | Existing unregistered SIL providers must have applied for registration | Unregistered SIL operators face exit or registration |
| October 2026 | Thriving Kids begins for children 8 and under with low to moderate needs | Early childhood providers must plan for demand shifts |
| 1 July 2027 | Mandatory registration expands to all high-risk supports | Unregistered providers in high-risk supports need a plan now |
The government has stated an aim for 90% of NDIS payments to go to registered providers. If you plan to stay unregistered, your plan needs to explain why your support types will remain open to you.
NDIS Registration Pathway at a Glance
- Choose registration groups that match your staff qualifications
- Set up ABN, structure, insurance, worker screening, and policies
- Apply through the NDIS Commission Applications Portal (myID and RAM access required)
- Receive your Initial Scope of Audit
- Engage an approved quality auditor
- Complete a verification or certification audit
- Receive the Commission’s decision
| Audit Type | Typical Supports | Format | Indicative Timeline |
| Verification | Lower-risk supports such as some therapy, cleaning, gardening | Desktop review | About 3 to 6 months end to end |
| Certification | Higher-risk supports such as SIL, high-intensity personal care, behaviour support | Document review plus site visit | About 8 to 12+ months |
Registration lasts three years. Certification providers also face a mid-term audit. Every worker in a risk-assessed role needs an NDIS Worker Screening Check clearance.
NDIS Provider Business Plan Structure
The structure below follows the essential sections every business plan should include, adapted to NDIS audit and pricing rules.
1. Executive Summary
Name your support categories, service area, registration status, target participant numbers, revenue target, and funding need. One page.
2. Organisation Overview
- Legal structure and ABN
- Directors and key personnel, with qualifications
- Registration groups applied for or held
- Service locations and areas covered
3. Services and Registration Groups
List each support with its registration group, delivery model, and staff qualifications.
| Support Type | Example Registration Group | Audit Pathway | Staff Requirement |
| Assistance with daily personal activities | 0107 | Certification | Support workers with relevant training |
| Assistance in shared living (SIL) | 0115 | Certification | Support workers, house coordinators |
| Community participation | 0125 | Varies by activity | Support workers |
| High-intensity daily personal activities | 0104 | Certification plus module | Trained and competency-assessed staff |
| Therapeutic supports | 0128 | Verification | AHPRA-registered or professionally accredited therapists |
4. Market Analysis
- Participant numbers and growth in your service area
- Gaps in supply, such as SIL vacancies, weekend support, culturally specific services
- Referral sources: support coordinators, plan managers, hospitals, schools
- Your positioning against other providers (types, not names)
5. Governance and Quality Management
This section maps directly to the Practice Standards Core Module.
- Governance structure and decision-making
- Risk management framework and risk register
- Incident management and complaints process
- Continuity of supports plan. Our guide to business continuity planning covers the method.
- Quality improvement cycle and internal audit schedule
Keep full policies out of the main body. Reference them and place them in the appendices of your business plan so auditors can find them fast.
6. Workforce Plan
- Roles, award classifications, and headcount by year
- Recruitment, induction, and training plan
- Worker screening and Code of Conduct compliance
- Supervision ratios
7. Marketing and Referral Plan
Most NDIS referrals come from support coordinators and existing participants. Show how you will build relationships, track referrals, and protect your reputation.
8. Financial Projections
Three to five years, monthly for year one. Include revenue by support type, wage costs, overheads, cash flow, and break-even. More on this below. For general modelling principles, see how to build realistic financial projections.
9. Risk Register
Common risks: price limit freezes, staff turnover, payment delays, audit non-conformities, participant concentration.
Modelling Revenue Under 2026-27 Price Limits
Here are selected national price limits that apply from 1 July 2026:
| Support | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | Change |
| Support worker, standard weekday daytime | $70.23/hr | $73.58/hr | +4.8% |
| Psychology | $232.99/hr | $252.99/hr | +8.6% |
| Occupational therapy | $193.99/hr | $193.99/hr | Held |
| Speech pathology | $193.99/hr | $193.99/hr | Held |
| Physiotherapy | $183.99/hr | $183.99/hr | Held |
| Dietetics | $188.99/hr | $178.99/hr | -5.3% |
| Exercise physiology | $166.99/hr | $161.99/hr | -3.0% |
Therapy travel now has its own line item at half the discipline’s hourly rate.
