How to Become an NDIS Sole Trader
in Australia: A 2026 Guide

Have you ever thought of getting involved in the NDIS space and supporting people with disabilities, without operating through a company structure, and by fostering relationships directly with participants? You can! 

An NDIS Sole Trader is a self-employed, independent individual who provides disability support and services directly to participants. As a sole trader, you have control over how you run your business while building real and trusted connections with participants. If this sounds like something you’d want to pursue, this article delivers a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how you can become an NDIS Sole Trader in Australia in 2026.

On this page:

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Checklist icon listing NDIS sole trader eligibility requirements: NDIS Worker Screening Check, Working With Children Check, and relevant qualifications

Before officially starting the process to becoming a Sole Trader, it is very important to understand the basic requirements for the type of support you want to provide.

  • NDIS Worker Screening Check: The NDIS Worker Screening Check is a national screening process for people working in certain roles with people with disability. It is required for workers and key personnel of registered NDIS providers in risk-assessed roles. For unregistered sole traders, it is not automatically mandatory in every situation, although participants, platforms or other organisations may request it. Fees and application requirements vary by state or territory, and an NDIS Worker Screening clearance is generally valid for up to five years.
  • Working With Children Check (WWCC): If you provide services to children or younger participants, you may also need a Working With Children Check or the equivalent screening in your state or territory. Requirements, fees and validity periods vary across Australia.
  • Relevant Qualifications: The qualifications you may need depend on the type of service you provide. Some support roles may require or prefer relevant training such as a Certificate III in Individual Support, while allied health roles require the relevant professional registrations. Trade-based or specialised services may also require specific licences, qualifications or training depending on your state or territory and the nature of your work. 

Step 2: Registered vs Unregistered NDIS Provider, Which Should You Choose?

Infographic comparing registered and unregistered NDIS providers, showing registration, audit and worker screening differences

For most independent support workers starting out as a sole trader, this is the biggest decision in this guide — and it’s worth getting right before you set anything else up.

Unregistered NDIS provider: most sole traders start here. You can generally deliver supports to participants who are self-managed or plan-managed, which covers a large share of the market for independent, one-person services. There’s no formal registration process, so you can start taking on clients faster and with less upfront admin.

Registered NDIS provider: becoming registered means applying through the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, meeting the relevant NDIS Practice Standards, and passing an audit. Registration is required if you want to work with NDIA-managed participants, or if you deliver certain higher-risk support types — so it’s worth checking the requirements for your specific supports before you decide.

Whichever path you choose, the same baseline obligations apply: every NDIS worker, registered or not, is expected to follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and most will need an NDIS Worker Screening Check before working with participants.

Key takeaway: registration isn’t about being more professional — it’s about which participants you can work with and how much compliance overhead you’re taking on. Most independent support workers start out unregistered as an unregistered NDIS provider and revisit the decision as their client base grows.

Step 3: Get an ABN

Laptop screen showing an Australian Business Number application form for an NDIS sole trader

To set yourself up as a Sole Trader, you will generally need an Australian Business Number (ABN). If you trade under a name other than your own legal name, you will also need to register that business name. A separate business bank account is not compulsory for a sole trader, but it can make managing business income and expenses easier. An ABN can be applied for online through the Australian Business Register for free.

Step 4: Understand Your Tax and Super

As a Sole Trader, you are responsible for managing your own tax obligations. You should keep track of your business income and expenses and set aside enough of your earnings for income tax, which is generally taxed at individual rates. Some NDIS-related supplies may be GST-free when the relevant ATO conditions are met. If your GST turnover reaches the applicable registration threshold, currently $75,000 for most businesses, you generally need to register for GST. Sole traders do not pay compulsory super guarantee contributions to themselves, but you can choose to make personal super contributions.

Calculator and notebook labelled tax and super

Step 5: Know Your Expenses 

Notepad and coffee cup representing common business expenses an NDIS sole trader can track and claim

Being a Sole Trader brings expenses that you should be aware of so that you can budget accordingly. These include:

    • NDIS Worker Screening Check fee
    • Public Liability Insurance 
    • Professional Indemnity Insurance
    • Invoicing and documentation
    • Training and qualifications
    • Application and audit fees for registered providers

Step 6: Set Up Invoicing and Payments

 

 

To help ensure you get paid correctly, your invoice should include the information relevant to the service and payment arrangement, such as your ABN, your name or registered business name, contact and payment details, service dates, a description of the support provided, and the amount charged. Depending on how the participant’s plan is managed, additional NDIS-related details such as the participant’s name, NDIS number, support item number or plan manager details may also be required. 

