Most Australian grant writers do not publish their prices. That makes an honest answer harder than it should be, so this page sets out what is actually published, the fee models you will meet, and the one cost rule that catches applicants out.
What Australian firms actually publish
- Most grant and tender consultancies publish no fees at all. Nearly every enquiry is routed to a quote or a phone call, so comparing providers means asking each one directly.
- Where hourly rates are published, tender writing sits at roughly $140 to $165 plus GST per hour, with an advertised market spread of about $100 to $240 plus GST.
- Published fixed fees for tender work run from around $1,000 for a small submission, $2,000 to $6,000 for a medium one, and $6,000 and above for complex government bids.
- Grant applications are generally cheaper than tenders. Figures published by Australian grant consultancies commonly fall between $500 and $5,000 for a small application.
- Treat any single published "average" with caution. There is no independent Australian fee survey for this work, so every figure online is either one firm's price list or an estimate.
The fee models you will meet
- Hourly. Transparent, but open-ended. Ask for an estimated range and a cap in writing.
- Fixed project fee. The most common model. Ask exactly what is included, because research, drafting, the budget, attachments, revisions and lodgement are not always all in scope.
- Retainer. Only sensible if you apply for funding regularly through the year.
- Success fee or commission. A percentage of the grant, usually with a smaller upfront fee. Published Australian rates run between 5 and 15 per cent.
The rule that catches people out
Commonwealth grant guidelines routinely list "costs related to preparing the grant application" as ineligible expenditure. Some councils go further and name grant writer or grant assistance fees outright.
Plenty of other programs say nothing at all, and silence is not permission: grant money is provided for the funded project, not for the cost of chasing it. Plan on paying your writer from your own funds, and read the ineligible expenditure section of the guidelines before assuming otherwise.
What to ask before engaging anyone
- What is the total fee, and what is specifically excluded?
- Who writes it, and who reviews it before submission?
- How many rounds of revision are included?
- What happens if the program closes or changes before you submit?
- Do you charge a success fee, and can it lawfully be paid from this grant?
- What is your experience with this specific program or funder?
Fees vary widely and this market is not transparent. Getting two or three written quotes is better guidance than any average figure published online, including the ranges above.