Looking To Start a NDIS Business? Here are 22 Questions Everyone Asks (And the Honest Answers)
We have worked with over 500 providers. These are the questions that come up on almost every single conversation we have with someone starting out.
GETTING STARTED
Do I need to be registered to start delivering NDIS services?
No. You can operate as an unregistered provider and deliver services to participants who are self-managed or plan-managed. The only things you cannot do without registration are work with NDIA-managed participants and deliver services in restricted registration groups (like Specialist Behaviour Support or SIL). Many providers start unregistered to test the market and build revenue before investing in registration.
What’s the difference between registered and unregistered?
Registered providers have been audited against the NDIS Practice Standards and can work with all participant types, including NDIA-managed. Unregistered providers can only work with self-managed and plan-managed participants, but they avoid the audit cost and the ongoing compliance obligations that come with registration. Both are legitimate ways to operate. The right choice depends on your goals, budget, and the types of participants you want to serve.
Can I start as a sole trader or do I need a company?
You can start as a sole trader. It is simpler and cheaper to set up. However, if you plan to hire staff and scale, a company structure is recommended because it separates your personal assets from business liabilities. If something goes wrong under a sole trader structure, your personal assets (house, car, savings) are exposed. A company costs around $600 to register through ASIC.
Do I need specific qualifications to become a provider?
There is no single qualification required to start an NDIS provider business. What matters is that you can demonstrate competence in the services you deliver. Relevant experience, certifications, and training all count. If you are hiring workers, they will need appropriate qualifications for the roles they fill. Your background and experience are what shape your niche and the types of participants you are best placed to support.
Do I need staff before I start, or can I start solo?
You can absolutely start solo. Most providers do. You deliver the services yourself, build your client base, and hire when you have enough revenue and demand to justify it. Trying to hire before you have clients creates unnecessary financial pressure. Get your first 3–5 clients, prove the model works, and then bring on staff.
COSTS
How much does it actually cost to start an NDIS business?
It depends on the path you take. If you start as an unregistered provider, you are looking at roughly $1,800–$4,000 including your documentation, business setup, marketing and insurance. If you go for full registration, the total is typically $6,000–$13,000 once you factor in consultant fees, the audit, insurance, marketing and basic business setup. Most consultants only quote their own fee. The audit, insurance, and marketing costs are where people get blindsided. Budget for the full picture, not just the registration line item.
How much does the audit cost?
For a Certification registration, the independent audit typically costs between $2,700 and $4,500 depending on the auditing body and your registration groups. This is a separate cost from any consultant fee. The auditor is an independent body approved by the NDIS Commission.
What’s the difference between the consultant fee and the audit fee?
The consultant fee is what you pay a company like us to prepare your documentation, lodge your application, train you on compliance, and support you through the process. The audit fee is what you pay the independent auditor to conduct your formal assessment. They are completely separate costs paid to separate organisations. Think of it like hiring an accountant to prepare your tax return versus the ATO processing it.
Are there payment plan options?
Yes. We offer payment plans on all our packages. You pay 25% upfront, and then the remaining balance is split into fortnightly payments over 8 weeks. We know that starting a business is already a significant financial commitment, and we do not want the payment structure to be the thing that stops you from getting started.
REGISTRATION & THE AUDIT
What’s actually involved in the registration process?
There are six steps: (1) Choose your registration groups based on the services you want to deliver. (2) Develop your policies, procedures, and forms to comply with the NDIS Practice Standards. (3) Lodge your application through PRODA. (4) Prepare for the audit, including training on the Practice Standards and a mock audit. (5) Complete your audit. (6) Wait for the NDIS Commission to grant your registration based on the auditor’s recommendation. With the right support, the process from start to audit takes around 6 weeks. Commission approval after that takes roughly 6–8 weeks.
What happens during the audit?
If you do not currently have clients with the abn you are registering with, the audit has two parts. First, a document review where the auditor checks your policies, procedures, forms, and personnel documents (ID, worker screening, training records). Second, an interview where they ask you questions about how you will implement the NDIS Practice Standards in everyday operations. They want to see that you do not just have the right paperwork, but that you actually understand how to use it. That interview is what most people are underprepared for, and it is exactly what a mock audit is designed to fix.
What happens if I fail the audit?
If you do not pass the first time, you will need to complete a follow-up audit on the areas where you were found non-compliant. That follow-up audit costs money. With our service, we include an Audit Success Guarantee: if you need a follow-up audit, we cover the cost until you pass. You only pay for the audit once.
