- Not every NDIS business needs to be a registered provider. Unregistered providers can work with self-managed and plan-managed participants without registration but cannot access NDIA-managed funding or deliver higher-risk supports like SIL or behaviour support.
- A Pty Ltd company is the recommended structure for most registered NDIS providers, it costs $611 to register with ASIC, limits personal liability, and is taxed at 25% for base rate entities rather than personal marginal rates of up to 47%.
- NDIS registration is not a one-off process. Your Certificate of Registration is valid for up to 3 years, certification providers face a mid-term audit at 18 months, and ongoing obligations apply throughout.
Starting an NDIS business in Australia involves more than registering a company. Depending on the services you provide, you may need NDIS provider registration, a suitability assessment, and an independent audit. From application to approval, NDIS registration commonly takes several months, depending on audit scheduling, documentation readiness, and Commission processing times
The NDIS supports over 650,000 Australians with a budget exceeding $40 billion, creating strong business opportunities alongside strict compliance requirements.
In this guide, we break down everything you need to start an NDIS business in Australia:
- registration,
- structure,
- audits, and
- ongoing compliance
And if you haven’t set up your business structure yet, registering a company is the right first step.
Choose your registration groups carefully before you apply, not after. Each group you add increases audit complexity and cost. Start lean with only what you need on day one and add groups as your business grows.
Do you need to register as an NDIS provider in Australia?
Not every NDIS business needs to be a registered provider and understanding this distinction is the first decision you need to make.
1. Unregistered providers
If you plan to work only with self-managed or plan-managed NDIS participants, you can operate as an unregistered provider. You don’t need NDIS registration, but you still need:
- An Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Appropriate insurance (public liability and professional indemnity at minimum)
- To comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct
- To meet any relevant state or territory licensing requirements for your service type
Unregistered providers cannot work with NDIA-managed participants, the largest funding category. This limits your potential client base significantly.
2. Registered providers
Registration with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is required if you want to:
- Work with NDIA-managed participants
- Deliver higher-risk supports such as Supported Independent Living (SIL), behaviour support, or services involving restrictive practices
- Position your business for long-term growth across all participant types
The decision framework
Aspect | Unregistered | Registered |
Can work with NDIA-managed participants | No | Yes |
Can work with plan-managed participants | Yes | Yes |
Can work with self-managed participants | Yes | Yes |
Can deliver high-risk supports (SIL, behaviour support) | No | Yes |
Audit required | No | Yes |
NDIS Practice Standards apply | Code of Conduct only | Full compliance |
For most people starting an NDIS business with growth in mind, registration is the right path. Starting unregistered can work for sole traders testing the market with self-managed or plan-managed clients. Registration becomes necessary once you want to work with NDIA-managed participants or deliver higher-risk support.
What is the best business structure for an NDIS business in Australia?
Choosing the right structure before you apply for NDIS registration matters because the structure you operate under affects your liability exposure, tax position, and who gets assessed as part of the NDIS suitability process.
1. Sole trader
Sole trader is one of the simplest and cheapest structures to set up. Suitable for
- independent support workers starting small,
- working with self-managed or plan-managed participants only, and
- operating without employees.
The significant limitation of this structure is:
- As a sole trader, you and the business are the same legal entity.
- Every liability the business incurs is your personal liability.
- For an NDIS business delivering care services, where incidents, complaints, and participant injuries are real risks that exposure is meaningful.
Sole traders can become registered NDIS providers, but the structure is generally not recommended for businesses planning to hire staff, grow a participant base, or deliver higher-risk supports.
2. Pty Ltd company
PTY LTD is the recommended structure for most NDIS businesses planning to grow, hire support workers, or work across all participant funding types.
- Limited liability, the company is a separate legal entity, protecting your personal assets from business risk
- Taxed at the corporate rate of 25% for base rate entities (turnover under $50 million) rather than personal marginal rates of up to 47%
- Easier to bring in employees, contractors, and eventually co-owners or investors
- Cleaner separation between business and personal finances, important for NDIS audits and financial record requirements
One NDIS-specific consideration:
- The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission conducts a key personnel suitability assessment as part of registration.
- Directors and officers of a company are assessed, so the people you appoint to your company structure need to pass this check.
3. Not-for-profit organisation
Relevant for community organisations, charities, or social enterprises entering the NDIS space.
- Not-for-profits have different governance requirements, reporting obligations, and potentially different tax treatment.
