Accredited online and on-campus courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
About Small Business
You'll become
Average Salaries
Small Business workers may earn between $46,000 and $150,000 per year
You’ve got a bold vision for a brand-new business, but need practical skills to navigate our competitive business landscape. Build them today with a small business course.
You’re a big thinker dissatisfied with the status quo and a dream to make things different. Your ideas will resonate with thousands of Australians, but in an increasingly competitive business environment, chasing dreams is risky business, and entrepreneurs fail every day.
Steer yourself to success and build the skills to thrive in business by studying a small business course.
Small business make up a staggering 96 per cent of all business in Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and new businesses start out every day. Succeed where others fail by building a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical approaches, strategic skills and personal insights to run a small business that thrives.
A broad and exciting field, the small business sector includes businesses in every industry in Australia. In a small business course, you’ll build the critical strategic planning, resource management, people management and leadership skills required to establish, operate and manage a successful business in industries including hospitality and retail, information technology, media, construction, finance, or other services. You’ll also be able to transfer your skills into operating a successful not-for-profit organisation or social enterprise.
Small business is defined alternatively by the Australian Taxation Office as a business with an annual revenue turnover of less than $2 million, and by Fair Work Australia as a business with fewer than 15 employees. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that there are nearly two million small businesses currently operating in Australia.
You may study a small business course at a range of different levels, including as a certificate or diploma course, as a bachelor’s degree, or as a master’s degree or post-graduate certificate in management, leadership or business administration. Opportunities also exist for people seeking to challenge themselves and advance our understanding of best business principles by undertaking a PhD.
After completing a small business course, you’ll likely set out to establish your own enterprise but may also seek employment in a range of management and leadership roles in a wide variety of industries, where you’ll put your big ideas and leadership skills to good use.
What do small business graduates do?
Small business course graduates are the heart and soul of the business they operate or work in, which means you may take on a wide variety of responsibilities after completing a small business course.
If you work in a business administration or operations role, you may perform tasks such as:
- Identifying and organising key organisational goals and strategic priorities;
- Developing plans, policies and procedures relating to the operation of the business;
- Monitoring and managing projects;
- Authorising the allocation and movement of resources, including financial and human resources;
- Managing and training staff;
- Conducting meetings;
- Preparing reports, submissions and notes;
- Conducting monitoring and evaluation activities of business projects and activities;
- Managing conflict;
- Representing the business or organisation in public;
- Ensuring the business’s ongoing compliance with relevant regulations; and
- Performing other general administrative tasks.
In a startup, not-for-profit or newer business, you may find yourself taking on more varied tasks, including responsibilities relating to human resources management, financial management and statutory reporting, marketing, sales and communications, or outreach and media engagement.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
You may choose to establish a business in a wide variety of industries, including areas like:
- Banking and finance
- Construction
- Education
- Engineering
- Government services
- Information technology
- Marketing and sales
- Media services
- Retail trade and hospitality
- Tourism and events management
After completing a small business course, you’ll likely start your own business or not-for-profit organisation, but may also choose to seek employment in another firm. A small business course will equip you with the skills necessary to seek employment as a:
- Small Business Owner
- Small Business Manager
- Office Administrator
- Operations Officer
- Small Business Analyst
- Administration Assistant
- Project Manager
- Systems Administrator
- Team Leader
- Project Administrator
- Project Support Officer
- Business Coordinator
- Project Assistant
- Project Team Leader
- Business Manager
- Retail Manager
- Retail Sales Supervisor
- Retail Salesperson
- Retail Supervisor
- Small Business Retail Owner
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Is small business right for you?
You’ll find working in small business thrilling and rewarding if you:
- Enjoy problem-solving
- Are a natural leader
- Are resilient
- Have big ideas
- Are highly motivated
- Are disciplined and can work independently
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Are highly organised and efficient
- Are proactive
- Can think strategically and exercise sound judgment
- Can remain calm under pressure
- Can speak confidently in public
- Enjoy fast-paced work
- Enjoy challenging yourself
- Want to make a difference
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook predicts strong growth in job opportunities for business managers over the next decade, predicting the profession will grow to employ an additional 7,900 people by 2020. Currently employing approximately 51,000 people, the profession is considered large, and roles are available in most areas of Australia.
Average Salaries
According to PayScale, a small business owner can expect to earn a salary between $46,000 and $150,000 per year, with an average annual salary of approximately $73,000. PayScale notes that approximately two thirds of all small business operators have more than 10 years of experience in the field, indicating that people tend to build careers out of small businesses, and that entry-level small business operators may need to work for several years before being able to command a competitive salary.
You may also choose to seek employment in a management role in another firm or organisation. As an operations manager, you can expect to earn between $35,000 and $90,000 per year. Entry-level managers may enjoy earning a competitive average salary of approximately $50,000 per year.
At the highest levels of business, chief executive officers can take home base salaries in excess of $300,000 according to Job Outlook, and may also hold stock in a company or share profits with shareholders in addition to receiving a wage.