The Margin Squeeze Therapy Providers Face
Award wages rose 4.75% on 1 July 2026. Occupational therapy, speech, and physiotherapy prices did not move. That means a therapy practice paying award-linked wages saw costs climb while its maximum price stayed flat.
Your plan should show how you protect margin: higher billable utilisation, group sessions, travel efficiency, or a mix shift toward supports with price growth.
Sample Unit Economics: Core Support Worker Hour
| Item | Per Billable Hour (Illustrative) |
| Price limit (weekday daytime) | $73.58 |
| Fully loaded worker cost (wage, 12% super, leave, workers comp) | $50.00 |
| Travel and non-billable time allowance | $6.00 |
| Gross contribution | $17.58 (about 24%) |
| Overheads (rostering, compliance, insurance, admin) | $9.00 |
| Net margin before tax | $8.58 (about 12%) |
Replace these with your own award classifications and overheads. The point is the structure: lenders want to see each layer.
Key Ratios to Track
- Billable utilisation (billable hours ÷ paid hours): aim for 80% or higher for support workers
- Staff turnover rate
- Revenue per participant
- Debtor days by funding type (NDIA-managed, plan-managed, self-managed)
- Weekend and evening share of hours
Registered vs Unregistered: Decision Matrix
| Factor | Registered Provider | Unregistered Provider |
| Can serve NDIA-managed participants | Yes | No |
| Can deliver SIL from 1 July 2026 | Yes | No (new providers) |
| Upfront cost | Audit, policies, insurance | Lower |
| Market access from July 2027 | Full | Shrinking for high-risk supports |
| Lender and investor appeal | Higher | Lower |
| Ongoing compliance load | Higher | Code of Conduct and worker screening still apply |
Startup Budget for a New NDIS Provider
| Item | Indicative Range (AUD) |
| Company setup and legal | $1,500 to $4,000 |
| Policies and procedures | $1,000 to $5,000 |
| Verification audit | $900 to $1,800 |
| Certification audit | $3,000 to $15,000+ |
| Insurance (first year) | $1,500 to $5,000 |
| Worker screening per worker | Set by state, varies |
| Software (rostering, billing, notes) | $2,000 to $8,000 per year |
| Working capital (3 to 6 months of wages) | Depends on staffing plan |
The Commission does not charge an application fee. Costs above are market ranges, not official prices.
Common Mistakes in NDIS Business Plans
- Revenue built on price limits as if every hour is billed at the maximum
- No allowance for non-billable time, travel, or cancellations
- Wage costs still on 2025-26 award rates
- Generic policies copied from templates and never tailored
- No plan for the July 2027 registration expansion
- Ignoring Thriving Kids in early childhood growth targets
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a business plan mandatory for NDIS registration?
The Commission does not require a standalone business plan form. Auditors still test the governance, risk, and financial evidence a plan provides, and lenders almost always ask for one.
How long should an NDIS business plan be?
Most run 25 to 35 pages including financials. See how long a business plan should be for a general guide.
Which NDIS supports require registration in 2026?
SIL and NDIS digital platforms from 1 July 2026, along with existing categories already requiring registration, such as behaviour support involving restrictive practices. All high-risk supports are scheduled to follow from 1 July 2027.
What price limit should I use for support workers in 2026-27?
The standard weekday daytime self-care price limit is $73.58 per hour from 1 July 2026. Check the Pricing Arrangements for your support type, time, and location.
Get an NDIS Business Plan That Works for Audit and Finance
An NDIS provider plan has to satisfy an auditor, a bank, and your own leadership team. That means real price limits, real award costs, and a governance section that maps to the Practice Standards.
BPlanWriter writes NDIS provider business plans from our Blacktown, NSW office, with typical delivery in 12 to 15 working days. If you are raising capital or planning multi-site growth, pair it with a strategic business plan. Book a free consultation to start.
This article is general information. Check current NDIS Commission and NDIA guidance before you apply.