- If this applies to your situation, specific legal and accounting advice is essential before proceeding.
Which structure should you choose for your NDIS business
Aspect | Sole trader | PTY LTD company |
Setup cost | Setup cost | $611 ASIC registration fee |
Personal liability | Full | Limited to shareholding |
Tax rate | Personal marginal rate (up to 47%) | 25% for base rate entities |
Can hire employees | Yes | Yes |
Recommended for NDIS | Small, unregistered, self-managed clients only | Most registered NDIS providers |
Key personnel assessed | You personally | Directors and officers |
For most people starting an NDIS business with registration in mind, a Pty Ltd company registered with ASIC for $611 is the right foundation, it protects your personal assets, supports growth, and presents a more credible business to participants, support coordinators, and the Commission.
How do you register as an NDIS provider in Australia?
NDIS provider registration is managed by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Here’s exactly how the process works from start to finish.
Step 1: Set up your PRODA account
- Before you can access the NDIS Commission Portal, you need a PRODA (Provider Digital Access) account.
- PRODA is the Australian Government’s identity verification system.
Step 2: Submit your online application
Once your PRODA account is active, log into the NDIS Commission Portal and complete the online application. You’ll need to provide:
- Business details including ABN and legal structure
- Key personnel details; names, roles, and contact information
- Selected registration groups
- Nominated auditor (or you can select one after submission)
Step 3: Select your registration groups
Registration groups define what supports you’re approved to deliver.
- Your selection determines whether you need a verification audit or a certification audit, which significantly affects cost and timeframe.
- Choose only the groups that match your current service offering, adding unnecessary groups increases audit complexity and cost.
Step 4: Complete the self-assessment
You’ll be required to self-assess against the NDIS Practice Standards relevant to your chosen registration groups.
- This involves documenting your policies, procedures, and systems against each standard.
- This is also your audit preparation, the auditor will assess the same areas.
Step 5: Key personnel suitability assessment
The NDIS Commission assesses all key personnel; directors, officers, and anyone with management or control of the organisation. The assessment covers:
- Criminal history
- Prior NDIS or aged care regulatory findings
- Bankruptcy or insolvency history
- Any disciplinary findings in relevant industries
This is not negotiable; all key personnel must pass before registration can be granted.
Step 6: Engage an approved quality auditor
You must engage an auditor from the NDIS Commission’s approved list. The auditor conducts either a verification or certification audit depending on your registration groups. Get quotes from multiple auditors, costs vary significantly.
Step 7: Complete your audit
- Verification audit: document review only, typically completed within 2–4 weeks
- Certification audit: includes on-site assessment, typically takes 4–8 weeks
Step 8: Commission decision
After reviewing your application and audit outcome, the Commission makes a registration decision. If approved, you receive a Certificate of Registration detailing:
- Approved registration groups
- Registration validity period (typically 3 years)
- Any conditions imposed
How long does it take to become an NDIS provider in Australia?
Stage | Typical timeframe |
PRODA setup and application preparation | 1–2 weeks |
Online application processing | 4–6 weeks |
Key personnel suitability assessment | 4–8 weeks |
Verification audit | 2–4 weeks |
Certification audit | 4–8 weeks |
Commission decision after audit | 4–6 weeks |
Total: verification pathway | 3–4 months |
Total: certification pathway | 4–6 months |
These are typical timeframes, delays can occur if documentation is incomplete, key personnel details require further assessment, or audit scheduling is delayed during peak periods.
What are NDIS registration groups and how do you choose them?
NDIS registration groups define the types of services you’re approved to deliver. The groups you choose determine:
- what supports you can offer
- which participants you can work with
- the audit type, cost, and timeframe for your application
Why your selection matters
Choosing the wrong groups, especially too many or higher-risk ones, can:
- increase audit costs
- extend your approval timeline
- add unnecessary complexity to your application
Getting this right upfront saves both time and money.
Verification vs certification, the key distinction
Audit type | Verification | Certification |
Applies to | Lower-risk supports | Higher-risk supports |
Audit method | Document review only | Document review + on-site assessment |
Typical cost | $2,000–$5,000 | $5,000–$15,000+ |
Timeframe | 2–4 weeks | 4–8 weeks |
Examples | Assistive tech, transport | SIL, behaviour support, personal care |
Common registration groups by provider type
Provider type | Typical registration groups | Audit type |
Support worker | Assistance with daily life | Certification |
Therapy provider | Therapeutic supports | Certification |
Plan manager | Support coordination, plan management | Verification |
Assistive tech supplier | Assistive technology, home modifications | Verification |
Behaviour support | Specialised behaviour support | Certification |
Transport provider | Transport | Verification |
Start with only the groups you need to operate on day one.
