How Much Does It Cost to Start a Support Coordination Business?
The real cost to start a support coordination business in Australia — setup fees, insurance, software and a lean vs safe budget, with 2026 figures.
The short answer: two realistic budgets
One-off setup costs
Insurance: the one cost you cannot skip
NDIS registration costs (only if you register)
Software and tools
The cost most people forget: your own time and cash runway
A worked example: Priya's lean start
Lean vs safe: side-by-side first-year budget
How the 2026–2028 reforms change the maths
What you are actually allowed to bill
Common budgeting mistakes
Frequently asked questions
Can I start a support coordination business with no money?
Almost — your hard startup cost can be under $100 if you register a free ABN, use a spreadsheet and free tools, and work from home. But you should never skip insurance, and you need a personal cash runway to survive the weeks or months before invoices clear. Realistically, budget a few thousand dollars plus living expenses.
Do I need to register with the NDIS to start as a support coordinator?
Not for standard (Level 1 and Level 2) support coordination. Mandatory registration for registration group 0106 was paused in December 2025 with no restart date. You must still register if you deliver Specialist Support Coordination (group 0132), which requires Core Module plus Module 4 certification audits.
How much does an NDIS audit cost for a support coordinator?
A verification audit for standard registration is commonly $900–$1,800, while certification audits for Specialist Support Coordination run from around $3,000 to $8,000 or more for a solo provider. Auditors set their own fees, so get fixed quotes from at least two approved quality auditors and confirm the current audit scope on the NDIS Commission website.
How much can a support coordinator charge per hour?
Support coordination is billed at NDIS price limits, which are frozen for a seventh year: indicatively around $80.06/hr for Level 1, $100.14/hr for Level 2, and $190.54/hr for Level 3 as at the 2026–27 PAPL. These are maximum billing rates, not your income — costs, tax, super and non-billable time all come out of them. Confirm current figures in the PAPL.
Is it worth starting a support coordination business before the 2028 reforms?
It can be, but go in informed. From 1 July 2028 the open market is slated to be replaced by a commissioned panel, so avoid heavy fixed investment that assumes today's model lasts. A lean, low-cost start lets you build experience and referrals while keeping your risk low until the panel design is clear — verify all dates against health.gov.au before committing spend.