A laptop on a desk displaying a sample Solotude invoice for an independent NDIS support worker, showing hours worked, hourly rate, and weekly and monthly totals.

Step 7: Know Your Legal Rights

Notebook titled "Know Your Legal Rights" with a scales-of-justice icon, representing the legal rights and obligations of an NDIS sole trader

As a Sole Trader you are not an employee working under a company structure. Instead, you and your business are legally the same entity. You can choose your clients and create service agreements outlining your services, rates and terms, subject to any applicable NDIS pricing and funding rules. It is important to understand your obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct and any incident management or reporting requirements that apply to your services. You are also responsible for managing your own tax, business records and appropriate insurance, while personal super contributions are generally your own choice.

Step 8: Find Clients

One of the most difficult tasks as a sole trader is finding your own clients. It is important to correctly market yourself, and make use of word-of-mouth, local networks, and support coordinators. Joining a platform dedicated to helping independent NDIS support workers find clients — like Solotude — is another useful and easier method, rather than relying on referrals alone. Check out our pricing to see what it costs to get started.

Two people talking warmly, representing an NDIS sole trader finding and connecting with clients

Step 9: Build Trust Through Verifications

Verified badge icons representing background checks and credential verification for an NDIS support worker

As Sole Traders, it is key to build trust and credibility amongst your participants and their families in order for them to be confident in choosing you over others. Generating trust becomes a matter of your professional reputation as well. This can be done through verifications such as an NDIS Worker Screening Check, Working With Children Check, National Police Check, your qualification documents, and any relevant experience from work you have previously done.

Step 10: Set Up Your Solotude Profile

Example Solotude support worker profile showing services, location, availability and provider information.

This is arguably the most important step! In all seriousness, as a Sole Trader, it is crucial to connect with those who need your support. This is exactly what Solotude is built for: a platform that connects NDIS participants and families with independent support providers just like you. To ensure your profile stands out:

    • Upload your verification documents so participants can authenticate your profile.
    • Use your real photo as the display picture and write a clear description of yourself and the kind of services you provide.
    • List your availability. 
    • Make sure your qualifications and availability are up to date on your profile.

Solotude helps you connect directly with participants without an agency taking a percentage of your earnings.

Conclusion

Becoming an NDIS Sole Trader comes down to a handful of decisions: check you’re eligible, choose registered or unregistered, get your ABN, sort your tax and super, understand your expenses and legal obligations. Work through these steps and you’ll have the foundations in place to operate your sole trader business.

But being in business isn’t the same as having clients. That’s where most sole traders stall. You can have every check, every qualification and every insurance policy in place and still be sitting there waiting for the phone to ring.

Solotude can help with that. It’s built specifically for independent NDIS providers like you, helping you connect directly with participants and families without an agency taking a percentage of your earnings. A verified profile can help put your services in front of people looking for the kind of support you offer. You can choose who you work with and manage your services and rates, subject to any applicable NDIS pricing and funding rules.

Participants and families may be searching for support like yours. Make it easier for them to find you.

Join Solotude today and start connecting with the people who need your support.

Disclaimer: This article is general information and doesn’t replace professional legal, insurance, or tax advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a registered NDIS provider to work as a sole trader?
No. Most independent support workers operate as an unregistered NDIS provider, which lets you work with participants who are self-managed or plan-managed. Registration through the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is only required if you want to work with NDIA-managed participants, or if you deliver certain higher-risk support types.

Do sole traders need an ABN for NDIS work?
Yes. You will need an Australian Business Number to invoice as an NDIS support worker sole trader, whether you are registered or unregistered — most participants and plan managers need a valid ABN on your invoices before they can pay you.

Is NDIS income GST-free?
Many supports delivered under a participant’s NDIS plan are GST-free, but that does not exempt you from registering for GST. You generally still need to register once your turnover reaches the standard $75,000 threshold, regardless of whether that income is GST-free.

Do unregistered NDIS providers still need to follow any rules?
Yes. Every NDIS worker, registered or not, is expected to follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and most will also need an NDIS Worker Screening Check before working with participants.