How long does the whole process take from start to registered?
On average, 6 weeks from starting with us to completing your audit. The biggest variable is how quickly you provide your personnel documents (ID, screening checks, etc.). After the audit, it takes approximately 6–8 weeks for the NDIS Commission to formally grant your registration. But you can start taking self-managed and plan-managed clients as soon as your audit is complete.
Can I start taking clients before my registration is finalised?
Yes. Once your audit is complete, you can start working with self-managed and plan-managed participants while you wait for the Commission to process your registration. You do not need to wait for the certificate to arrive before you start operating.
GETTING CLIENTS
How do I actually find clients?
This is the most important question you can ask and the one most consultants never answer. There's no single channel that works for every provider. But the providers who grow consistently do three things well.
First, they get specific. They know exactly who they serve and what problem they solve. Generic providers who say "we do everything" struggle because there's no clear reason for anyone to choose them. The more specific you are, the easier every other part of marketing becomes.
Second, they build referral relationships. Support coordinators, plan managers, allied health professionals and families are all looking for providers they trust. When you have a clear niche and a defined program, you become the provider they think of when a participant matches what you do.
Third, they build visibility. That might be a personal brand on social media that speaks directly to your target audience. It might be targeted ads on Meta or Google reaching families and participants in your local area. It might be community events, networking, or local partnerships. Some providers combine all of these. The right mix depends on who you're trying to reach and where they spend their time - but the point is you're not sitting and waiting. You have a system that brings people to you.
Our startup system covers all three - positioning, referral strategy, and a marketing plan tailored to your specific business, audience, and local area.
Why do so many providers struggle to get clients?
Because they look identical to every other provider. There are over 270,000 providers in Australia. The vast majority list the same services, use the same language, and put the same generic photos on their websites. From a support coordinator’s perspective, there is no way to tell them apart. So they default to providers they already know and trust - the ones who have been around for years. New providers break through by being specific, not generic. The ones who are growing have a defined niche, a clear offer, and a reason for people to choose them.
Is the market too saturated to start now?
No. The market is saturated with generic providers. It is not saturated with providers who do something specific and do it well. Most providers offer “everything to everyone” and wonder why no one chooses them. If you position yourself around a specific audience with a specific solution, there is significant opportunity. The providers who are growing right now are not the ones who got in first - they are the ones who got specific.
Can someone just give me leads or clients?
Some companies sell leads, but we strongly recommend against it. Bought leads rarely convert because they are not pre-qualified for your specific services, and you have given them no reason to choose you over anyone else. It is like pouring water into a bucket with holes. The sustainable path is building your positioning first - becoming the obvious choice for a defined group of people - so that referrals come to you warm and ready to engage. That is what we help you build.
Do I need a website to get started?
Not immediately. A website is helpful, but it is not where your first clients will come from. Your first clients will come from direct relationships, conversations with support coordinators, plan managers, and local networks. A website supports those relationships, but it does not replace them. Get your positioning right first, then build the website around it. A generic website built too early is just an expensive business card that does not convert.
AFTER YOU’RE SET UP
What do I actually do with the policy documents once I have them?
This is where most providers get stuck. Having a 300-page policy manual is useless if you do not know when to use each document and how it connects to your day-to-day operations. Your policies are not a filing exercise - they are your operating system. When you onboard a client, there are specific forms and processes. When you manage an incident, there is a specific procedure. We do not just hand you documents. We train you on how to implement them so they are part of how you actually run your business, not something sitting in a folder gathering dust.
How does NDIS invoicing and pricing work?
The NDIS has a Price Guide that sets maximum prices for every support category. You bill using specific line items that correspond to the services you deliver. The rules around what you can charge for (travel, cancellations, report writing, etc.) can be complex. Getting this wrong means you either undercharge (losing money) or overcharge (risking non-compliance). This is covered in our ecosystem training - we walk you through the price guide, help you choose your line items, and make sure you understand exactly what you can and cannot bill for.
What happens if the NDIS rules change after I’m set up?
They will change. The NDIS updates its requirements regularly. That is why we include a 2-Year Compliance Guarantee: if NDIS requirements change within two years of your purchase, we update your documentation at no additional cost. We also keep all our clients informed through regular updates so you are never caught off guard by a regulatory change.
Still have questions? That is exactly what a Clarity Call is for.
It is a free, no-obligation conversation where we look at your specific situation, answer your questions, and help you figure out whether now is the right time to start and which path makes sense for you.
