American Express is offering $20,000 grants to Australian small businesses, with applications closing on 6 September. The company has kicked off its Shop Small Grants program for 2026, putting up to $2 million on the table for small business owners around the country.
How the Grants Work
The mechanics are fairly simple. American Express has already put in $1 million to fund fifty grants of $20,000 each. Applications for those are open now and close on 6 September 2026, submitted through Mainstreet Australia’s website. On top of that, there’s a second pool: for every eligible transaction made on an Amex card at a participating Shop Small business between 1 and 7 August 2026, the company will tip in another dollar, up to a further $1 million.
Corrina Davison, Managing Director of American Express Australia, framed the goal simply. “This year, together with our Card Members and participating businesses, we’re aiming to provide up to $2 million in Shop Small Grant funding,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for up to 100 small businesses to access funds that can help them invest in their future and continue making a difference in the communities they serve.”
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The Importance of Small Businesses
Davison also made the case for why this matters beyond the dollar figure. “Small businesses help shape the character of our communities,” she said. “They create local jobs, bring people together and make our neighbourhoods more resilient and distinctive.” She pointed out that Shop Small has now run for 14 years, adding that “every time someone shops small, they’re backing the passion, hard work and ambition of a local business owner.”
Alongside the grants announcement, Amex released the Shop Small Destination Index, built from a survey of more than 4,000 Australian consumers. It’s designed to show which places people most associate with discovering and supporting small businesses, and the results lean toward somewhere with good food and a genuine sense of community, rather than just somewhere convenient to shop. South Melbourne came out on top nationally.
Ninety-three percent of those surveyed said supporting small business matters to them, and 88 percent agreed small businesses make local areas more distinctive. Eighty-six percent said small businesses help build more connected communities. Just over half said they shop small specifically to support their local area, while 45 percent said they’re motivated by backing family-owned operators.
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Eligibility and Application
For business owners weighing whether it’s worth applying, this isn’t the first time American Express has run a version of this scheme. Back in 2023, the company offered smaller Shop Small grants worth $10,000 each, so this year’s $20,000 grants and $2 million total pool represent a meaningful step up in scale. Applications open today and run until 11.59pm AEST on 6 September 2026, submitted through Mainstreet Australia’s website.
Amex Card Members who want to help top up the second funding pool can do so simply by shopping at participating small businesses between 1 and 7 August. Full eligibility criteria and terms sit with Mainstreet Australia, so it’s worth reading those closely before applying rather than assuming you qualify. The Shop Small program is a significant opportunity for small businesses to access funding and support their local communities.