How to start and grow a profitable NDIS business in 2025

Is starting an NDIS business right for you?

Starting an NDIS business isn’t like launching a regular service business. It requires genuine passion for helping others, a deep understanding of compliance requirements, and the ability to deliver high-quality, person-centred care.

But the rewards are significant. The NDIS is one of the largest social reforms in Australia’s history, with more than 600,000 participants and growing. As more people access the scheme, demand for registered and reliable providers continues to rise. There are opportunities across a wide range of services, including personal care, transport, support coordination, therapy, and more.

If you’re motivated by purpose and have strong organisational skills, building an NDIS business could be a fulfilling and financially rewarding path.

Understanding the 2025 NDIS reform landscape

This year has brought some of the most significant reforms to the NDIS since its inception. These changes aim to improve the scheme’s sustainability, reduce waste, and ensure that funding is directed towards evidence-based and effective supports.

Here are the key updates small business owners must understand:

1. Impairment notices

From January 2025, all new participants receive a formal impairment notice which outlines the condition that qualifies them for NDIS funding. This helps clarify eligibility and ensures that support is aligned with the participant’s needs. Existing participants will receive one when they transition to a new plan.

For businesses, this means you’ll need to align services more closely with a participant’s approved impairment areas to ensure funding approval.

2. Tighter rules on funded services

The NDIS is phasing out funding for non-evidence-based therapies such as reiki, crystals, and certain lifestyle supports. Instead, the focus is on supports that are proven to improve or maintain functional capacity. For example, art and music therapy must now demonstrate clinical benefit to receive individual funding.

If your business offers alternative therapies or non-traditional services, it’s essential to ensure you meet the new evidentiary thresholds or pivot to services that do.

3. Mandatory registration for certain providers

Starting from July 2025, the government will enforce mandatory registration for a broader range of providers. This includes support coordinators, plan managers, and any provider using platform-based delivery.

For small business owners, this will require planning ahead—making sure your processes, qualifications, insurance, and systems are compliant with NDIS Commission requirements.

4. Early childhood and foundational supports

The government is introducing foundational supports for children and individuals who may not meet full NDIS criteria but still require early intervention. These programs will be community-based and focus on developmental delay.

If you’re in early intervention or therapy, this opens up new opportunities to work with local health networks and deliver these supports outside of the NDIS framework.

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Step-by-step guide to launching your NDIS business

Once you’ve decided to enter the NDIS space, there are several key steps to take. Getting these right from the start can save time and help you build a profitable, compliant business.

Step 1: Choose your service type and business structure

Start by deciding what services you’ll offer. Will you be a sole trader providing one-on-one support, or a registered business offering multiple services with staff?

Popular NDIS business types include:

• Personal care and in-home support
• Transport and community access
• Plan management and support coordination
• Allied health and therapy services
• Life skills and capacity-building programs

You’ll also need to register an Australian Business Number (ABN), choose a business name, and decide whether to operate as a sole trader, company, or partnership.

Step 2: Register as an NDIS provider (if applicable)

If you plan to work with agency-managed participants, you’ll need to register with the NDIS Commission. This involves:

• Completing an online application
• Undergoing an audit (core or verification depending on your services)
• Meeting practice standards
• Demonstrating appropriate insurance, worker screening and policies

This can take several months, so allow time in your business plan.

If you plan to only work with plan-managed or self-managed participants, you can operate unregistered, though this may limit your client base as registration rules expand.

Step 3: Create your service and pricing model

Each year, the NDIS releases a pricing arrangement guide that outlines the maximum rates for services. Your pricing must align with these rates and your invoices must match the correct support item codes.

You’ll also need clear service agreements and cancellation policies. Tools like Thriday can automate this process to reduce admin.

Step 4: Set up compliance, accounting and reporting systems

NDIS businesses must keep accurate financial and service records. That includes:

• Invoicing and reconciling payments
• Tracking service delivery
• Storing participant notes securely
• Preparing for audits

Doing this manually can be overwhelming, particularly for sole traders. It’s crucial to have automated tools in place to avoid compliance breaches or payment delays.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Many small NDIS businesses fail not because they lack demand, but because they struggle with admin, compliance or funding misunderstandings. Here are common mistakes:

Inadequate record keeping

NDIS audits are serious business. If your notes or invoices don’t meet the required standard, your payments can be delayed or clawed back. Automation is key here.

Offering non-compliant services

Even well-meaning providers can fall foul of the rules if they offer services that are no longer fundable. Make sure your offering is aligned with impairment needs and clinical evidence.

Not preparing for mandatory registration

With the 2025 reforms expanding registration requirements, small businesses must act now. Start gathering documentation and reviewing the NDIS Practice Standards early.

Why Thriday is perfect for NDIS providers

Thriday was built for small businesses and sole traders who want to reduce admin and get back time. For NDIS providers, the platform is particularly well suited because of its ability to handle complex financial workflows automatically.

Here’s why it works so well for NDIS businesses:

• Automated record-keeping: Each transaction is automatically categorised and linked to the right support type, making audits simple and fast.
• Cash flow visibility: You can see your business income and expenses in real time, including GST and PAYG liabilities, so you avoid nasty surprises.
• Tax-ready reports: Thriday prepares your BAS, income tax, and financial statements for you—no need for spreadsheets or external accounting software.
• Secure and compliant: With banking-grade security and encrypted data handling, Thriday meets the expectations of NDIS audits and protects participant confidentiality.

As compliance pressures increase in 2025, having a tool that handles all your financial admin isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.

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How to streamline your NDIS business with automation

NDIS providers are under increasing pressure to keep up with compliance, billing, participant management, and tax obligations. This is where many fall behind or burn out.

Tools like Thriday have emerged as a game-changer for sole traders and small providers. Thriday combines banking, accounting, invoicing and tax into one platform—automating the bulk of your financial admin.

Key features for NDIS providers include:

• Automated invoice creation with support item codes
• Integration with your business bank account
• Real-time tracking of income, expenses, and tax obligations
• Smart reconciliation and BAS generation
• Tools for budgeting and financial forecasting

Instead of managing spreadsheets or jumping between systems, everything is handled in one place.

Final thoughts

The NDIS sector is full of opportunity, but it’s not without its challenges. 2025 is a critical year for small business owners to understand the changes, adapt quickly, and build systems that scale.

If you’re ready to make a difference in people’s lives and grow a stable, purpose-led business, now is the time to act.

And if you’re looking for the easiest way to manage your NDIS business finances, Thriday is ready to help you reduce admin, stay compliant, and focus on what matters most—your clients.