NDIS Business Plan Template
A free, copy-and-fill NDIS business plan template for providers — services, PAPL vs SCHADS pricing, cashflow, compliance and the 2026 reforms.
What this template does and how to use it
The template — copy and fill
A short worked example: the pricing section
The 2026-2030 reforms your plan has to survive
Common mistakes and edge cases
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a business plan to register as an NDIS provider?
There is no single form called a 'business plan' in the registration process, but registration and audit ask for much of what a plan contains — your services, policies, risk management, financial viability and compliance systems. Writing the plan first means the registration paperwork is mostly drafting from a document you already have. Confirm the exact requirements with the NDIS Commission for your registration groups.
How detailed do the financials need to be?
Detailed enough to answer three questions honestly: how many billable hours a week you need to break even, how long your cash lasts before payments arrive, and what happens if a big participant's plan ends. A simple 12-month cashflow spreadsheet attached to Section 9 is enough to start. If you are borrowing money, a lender will want more granularity.
What's the difference between the PAPL rate and what I pay staff?
The PAPL price limit is the most you can charge the NDIS for a support — for example, an indicative ~$70.23/hr for standard weekday daytime assistance under the 2025-26 PAPL. What a worker is paid is set by the SCHADS award, roughly $31-$44/hr depending on level and loadings. The gap is not profit; it funds super (12% from 1 July 2026), insurance, admin, training, travel and margin. Never quote the two as if they were the same number.
Should I plan to register or stay unregistered?
That depends on your supports, but the direction of policy is clear: mandatory registration is expanding — SIL and digital platforms from 1 July 2026, high-risk supports from 1 July 2027, and a target of near-complete coverage by 2030 — and differentiated pricing for unregistered providers is under consultation. Model a registration pathway in your plan rather than assuming the unregistered route stays open and cheap. Confirm current rules before deciding.
How often should I update the plan?
Treat it as a living document and review it at least quarterly, and immediately whenever the PAPL is updated (annually, around 1 July) or a reform milestone lands. The financials and milestones sections date fastest.