How to Get Your First 10 NDIS Clients
Get your first NDIS clients with a practical channel-by-channel plan: directory listings, coordinator referrals, fast intake and honest pricing for new provid
Where your first NDIS clients actually come from
Get the basics right before you chase anyone
List where participants and coordinators search
Win support coordinators and LACs — your highest-leverage channel
Answer enquiries fast — most providers lose clients here
Pick a niche — 'everyone' is not a market
Understand what you can charge versus what you pay
Worked example: a solo sole trader's first 10
Referral partnerships with complementary providers
Stay inside the advertising and conduct rules
Mistakes that keep new providers stuck at zero
Your next three moves
Frequently asked questions
How many NDIS clients do I need to be sustainable as a sole trader?
It depends on your hours and cost base, but many solo providers aim for enough regular clients to fill 20-30 billable hours a week once unbillable travel, admin and supervision are accounted for. Remember the gap between the PAPL price limit (~$70/hr, confirm the current figure) and the SCHADS wage you'd pay a worker isn't all profit — it covers super at 12%, insurance and overheads. Model your real costs before you set a client target.
Do I need to be NDIS registered to get my first clients?
Not for many support types — you can deliver to plan-managed and self-managed participants without registration today. However, mandatory registration for SIL and digital-platform providers commenced from 1 July 2026 (registration group 0138), and it expands to high-risk supports such as personal care and daily living from 1 July 2027. Check whether your specific supports fall under a current or upcoming mandate on ndiscommission.gov.au before you rely on being unregistered.
What's the fastest way to get NDIS clients as a brand-new provider?
List on provider directories with a specific, honest profile and email local support coordinators with a clear pitch and your current capacity. These two moves put you in front of the people who make referral decisions, cost little, and can produce clients within weeks. Paid advertising is slower and less reliable at the start, so exhaust the direct channels first.
Can I pay a support coordinator to refer clients to me?
No. The NDIS Code of Conduct and conflict-of-interest rules prohibit paying for referrals or offering inducements, and you must disclose conflicts — particularly if you both coordinate and deliver supports. Build referral flow on reliability, clear communication and good outcomes instead. Breaching these rules risks Commission enforcement action, including suspension for registered providers.
Why do I keep getting enquiries but no bookings?
Almost always it's response speed and clarity. Participants and coordinators contact several providers and often go with whoever replies first with a clear next step, so a same-day response, a straightforward service agreement and a booked start date convert far better than a slow, vague reply. Track every enquiry so you can see where they drop off and fix that step.