So you have an idea for a small business? Starting a business is exciting but it can also be overwhelming, which is why it’s important to have the skills and knowledge to turn that idea into a successful reality.
The Certificate of Small Business (Start-Up) is an online professional development program that will provide you with the skills and knowledge to launch your new business and achieve your business goals.
In this online small business course you will learn how to analyse the feasibility of a business idea or the health of your existing business and discover the operational elements of managing a small business.
You will learn how to undertake small business planning, including profiling the market and planning small business finance and marketing. You will also discover a range of business management planning tools and strategies, including how to develop a business plan for your existing or new small business.
On completion of this course you will feel confident to get your small business off the ground for the best chance of success.
Course Structure
Unit 1 - Plan finances for new business ventures
- Recruitment and onboarding policies and procedures
- Key features
- Assess technology to improve recruitment process
- How to judge effectiveness
- Update existing policies and procedures
- Obtain support from stakeholders
- Communicate polices and procedures to staff
- Provide training where required
- Determine future HR requirements
- Forecasting models
- Techniques and competencies
- Use current position descriptions for vacancies
- Job descriptions
- Advertising vacant positions
- Legislation, policies and procedures
- Consult and use specialists
- Requirements of outsourcing
- Selection procedures
- Processes for advising applicants of selection outcomes
- Employment contracts and supporting documents
- Key components of contracts (role, salary, contractual agreement T&C’s)
- Provide access to training and support
- Ensure onboarding processes are followed
- Induction processes
- Management of probationary employees
- Use feedback to update policies and procedures
Unit 2- Assess marketing opportunities
- Select target market
- What is the market
- Establish business and marketing objectives
- Establish structures and plans
- Gaps and opportunities
- Existing marketing clients
- Evaluate marketing gaps or opportunities
- The importance of research
- Sources of information and reliability
- Statistics
- Quantitative and qualitative data
- Perform a market segmentation
- Criteria for market segments
- Relevant marketing factors for analysis
- Internal or microenvironments
- Analysis methods
- PESTLE analysis
- COSMIC analysis
- SWOT analysis
- Review market segments against marketing factors
- Profiling the market
- Analyse opportunities against marketing objectives
- Planning and selecting a strategy
- Budgets and common measures
- Gathering information from people
- Document opportunities for presentation
Unit 3 - Build and maintain business relationships
- Identify business development and networking objectives
- Organisational goals
- Effective networking opportunities and where to start
- Establishing and maintain business relationships
- First contact, trust and ethics
- Organisational polices, plans and procedures
- Effective two-way communication
- Verbal communication
- Create and plan opportunities to engage
- Communication techniques to establish rapport
- Identify barriers to business development opportunities
- The problem solving model
- Negotiation skills
- Seek specialist advice
- Develop strategies to represent and promote organisational interests t contacts
- Presentation skills
- Participate in formal and informal networks
- Communicate issues regarding relationships
Unit 4 - Research and develop business plans
- Purpose and components of a business plan
- How to create a business plan
- What to include in your business plan
- Business goals, objectives and budgets
- Market needs
- Compliance
- Product mix, volumes and pricing
- Planning marketing activities
- Developing a draft business plan
- Specialist services
- Fixed costs and variable costs
- Mixed or semi-variable costs
- Step costs or semi-fixed costs
- Calculating prices based on costs and profit targets
- Cash flow projections
- Budget targets and types
- Forecasting and operations budgeting
- Using budgets as reporting tools
- Setting budget targets
- Sources of finance
- Grants, subsidies, and tax concessions
- Overdraft or line of credit
- Risk management planning and strategies
- Assessing the likelihood of non-conformance
- Developing contingency plans
- Business planning and feasibility studies
- Strategic and operations plans
- Financial plans and marketing plans
- Workplace procedures
Unit 5 - Market new business ventures
- Focus of marketing activities
- Business plan objectives
- Products and services provided
- Organisational capability
- Customer base, target market and competitors
- Target markets
- Competitor analysis
- Ethical and cultural appropriateness
- Assess product mix, volumes and pricing opportunities
- Distribution channel cost / benefits
- Customer service strategies
- Promotional activities
- Analyse customer journey
- Marketing budget requirements
- Roles and responsibilities
- Communication
- Monitor marketing activities
- Implementing promotional activities
- Effective digital devices, platforms and technologies
- Assess business performance
- Address performance gaps
- Stakeholder responses to improve targeting and outcomes
- Customer perceptions
- Changes in customer requirements
- Identify opportunities for improvement
- Quantitative forecasting
Unit 6 - Investigate business opportunities
- Analyse market information for potential opportunities
- Data collection and sourcing information
- Business ideas and opportunities
- Organisational capability
- Features and benefits
- Determining product mix
- Financial skills
- Maintaining accurate records
- Finance options
- Digital technology skills
- Business and people management skills
- Supply chain management skills
- Selling, communication and marketing skills
- Technical skills
- Selecting a specialist
- Identifying customers for the products and services
- Identifying market segments
- Commonalities
- Business and marketing information
- Market trends and developments
- Ethical and cultural requirements
- External factors impacting business opportunities
- Changing markets and customer needs
- Promotional campaigns
- Personal motivations and aspirations
- Minimise negative impact
- Strengths and weaknesses
- SWOT analysis
Unit 7 - Establish legal and risk management requirements of new business ventures
- Legal structures for business ventures
- Sole traders and partnerships
- Companies and trusts
- Legislative and regulatory requirements
- Consumer legislation
- Registration of business names and licences
- Planning and property law
- Taxation requirements
- Environmental measures
- Business and workplace practices
- Compliance procedures
- Storing legal documents and business records
- Non-compliance and taking corrective actions
- Procurement rights to protect business interests
- Supplier contracts
- Completing contractual arrangements
- Legal advice, fees and terminating a contract
- Mitigate business risks
- Identify business risk
- Internal risk
- Assess probability and impact of risk
- Risk matrix
- Risk planning
- Mitigate risk
Unit 8 - Review and maintain an organisation digital presence
- Review digital presence contact and sue
- Customer feedback
- Automatically collected data
- Recommending changes
- Cost implications of changes
- Approving changes
- Platforms used to provide information
- Replacing inaccurate information
- Adding new material
- Adding or sharing content
- Hootsuite
- Accuracy and authenticity of information
- Removing or adding services
- Security procedures
- Conforming faults are not user issues
- Rectifying faults and making improvement
- Adding new features and removing redundant features
- Changing digital presence
- Changing a pages appearance
- Legislation, regulations, standards and codes of practice
- Policies and procedures
- Data analysis
- Web analytics best practices
Study Hours
Estimated duration 120 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Click Add to Cart/View Cart on the course page.
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and Direct Deposit.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
- Small Business Owners
- Small Business Managers
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