How Much Does it Cost to Become an NDIS Provider?

How much does it cost to become an NDIS provider?  

Let’s talk about the journey of starting your own NDIS business – a journey that’s all about creating a wonderfully supportive space for people to thrive. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience to help participants achieve their goals and live life to the fullest. 

And if you’ve been considering taking this step, you might be wondering, “What will it cost to become an NDIS provider?” We're here to guide you through the financial side of things, from the direct costs of becoming an NDIS-registered provider to other essentials involved in setting up your business. With the right knowledge armed with a whole lot of good, you’ll be ready to take those first steps. 

Scroll on to learn more about the direct and indirect NDIS registration costs. 

Why Become an NDIS Provider?

NDIS registration is regarded as a badge of trust, showcasing your dedication, expertise, and commitment to quality in supporting NDIS participants.

Registration is absolutely essential for some services, like Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) or Positive Behaviour Support. For others, it’s a thoughtful decision that depends on your business goals. Registering allows you to work with all NDIS participants, while unregistered providers can only support self-managed participants.

But being registered comes with ongoing responsibilities. Regular audits help ensure your services align with NDIS standards, reassuring participants and those who care about them. Registration also means you’ll be paid directly by the NDIS, taking the hassle out of invoicing participants and letting you focus on providing the best care possible. 

‍Key Costs Associated with Becoming an NDIS Provider

Staff recruitment and training 

Unless you’re a sole trader, you’ll want to recruit fellow good humans. From screening and interviewing to onboarding, assembling your dream team can be a hands-on process. 

Depending on your team’s experience you might need to account for the cost of upskilling, including professional development. You could also cover the time they spend attending the courses to invest further into the growth and quality of care your team offers. 

Business Insurance 

Starting your own business is both exciting and enlightening, but it comes with its fair share of challenges. That’s where business insurance steps in – as your safety net for the unexpected. The right coverage can protect you from bumps along the road, like theft, employee injuries, or vehicle mishaps. 

Rent 

If working from home isn’t on the cards, you’ll need to budget for a physical space to run your NDIS business. The costs can vary widely depending on your business’s needs. A spot in a co-working hub might cost around $150 per week, while larger commercial premises could stretch into the thousands. 

Marketing 

Creating buzz around your new business starts with a thoughtful and strategic marketing plan. This might involve building a professional website, crafting engaging content, leveraging social media, optimising for SEO, or developing scroll-stopping graphics. If handling it all in-house feels overwhelming, teaming up with a marketing agency can help bring your ideas to life and connect with your audience effectively.

Software

Spreadsheets don’t cut it anymore. It pays to invest in intuitive NDIS software that can bring tasks like rostering, admin, invoicing and more under the same roof.  

Factors That Influence NDIS Registration Costs 

So, how do ongoing audits indirectly add to NDIS registration costs? While it’s free to apply for registration, you will need to cover the cost of ongoing audits to maintain compliance. The type of NDIS audit you need will depend on the type of support you offer: 

• Verification: For NDIS providers offering low-risk or straightforward supports, audit costs typically range from $900 to $1,500. These are usually conducted as a desktop review, where an approved auditor evaluates the documents you submit. Examples of such services include:
  
  • Personal mobility equipment
  • Assistance with transport arrangement
  • Community nursing care
  • Household tasks (such as cleaning and gardening)
  • Management of support funding
  • Therapeutic supports and personal wellbeing activities.   
• Certification: For providers delivering more complex or higher-risk supports, audit costs generally start from $3,000. This thorough assessment goes beyond document review, covering on-site visits and interviews with NDIS participants to ensure compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards.
  
  • Assistance for coordinating/managing life stages, transitions and support
  • Specialist behaviour support
  • Development of daily living and life skills
  • Early childhood early intervention supports
  • Participation in community, social, and civic activities

Tips for Budgeting and Managing Costs

Managing budgets across multiple clients with diverse needs and goals can be a delicate yet difficult task. Here are a few things to consider to ensure your participants make the most of their funding while you stay confidently aligned with NDIS requirements:

• Monitor expenses regularly: Stay proactive by reviewing spending against the budget frequently. Compare actual costs to the initial plan, and make adjustments as necessary to prevent exceeding limits in any category.
• Keep in line with price updates: NDIS pricing limits change periodically. Stay informed and adjust your budgets and spending plans to reflect the most current guidelines. 
• Maintain detailed records: Accurate and well-organised documentation, including receipts, invoices, and service agreements, is vital for compliance. It also simplifies audits and plan reviews by keeping all necessary information at your fingertips.
• Conduct periodic reviews: As participant needs evolve, flexibility in managing the budget becomes essential. Reassess and adapt the plan to ensure it continues to meet their current circumstances and goals.

How GoodHuman Can Help Reduce Costs and Streamline Processes

Our platform for NDIS providers can help reduce costs by streamlining your operations, from rostering and invoicing to handling day-to-day admin. Our human-friendly system makes budgeting and compliance far easier – leaving you free to focus on the wonderful ways you care. Here’s how we reduce costs and help with budgeting: 

• Automated invoicing: GoodHuman’s smarts, complete with the latest NDIS pricing arrangements, takes the guesswork out of billing. It automatically selects the most appropriate line item for each booking, tailored to your customer’s digital service agreement, service type, time, and location. 
• Get a birds-eye view of customer spending: Keep a finger on the pulse of your service budgets with instant insights. Our budget status badges offer a clear snapshot, showing whether they’re staying on track, overspending, or underspending – helping you manage funds and carry on with confidence. 
• Track spend in a way that makes sense to you: Say goodbye to Excel for good. You'll get real-time insights into spending trends with dynamic graphs, time-based projections, and hourly breakdowns. 
• Get ahead of forecasting: Make updates on the go with live data showing your customer’s planned and projected spend for any service, giving you the flexibility to stay on top of their budget in real-time. 

Speak to the GoodHuman Team Today

Our platform simplifies all the costs associated with NDIS registration and streamlines the tasks that come with it. With automated invoicing, easy record-keeping, and compliance reminders, you’ll stay on top of deadlines and funding updates stress-free, leaving you more time to focus on delivering meaningful care.

Want to streamline your business and lower expenses with NDIS registration? GoodHuman is here to help!

‍