You can always add registration groups later as your business grows. This may require another audit, but it’s far easier than overcomplicating your initial application.
If you’re unsure, refer to the NDIS Support Catalogue or seek advice before applying, this is one decision that directly affects your cost, timeline, and approval outcome.
Most NDIS providers underestimate how much documentation work sits between application and approval. The NDIS Commission doesn't assess your intentions, it assesses evidence. Policies, procedures, and systems need to be operational before your auditor arrives, not in draft form.
What are the NDIS Practice Standards and what do you need before your audit?
The NDIS Practice Standards are the quality benchmarks every registered NDIS provider must meet. They define what good practice looks like across different support types and form the basis of your audit assessment.
How are the NDIS Practice Standards structured?
The standards are divided into a core module that applies to all registered providers, and supplementary modules that apply based on your registration groups.
Core module, applies to every registered provider:
- Rights and responsibilities of participants
- Governance and operational management
- Provision of supports
- Support provision environment
Supplementary modules, applies based on registration groups:
- High intensity daily personal activities
- Specialist behaviour support and implementing behaviour support plans
- Early childhood supports
- Specialised support coordination
- Mealtime management
- Australian Standard for supported accommodation
What documents do you need before an NDIS audit?
This is where most new providers underestimate the preparation required. Your auditor will assess evidence, not just your intentions. Before your audit, you need:
Document | What it covers |
Participant rights policy | How you uphold and communicate participant rights |
Incident management system | How incidents are recorded, reported, and reviewed |
Complaints management process | How complaints are received, handled, and resolved |
Risk management framework | How business and participant risks are identified and managed |
Worker screening records | Evidence that all workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check |
Staff training records | Completion of NDIS orientation module and role-specific training |
Emergency and disaster plan | How you manage participant safety in emergencies |
Financial management processes | How participant funds are managed and recorded |
Having these documents in draft form is not enough. Your auditor will look for evidence that systems are operational, not just written down.
What is the most common NDIS audit mistake?
Submitting your application before your policies and procedures are complete. The audit clock starts once your application is lodged, if your documentation isn’t ready when the auditor arrives, you’ll fail the audit and need to repeat the process. Build your policies and procedures before you apply, not after.
What are the worker screening requirements for NDIS providers?
Every worker in a risk-assessed role must hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check before they begin work with participants. This is non-negotiable, allowing an uncleared worker to deliver support is a serious compliance breach.
Who needs an NDIS Worker Screening Check:
- Employees, contractors, and volunteers in direct contact with participants
- Workers in risk-assessed roles, including employees, contractors, volunteers, and some key personnel depending on their role
- Anyone in a role assessed as requiring the check under the NDIS (Worker Supports) Rules 2021
How to apply: Applications are made through the worker screening unit in the state or territory where the worker is based, not through the NDIS Commission directly.
Are NDIS services GST-free in Australia?
Many NDIS-funded supports are GST-free under the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999, provided specific conditions are met, including that the support is supplied to an NDIS participant and included in their NDIS plan.
This has specific implications for how you set up your Business Activity Statement (BAS) and claim input tax credits.
What does GST-free mean for NDIS providers?
- You do not charge GST on NDIS services delivered to participants
- You can still claim input tax credits on GST-inclusive business purchases related to delivering those services
- GST-free NDIS income is generally reported at both G1 (total sales) and G3 (other GST-free sales) on your BAS
What is the difference between GST-free and input taxed?
This is one of the most common mistakes NDIS providers make. GST-free is not the same as input taxed.
Aspect | GST-free (NDIS services) | Input taxed (e.g. residential rent) |
Charge GST to client | No | No |
Claim input tax credits | Yes | No |
Because NDIS services are GST-free, not input taxed, you retain the right to claim back GST on your business expenses. Office supplies, equipment, software, and other GST-inclusive purchases related to your NDIS business are all creditable acquisitions.
When does GST apply to NDIS services?
If you provide non-NDIS services alongside your NDIS supports, for example, private pay services to non-participants, those services may be taxable supplies attracting 10% GST. Your BAS needs to correctly separate GST-free NDIS income from any taxable income.
Do NDIS providers need to register for GST?
If your total turnover, including GST-free NDIS income, exceeds $75,000 in a 12-month period, GST registration is mandatory. NDIS businesses typically cross this threshold quickly given NDIS pricing rates.
Read more: How To Register for GST in Australia
What are the ongoing compliance obligations for registered NDIS providers?
Registration is not a one-off achievement. The NDIS Commission expects ongoing compliance and has the power to suspend or cancel registration if obligations aren’t met.
How often do you need to renew NDIS registration?
Your Certificate of Registration is valid for up to 3 years. Before expiry, you must complete a renewal application and a new audit. Start this process at least 6 months before your registration expires.
Do NDIS providers need a mid-term audit?
If your registration requires a certification audit, you must complete a mid-term audit at the 18-month mark. This is a lighter-touch review but still requires evidence of ongoing compliance.
What incidents must NDIS providers report?
Registered providers must report certain incidents to the NDIS Commission within strict timeframes:
- Reportable incidents (including abuse, neglect, unexplained injury, or death): must be reported within 24 hours of becoming aware
- Initial report: lodged via the NDIS Commission Portal
- Follow-up report: within 5 business days with full details
Failure to report is a serious compliance breach and can trigger Commission investigation.
What ongoing compliance do NDIS providers need to meet?
- Notify the Commission of key personnel changes within 90 days
- Maintain a complaints management system and respond to complaints within documented timeframes
- Keep worker screening records current, checks expire after 5 years
- Update NDIS Commission Portal when business details change
- Maintain financial records and participant support records for a minimum of 7 years
- Pay ASIC annual review fee of $329 if operating as a Pty Ltd
What are the most common mistakes when starting an NDIS business?
- Choosing too many registration groups: More groups means a more complex and expensive audit. Start with only what you need on day one, you can add groups later.
- Applying before your policies are complete: The audit process begins after your application is lodged. Arriving at audit without complete, operational documentation means failing and repeating the process, adding months and cost.
- Not completing worker screening before staff start: Allowing an uncleared worker to deliver supports, even temporarily, is a compliance breach that can jeopardise your registration. Worker screening processing times vary by state and application volume, so start the process early before staff begin work.
- Underpricing services without checking the Support Catalogue: NDIS price limits look generous until overhead costs are factored in. Model your full cost base before committing to service agreements with participants.
- Choosing the wrong business structure: Sole traders delivering registered supports carry full personal liability for participant incidents and complaints. A Pty Ltd company at $611 ASIC registration provides meaningful protection that a sole trader structure does not.
- Missing ongoing compliance obligations after registration: Many providers focus entirely on getting registered and underestimate what comes after, mid-term audits, incident reporting, worker screening renewals, and registration renewal. Build a compliance calendar from day one.
Your NDIS registration certificate specifies exactly which registration groups you're approved for. Delivering a support outside your approved groups even accidentally, is a compliance breach that can trigger Commission investigation and jeopardise your entire registration.
How Sleek helps you start and run your NDIS business
Starting an NDIS business isn’t just about registration, it’s about getting your structure, finances, and compliance right from day one.
With Sleek, you get:
- End-to-end company setup
From company registration to ABN, GST, and business structure, we set up your NDIS business correctly from the start - NDIS-ready accounting systems
Bookkeeping, invoicing, BAS, and financial reporting set up to handle NDIS payments and compliance requirements - Payroll and compliance support
Manage support workers, PAYG, super, and award obligations without errors - Ongoing tax and BAS lodgements
Stay compliant with the ATO while focusing on growing your participant base - Transparent, fixed pricing
Clear monthly pricing with no surprises as your NDIS business scales
Talk to a Sleek accountant and get your NDIS business set up correctly from the very first step.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register with the NDIS to provide services?
Not always. Unregistered providers can work with self-managed and plan-managed participants without NDIS registration. However, registration is required to work with NDIA-managed participants, the largest funding category and to deliver higher-risk supports including SIL, behaviour support, and services involving restrictive practices.
How much does an NDIS audit cost?
Verification audits typically cost $2,000–$5,000. Certification audits typically cost $5,000–$15,000+ depending on organisation size, number of registration groups, and auditor. Costs vary between approved auditors, get multiple quotes before engaging one.
How often do I need to renew my NDIS registration?
NDIS registration is valid for up to 3 years. Before expiry, you must complete a renewal application and a new audit. Certification providers must also complete a mid-term audit at the 18-month mark. Start your renewal process at least 6 months before your registration expires.
